LSU Responds to Issues Regarding Dr. Diaz and WASC

by Sean Pitman

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The following news release was sent to my E-mail account this afternoon:

 

“La Sierra University Responds to False Charges by Independent Websites”

 

First off, the argument that Dr. Diaz is a “baptized member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church” is effectively irrelevant to the point of concern.  After all, it is my understanding that Dr. Lee Grismer, the chair of the biology department at LSU, is also a “baptized member” of the SDA Church – as is Dr. Erv Taylor, a frequent guest lecturer at LSU (who has referred to himself as a “Christian Agnostic” and has noted in public that he wouldn’t know what to tell his own granddaughter if she asked him for evidence of God’s existence).  Yet, as everyone who has spent any time with these men knows, neither one of them believes in or promotes the Adventist position on origins – and neither does Dr. Diaz.  Also, despite Mr. Becker’s claim to the contrary, Dr. Diaz is certainly not known for frequenting church services on Sabbath – with his primary hobby interests in punk rock/heavy metal and horror/B-movies it would be hard to find the time (despite his “baptized member” status).

The basic fact of the matter is, despite being “baptized members” of the SDA Church, all of these men believe in and promote the idea that life has existed and evolved on this planet, in a Darwinian manner, over the course of hundreds of millions of years from a common ancestor.  Their position on origins is quite open and matter of fact in this regard.

Larry Becker, LSU’s PR man, should know better than to try to misdirect here with the insinuation that Dr. Diaz (and by default Dr. Lee Grismer) is the type of evolutionary biologist who only deals with and promotes the truth of low-level or so-called “micro” evolution – a type of evolution which the church itself recognizes as a pre-programmed potential for variability over time within the limits of a specific “kind” of gene pool (such as the low-level evolution of various forms of antibiotic or antiviral resistance or various forms of Mendelian variation, etc).    Mr. Becker knows full well that Drs. Grismer and Diaz are full-blown neo-Darwinists who believe, publish, and teach, as the true story of origins, mainstream Darwinism right down the line.

In fact, I challenge Mr. Becker, or anyone else for that matter, to find any publication or statement by any one of these professors that is actually supportive of or in agreement with the Adventist position on origins (such as a literal seven-day creation week or a recent worldwide Noachian Flood).

If anyone is being dishonest and disingenuous here it is Larry Becker and LSU at large.  This seems to be a general pattern.  After all, who originally reported the truth of what was happening at LSU a few years ago now (2009) while Mr. Becker was vigorously denying that there was any problem? The same is true today.  Dr. Diaz should have been vetted much more carefully if he is to represent the church in one of our schools.  Just go and visit his publicly accessible Facebook page (as of today) and his published articles, papers and news items to get an idea of the type of “Adventist” professor LSU has just hired.  I’m sure he’s a great guy and all from a secular or nonsectarian perspective.  I’m sure we’d have a great time on the golf course or chasing lizards, etc.  However, despite how fun, intelligent and generally gifted and well educated Dr. Diaz may be, he cannot effectively represent the Adventist perspective on origins and other key issues.  I think that’s quite clear to anyone who candidly considers the position of Dr. Diaz.

As far as WASC is concerned, I’m very glad to hear that they will actually be allowing the church to remain in some control of LSU.  That is truly encouraging news.  I suppose then that WASC would have no problem if the church stepped in and required all professors, to include science professors, to teach “about” mainstream evolutionism while, at the same time, actively promoting the credibility of the church’s position on origins for their students? – as a position based on something more than empirically-blind faith that should only be presented in religion classes?  If so, I would love to publish this most wonderful news!

However, as it is right now, LSU has been openly antagonistic toward the Adventist position on origins for decades – as I know first hand (and so does Larry Becker).  I’m sorry to say that I for one do not see any good evidence for a reversal in direction here – to include the recent appointment of Dr. Diaz.

I’m hoping that the General Conference leadership and our own Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) will carefully consider what direction our church schools should be taking if fortifying the faith of our young people in our own schools is still important these days . . .

140 thoughts on “LSU Responds to Issues Regarding Dr. Diaz and WASC

  1. LSU University Relations – has now confirmed that Dr. Diaz is listed as a member of the Adventist church. So that anyone who supposed that he was not an actual member of an SDA congregation some place – can rest assured.

    We also know from that letter by Larry Becker – that Dr Diaz has done work in an area of science that can “make possible advances in human health and medicine, agriculture, and the environment”.

    Recall that the initial article was about LSU hiring yet another evolutionist and raised questions about whether hiring more evolutionists was in fact complying with AAA policies.

    Did the well crafted LSU article actually get to addressing the main points?

    Anyone?

    in Christ,

    Bob

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    • @BobRyan:

      Yes, Mr. Becker did address the “evolutionary biologist” concept by suggesting that Diaz only believes in and promotes microevolutionary concepts – not true neo-Darwinism with all living things evolving from a single common ancestor that lived a billion years ago.

      Of course, Becker knows that he is putting out deceptive statements here. He knows the truth, but seems willing to stoop to deceptive strategies (as he has done before) to keep up the facade of LSU.

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      • @Sean Pitman:

        Sean you say that Becker is making the claim that Diaz does not believe in true neo-Darwinism.

        I don’t find that as an explicit statement by Becker in his well crafted document.

        If you have such a quote from him actually stating that as fact – I would be interested in reading it.

        Rather he simply settles for trying to “give that impression” without ever taking the risk of actually saying the words (- because presumably he himself does not think he can get by with explicitly claiming that Diaz is not a neo-Darwinist.)

        in Christ,

        Bob

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        • @Sean Pitman:

          Indeed it is a well documented science – called “propaganda”. It makes a claim without actually stating it explicitly – with the result that the uncritical reader is mislead and yet the writer incurs minimal risk.

          This was the point of my post – they are providing a few based facts but then dressing them up as if they are answering the questions raised about Diaz – when in fact they are avoiding the key points.

          Well crafted indeed.

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        • @Sean Pitman: Precisely what you did with the work on BovB and its presence in cattle and snakes.

          Why do you not answer the science? You statement

          “Have you heard the latest, by the way? – that up to 25% of cow DNA is reptilian” is completely deceptive.

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  2. It is self-evidently preposterous to claim that, because Gabe Diaz was baptized as an 11-year old, his current views are orthodox. And yet that is what Larry Becker does. Incredible!

    I do want to address Larry Becker’s soothing words about the bylaw changes. Randal Wisbey is far too smart to try to get all of the church officers kicked off the La Sierra Board of Trustees. That might shake some important people out of their collective coma. He understands that he has to work incrementally to loosen the university’s ties to the church, and that is what he is doing.

    But let us not minimize what a big step these bylaw changes really are. Under the current bylaws, the president of the Pacific Union is automatically the chairman of La Sierra’s Board of Trustees. He doesn’t have to be elected to that position; it goes with his office. Now, Ricardo Graham, if he disagrees with Wisbey on origins (and I am told he does) has been ineffective at overruling Wisbey and correcting the problem; Wisbey has been easily able to control him. But what if a new union president came into office, one who was opposed to Wisbey’s agenda and was strong enough to effectively resist Wisbey? That would be a huge setback for Wisbey and his Darwinistic, liberal agenda. But with these bylaw changes, that can never happen. That hypothetical new union president couldn’t even be elected chair of La Sierra’s board. Assuming that Pacific Union College doesn’t change its bylaws, the president of the Pacific Union will still be the ex-officio chair of PUC’s board and hence can never again serve as the chair of La Sierra’s Board of Trustees.

    We are told that, under the proposed bylaw changes, the chairman must be a church officer, but that leaves several persons to choose from. The chairman must be elected by the board, and Randal Wisbey has been packing the board with liberals who he hopes will support his agenda. He flexed his muscles in late 2011, when he had three strong creationists and opponents of his agenda (Carla Lidner-Baum, Kathy Proffitt, and Marta Tooma) kicked off the Board of Trustees. The liberal board that Wisbey has put in place can easily vote for the most liberal of the several church officers who are on the board.

    So the current bylaw changes are a major step toward “institutional autonomy” and away from church control of La Sierra. Moreover, Larry Becker’s press release notwithstanding, “institutional autonomy” has been WASC’s stated concern and the stated reason why WASC recommended bylaw changes for La Sierra. The purported conflict of interest posed by having one man chair both PUC’s and La Sierra’s boards was not a concern of WASC; it is a cover story put forward by La Sierra to divert attention from the fact that they are about to approve bylaw changes that loosen their ties to the Adventist Church. What we have here is WASC recommending bylaw changes to strengthen “institutional autonomy” and diminish church control, and La Sierra carrying out exactly that type of bylaw changes, hence setting a disastrous precedent for other regional accrediting bodies and other Adventist colleges.

    This is a blueprint for how to separate every Adventist college from the denomination, and yet no one seems to be paying attention. What will wake denominational leadership up to the fact that our entire post-secondary educational system is about to be imperiled by a vote on February 21?

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    • I agree@David Read:

      I agree that their strategy for the board is also a well crafted plan designed to remove what little positive influence the Union could possible have – in the future.

      If the board does not like a chosen liberal Union chair who does not turn out to be as in-the-tank as they were first thinking – they could simply threaten to vote in some other Union lib. This continual threat to change chair persons would always give them leverage with each new chair person. They can always remove any chair person that happens to vote or influence someone in a direction that does not serve evolutionist goals, or SDA separationist goals in general.

      When will the SECC laity wake up?

      When will the PUC laity wake up?

      Or are they already awake – and is this thing really serving their own separatist agendas? What is the real deal with that part of the extreme left-coast?

      ( I say this as a true native of that extreme left coast – but not at all happy with how far down the slippery slope it has gone.)

      in Christ,

      Bob

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  3. David, I believe you are underestimating the gravity of the situation. I know you want to pin much of this on Randal Wisbey, who is a brilliant tactician and enginereed much of this after the fortuitous Louis Bishop incident. But the reality is that he could not orchestrate these things entirely on his own. He had to have help when as President of Columbia Union College he secretly arranged for the eventual withdrawal of accreditation at Atlantic Union College. He knew full well they were vulnerable and saw it as a great starting point to thwart Adventist education. Of course he jumped at the opportunity to become President at LSU, because he knew that their biologists and theologians could easily be manipulated to create public furor over evolutionist teaching. He was able to arrange the firing of five faculty over a few years time (McClosky, Bradley, Katz, Beach Greer), hoping that one of them (three as it turned out) would force a lawsuit and a confrontation with WASC. But he had to have help, of course, because he could not afford to be with the LSU “four” when they supposedly inadvertently recorded their forbidden talk of WASC accreditation. He knew full well that once WASC capitulated to his ruse, other regional accreditation agencies would see the value in WASC’s approach to wresting control of private universities from their church organizations. But again, he could not achieve all of this without the covert cooperation of other SDA leaders, almost surely including other SDA university presidents, at least one critical person at the GC whose name you can probably surmise, and probably one or two WASC officials whom he has possibly paid off. I’m guessing that Wisbey has already anticipated your efforts to block his plan, so he probably has an end-around in place. He is no doubt one step ahead of us, so let’s not settle too quickly on sensible explanations like the one you have proposed. We’re going to have to dig deeper and maintain suspicion of other influential parties as well. This is war, and we cannot allow this one mastermind to inflict irreparable harm to Adventist education. And we need to be alert to the possibility that a mastermind is manipulating Wisbey.

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    • We already know that there was a conspiratorial effort on the part of several professors at LSU to separate LSU from the church. This little conspiracy was recorded, inadvertently, and published, by one of the conspirators himself, on the internet. That is why they all resigned when they saw the transcript of what had been published. It was pretty blatant stuff. And, it is the reason why there is a lawsuit in the works between these professors and LSU – over the right of the church or LSU to use this inadvertently published “private” conversation between the four conspirators… without the involvement of the school board.

      Now, regarding the theory that Wisbey was also involved and planned much of what has taken place since 2009, I really doubt it. He certainly is liberal in his thinking regarding Adventism, and does evidently view mainstream Darwinian theories in a favorable light. However, I cannot bring myself to imagine that he is deliberately trying to remove LSU from the church or to orchestrate some conspiratorial effort in this regard. I just don’t think he cares if neo-Darwinism is promoted in our schools. I think he views such efforts as “progressive”. That’s all.

      It seems to me that much of what has happened has been completely unpredictable by all – including Wisbey. I think he’s been completely surprised by what has taken place numerous times. I don’t think he planned for all the WASC interventions nor was he aware of the secret recordings or plans of the four professors who recorded themselves conspiring against the church. I don’t think he’s been supportive of the church in any regard, but I don’t think he’s some brilliant conspirator either – more along the lines of George W and the 9/11 conspiracy theories. There’s just not enough horse power to pull it off.

      Sean Pitman
      http://www.DetectingDesign.com

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    • @Professor Kent: Jeff, obviously your tongue is planted firmly in your cheek, but I really do admire Wisbey as a tactician and strategist. He is way ahead of the laity (who aren’t really even in the game, because no one wants to believe how committed the Left Coast is to liberalizing the SDA Church), he easily outmaneuvered Ricardo Graham (who is a creationist but is hopelessly over his head with Randal), he eventually outmaneuvered the three capable creationist women on his board (and had them kicked off the board), he is way ahead of AAA (he has them utterly bamboozled), he managed to use the LSU-3 situation, which should have revealed to the larger church how liberal La Sierra is, to his advantage vis-a-vis his strategy to use WASC to loosen church control, and he managed to thwart Lee Greer’s attempt at compromise with Larry Blackmer, AAA and the NAD, and not only to thwart it but to use it to consolidate his power, by kicking 3 of the 4 board members who signed the Greer document off the board and eventually firing Lee Greer.

      So you may ridicule Wisbey’s conspiratorial abilities, but I do not. I have a healthy respect for both his determination to liberalize La Sierra and the larger church and his ability to make it happen.

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  4. We need now to begin over again. Reforms must be entered into with heart and soul and will. Errors may be hoary with age; but age does not make error truth, nor truth error. Altogether too long have the old customs and habits been followed. The Lord would now have every idea that is false put away from teachers and students. We are not at liberty to teach that which shall meet the world’s standard or the standard of the church, simply because it is the custom to do so. The lessons which Christ taught are to be the standard. That which the Lord has spoken concerning the instruction to be given in our schools is to be strictly regarded; for if there is not in some respects an education of an altogether different character from that which has been carried on in some of our schools, we need not have gone to the expense of purchasing lands and erecting school buildings. {2TT 420.1}

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  5. Sean&#032Pitman: Now, regarding the theory that Wisbey was also involved and planned much of what has taken place since 2009, I really doubt it. He certainly is liberal in his thinking regarding Adventism, and does evidently view mainstream Darwinian theories in a favorable light.

    Oh come on. Don’t you read David Read’s posts? If you carefully dissect his analysis, surely you will see he is onto something.

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  6. Bob, I suspect “the church” is beyond recovery because false doctrine is embraced. Only, and if the false doctrine is exposed and rejected, can we expect any viable action in harmony with the situation.

    Obviously, the church is flying apart, even though most people don’t want to admit it and hope through some political agenda they can hold it together and maintain some semblance of sanctified unity. I believe the message of bible Adventism has been abandon and thus its mission has been re-defined.

    No one need to abandon the law completely to have it be antinomianism. And no one need abandon the gospel completely to be a legalist. Just pervert law and gospel enough to convolute both and the result suits Satan’s agenda.

    I personally still believe God can and will eventually create the final Christian community by way of the bible. Adventism has played an important role in pointing out many truths and exposing errors. But modern Adventism has begun a march back to Rome on its on agenda and does not seem to have the will, nor the understanding to correct the problems. God does not “need” the SDA church to accomplish His goals anymore than He “needed” the Jewish nation for this purpose.

    God is not shackled by human instrumentalities as unconditional means of grace to accomplish what He will eventually do. Yes, He has bound Himself to use humans to accomplish His purpose, but this not necessarily any “church” so that He is not free. In fact, this error on the part of men has actually kept God from doing what He will do in the end. It always dis-qualifies the means of grace and destroys human accountability in the process.

    I personally doubt repentance is possible because of this false philosophy embraced by more than a few in the church today.

    So, EGW has well said…..

    ” My soul is made very sad to see how quickly some who have had light and truth will accept the deceptions of Satan, and be charmed with a spurious holiness. When men turn away from the landmarks the Lord has established that we may understand our position as marked out in prophecy, they are going they know not whither. {2SM 393.1}
    I question whether genuine rebellion is ever curable.”

    I think what we have on many levels is just that, “genuine rebellion”. And I agree with her conclusion as well.

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  7. We need now to begin over again. Reforms must be entered into with heart and soul and will. Errors may be hoary with age; but age does not make error truth, nor truth error. Altogether too long have the old customs and habits been followed. The Lord would now have every idea that is false put away from teachers and students. We are not at liberty to teach that which shall meet the world’s standard or the standard of the church, simply because it is the custom to do so. The lessons which Christ taught are to be the standard. That which the Lord has spoken concerning the instruction to be given in our schools is to be strictly regarded; for if there is not in some respects an education of an altogether different character from that which has been carried on in some of our schools, we need not have gone to the expense of purchasing lands and erecting school buildings. {2TT 420.1}

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  8. Sean Pitman: Now, regarding the theory that Wisbey was also involved and planned much of what has taken place since 2009, I really doubt it. He certainly is liberal in his thinking regarding Adventism, and does evidently view mainstream Darwinian theories in a favorable light.

    Oh come on. Don’t you read David Read’s posts? If you carefully dissect his analysis, surely you will see he is onto something.

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  9. Bob, I suspect “the church” is beyond recovery because false doctrine is embraced. Only, and if the false doctrine is exposed and rejected, can we expect any viable action in harmony with the situation.

    Obviously, the church is flying apart, even though most people don’t want to admit it and hope through some political agenda they can hold it together and maintain some semblance of sanctified unity. I believe the message of bible Adventism has been abandon and thus its mission has been re-defined.

    No one need to abandon the law completely to have it be antinomianism. And no one need abandon the gospel completely to be a legalist. Just pervert law and gospel enough to convolute both and the result suits Satan’s agenda.

    I personally still believe God can and will eventually create the final Christian community by way of the bible. Adventism has played an important role in pointing out many truths and exposing errors. But modern Adventism has begun a march back to Rome on its on agenda and does not seem to have the will, nor the understanding to correct the problems. God does not “need” the SDA church to accomplish His goals anymore than He “needed” the Jewish nation for this purpose.

    God is not shackled by human instrumentalities as unconditional means of grace to accomplish what He will eventually do. Yes, He has bound Himself to use humans to accomplish His purpose, but this not necessarily any “church” so that He is not free. In fact, this error on the part of men has actually kept God from doing what He will do in the end. It always dis-qualifies the means of grace and destroys human accountability in the process.

    I personally doubt repentance is possible because of this false philosophy embraced by more than a few in the church today.

    So, EGW has well said…..

    ” My soul is made very sad to see how quickly some who have had light and truth will accept the deceptions of Satan, and be charmed with a spurious holiness. When men turn away from the landmarks the Lord has established that we may understand our position as marked out in prophecy, they are going they know not whither. {2SM 393.1}
    I question whether genuine rebellion is ever curable.”

    I think what we have on many levels is just that, “genuine rebellion”. And I agree with her conclusion as well.

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  10. Sean&#032Pitman: LSU has destroyed the faith of hundreds, probably thousands, of students over the past several decades. These students were sent, at great cost, to what their parents thought was an institution supportive of all Adventist fundamentals.

    You know for a fact that thousands of LSU students have lost their faith? Now that’s astonishing! If true, I would support your cause 100%. But is this a faith-based or evidence-based claim on your part? You deplore the former, so I assume you have actual names of thousands of individuals whose faith was destroyed. Could you post perhaps post for us their initials?

    I’m astonished by the amazing truths you divulge here at Educate Truth.

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  11. Sean Pitman: We already know that there was a conspiratorial effort on the part of several professors at LSU to separate LSU from the church.

    Uncomfortable posting my messages again, eh? I should have taken another screen shot, but I can rewrite this again:

    No one has conspired more fervently to separate LSU from the SDA Church than you, David Read, Bob Ryan, and others here. You condemn several faculty potentially affected by WASC actions for having a private conversation in a home about how WASC might respond to external pressure that you yourself have orchestrated, yet you guys have repeatedly called for the separation of LSU from the denomination, even urging SDA parents to boycott the university by sending their kids elsewhere.

    Talk about the ultimate hypocrisy!

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    • There’s no “conspiracy” on my part. What I’m doing I’m doing quite openly – without the use of pseudonyms or hidden agendas. There is no confusion regarding what I think about LSU. Clearly, I don’t think LSU is a truly Adventist institution in that it has long undermined, in a very active manner, the Adventist position on origins in its science, and even religion, classrooms. LSU has destroyed the faith of many students in the Adventist message regarding origins – probably hundreds and possibly thousands of students and/or, by extension, those with whom they associate (such as wives, children, family and friends) over the course of the past several decades.

      These students were sent, at great cost, to what their parents thought was an institution supportive of all Adventist fundamentals. Such false advertising is unconscionable on the part of LSU and many will have to answer in the Judgement for what has happened to the charges under their care.

      Certainly no parents who wish their children to receive a truly Adventist education should send their children to LSU. And, if LSU does not change its deliberate course and become supportive of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church is morally obligated to warn its own membership at large that LSU is really no longer an SDA institution – and AAA accreditation should be suspended indefinitely until this situation is rectified.

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  12. David Read:
    @Professor Kent: Jeff, obviously your tongue is planted firmly in your cheek, but I really do admire Wisbey as a tactician and strategist…

    My tongue actually formed the words “Jesuit Priest,” and my fingers typed out the letters, but someone refused to post that message.

    In all seriousness, I think you know and understand less about the man than you believe you do. At the same time, while you might be right, I sincerely hope that Dr. Wisby is committed to maintaining a healthy, loyal, respectful Adventist environment on the campus. I’m far from convinced he’s the devious force you make him out to be.

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  13. Sean Pitman: Also, if you continue to post deliberately misleading attacks, as well as personal attacks and conjectures regarding motives and morality, I will most certainly block you from continuing to post in this forum.

    You have blocked my comments on Matthew 18 for reasons you really should address. Do you believe you honored the principles of Matthew 18 and the clearly stated policies in the SDA Church Manual when you posted inflammatory comments about Mr. Diaz before going to him in person?

    If you have complied with these principles and policies, then why would you label my comments “misleading attacks,” “personal attacks,” and “conjectures regarding motives and morality?” After all, haven’t you and David Read made statements that Diaz, Wisbey, and others would consider “personal attacks?” Haven’t you guys made “conjectures regarding motives and morality?” Or do you seriously believe you have all your facts and ducks lined up, and I’m the one out of line to ask you the hard questions?

    I don’t care if you make me look bad. Maybe I am failing to understand how you justify your actions. Just explain how it is you’ve complied with Matthew 18 and the Church Manual in the way you guys have treated Diaz, Wisbey, and LSU. If you can do so, I can stop asking.

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    • I have not blocked any of your posts for mentioning Matthew 18. This isn’t about Dr. Diaz. This is about LSU hiring someone who is fundamentally opposed to a doctrinal position of the Adventist Church – and is quite public about his position(s). LSU has already been warned, privately and publicly over many years, without a substantive change in course. You have a different view on these matters, which is fine. You just need to express yourself in a more civil manner, as you usually do.

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  14. Sean Pitman: LSU has destroyed the faith of hundreds, probably thousands, of students over the past several decades. These students were sent, at great cost, to what their parents thought was an institution supportive of all Adventist fundamentals.

    You know for a fact that thousands of LSU students have lost their faith? Now that’s astonishing! If true, I would support your cause 100%. But is this a faith-based or evidence-based claim on your part? You deplore the former, so I assume you have actual names of thousands of individuals whose faith was destroyed. Could you post perhaps post for us their initials?

    I’m astonished by the amazing truths you divulge here at Educate Truth.

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  15. 2Chron 36:14-16
    “Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the Lord which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.
    15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.

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  16. I am fearful that we may not see the awful consequences of failing to act when there is blatant disregard for the truth of the Scriptures being promoted by an agency of our church. Nor can we, individually or as a church, just ignore this. The whole church suffers when we fail to act to deal with sin in our midst. I pray that our leaders may be courageous to face this problem at La Sierra and elsewhere. The following quotation supports the contention that all of us should be very concerned:

    “I was shown that the manner of Achan’s confession was similar to the confessions that some among us have made and will make. They hide their wrongs and refuse to make a voluntary confession until God searches them out, and then they acknowledge their sins. A few persons pass on in a course of wrong until they become hardened. They may even know that the church is burdened, as Achan knew that Israel were made weak before their enemies because of his guilt. Yet their consciences do not condemn them. They will not relieve the church by humbling their proud, rebellious hearts before God and putting away their wrongs. God’s displeasure is upon His people, and He will not manifest His power in the midst of them while sins exist among them and are fostered by those in responsible positions.”

    — Testimonies for the Church Volume Three, page 270

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    • @Professor Kent: Jeff, the messenger of the Lord for our time is Ellen White, and you should be familiar with her warnings regarding Lyellism and Darwinism. If not, some of the more pertinent passages are set out in chapter 7 of my book, “Dinosaurs — an Adventist View.”

      In promoting an atheistic origins narrative in opposition to the biblical, Adventist view of a creation in six literal days a few thousand years ago, La Sierra is flagrantly disregarding the Lord’s messenger for our time. I should think this would be obvious to you.

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  17. Art Chadwick: I am fearful that we may not see the awful consequences of failing to act when there is blatant disregard for the truth of the Scriptures being promoted by an agency of our church.

    What blatant disregard? Give us some tangible evidence that evolutionism has been taught as fact at LSU within the past three years. I’ve repeatedly challenged Sean Pitman and David Read, here and at Spectrum, to produce this evidence. All I’ve gotten is, from David Read (last night at Spectrum), “Jeff, there is no doubt whatsoever that La Sierra teaches Darwinism as fact, as the preferred belief about origins. Lee Greer has been frank and honest about that, as have others. I don’t know what is driving your need to muddy the waters, but it is a comment on your integrity, not mine or Sean Pitman’s.”

    You people claim to be able to differentiate empirical evidence from faith. Why don’t you actually supply some evidence so that we know your claims are more than just a warm feeling in your gut.

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    • Professor Kent, I have 4 eyewitness testimonies from students who have attended La Sierra during the last three years, that evolution has been promoted repeatedly as the mechanism for the origin of life, according to La Sierra professors on the La Sierra campus. Since I am a medical student at Loma Linda, I have easy access to the campus at La Sierra and often see these friends.

      I am not willing to share their names in this forum, because I believe they would receive reprisal from LSU administration or faculty if their identities were revealed. I realize that this gesture of respect for them may make it difficult for you to believe that my report is accurate. However, others who read this blog may judge differently.

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  18. Earlier today at Spectrum, Sean wrote:

    Sean Pitman: Just come out with it and openly admit what you stand for and are in fact teaching. Allow relevant excerpts and video clips from classroom notes and lectures to be published for all to see what is being taught to our young people. Allow some transparency here.

    Clearly, Sean has no clue what is and is not being taught at LSU. If he had access to what is being taught, he would not be begging for the details to be released.

    Contrast all the claims here with a quote from a current LSU student:

    They aren’t teaching evolutionary theory as fact at LSU. We are presented with evidence identified by the scientific community, and informed of different methods and measurement tools by which that evidence and certain biological processes are assessed. We are able to make use of laboratory equipment to conduct experiments and can ask questions of our professors if we have any…

    In the SDA academy that I attended, my science teacher never wanted to engage in any discussion or deal with any questions from students about evolution. Just the word was enough to elicit fear. So I, and other students like me, came to La Sierra University without any level of understanding at all regarding evolutionary theory. Imagine how tense it got in the classroom when a professor announces that we will be learning about it. It was completely new to me, but I was able to spend time both in and out of class discussing it with my professor. He didn’t push anything on me. He didn’t encourage me to question the existence of God. In fact, more than ever, I gained a new level of appreciation of the incredible beauty and detail of God’s creation. And I gained an understanding of (not belief in) evolutionary theory so that when needed, I can engage in discussion with individuals who do not know my God. The experience strengthened my faith.”

    I know, I know. You folks will insist this student is lying.

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    • LSU is still undermining the Adventist position on origins, not promoting it. It is just that the information I get isn’t coming from LSU administration. It should be standard policy for the administration of the school to be transparent about what is being taught at LSU. This has never been the case. There’s always been an effort to cover up or whitewash the promotion of Darwinian thinking at LSU (as in this latest very misleading statement from Larry Becker). That’s a problem.

      It’s also very misleading to use a quote from a single student’s perspective to suggest that the personal views and promotion of Darwinian thinking in the classroom by admired professors really doesn’t have much of an effect on most students. That’s also just not true. The knowledge of what a professor personally believes on a given topic has a profound effect on many students who look up to him/her as a mentor.

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  19. Sean Pitman: I have not blocked any of your posts for mentioning Matthew 18. This isn’t about Dr. Diaz. This is about LSU hiring someone who is fundamentally opposed to a doctrinal position of the Adventist Church – and is quite public about his position(s).

    If this was true, you wouldn’t be digging up personal details about Mr. Diaz’s taste in music and movies, which you are now having fun with at Spectrum. You’re delving into what you deem to be character issues that go far beyond his beliefs in origins. When character assassination meets your needs, you consider it fair play.

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    • Larry Becker’s suggestion that Dr. Diaz is a church-going Adventist young man who is well in line with and supportive of the church’s primary goals and mission simply isn’t true – regardless of how wonderful a person Dr. Diaz may be. How he presents himself in various public forums is very much at odds with Adventist fundamentals as well as what is generally considered to be a church-going Adventist lifestyle. Again, parents and the church membership at large have a right to know how a professor at one of our schools publicly presents himself. This isn’t some secret information that Diaz is trying to hide. This is how he wishes to present himself in public forum.

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  20. Sean Pitman: LSU is still undermining the Adventist position on origins, not promoting it. It is just that the information I get isn’t coming from LSU administration. This has never been the case. There’s always been an effort to cover up or whitewash the promotion of Darwinian thinking at LSU

    All I’m asking for is transparency. You should be up front about your information–if, in fact, you have any. Parents need the truth about La Sierra University. It’s false advertising on your part when you make claims that you cannot back up with facts.

    LSU’s website proclaims in several places that they uphold and teach the SDA interpretation of origins. They are more transparent in this regard than any other SDA university. Your website insists LSU is lying and covering up what you claim is all-out indoctrination of evolutionism. But it’s increasingly clear that rather than offer empirical evidence, Educate Truth continues to cover up or whitewash the lack of evidence supporting its claims.

    Look, Sean, if there is no empirical evidence to support your belief that LSU continues to teach evolutionism as fact, then your belief is as useless as belief in Santa Claus, the Tooth Ferry, and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. God expects us to use our God-given brains. I shouldn’t need to remind you of this. I’m sorry, but blind faith based on bald assertions from you and others just does not cut it for me.

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  21. David Read: In promoting an atheistic origins narrative in opposition to the biblical, Adventist view of a creation in six literal days a few thousand years ago, La Sierra is flagrantly disregarding the Lord’s messenger for our time. I should think this would be obvious to you.

    It is, indeeed, obvious to me that promoting an atheistic origins narrative in opposition to the SDA narrative at La Sierra would be flagrantly ignoring Ellen White’s advice. It would also be exceedingly disrespectful.

    But it’s equally obvious to me that if they are not doing so, then your changes are baseless, immoral, and possibly criminal. Wouldn’t you agree that publicly accusing others of wrongdoing without a basis in fact is flagrantly ignoring both God’s direct word (specifically “Thou shalt not bear false witness”) and the Lord’s messenger for our time? I should think this would be obvious to you.

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    • @Professor Kent: Jeff, your refusal to deal with reality in this situation is exceedingly strange. You’ve admitted there was a problem at La Sierra, but bizarrely insist that it was magically solved as of 2009, when in fact AAA saw problems after that time, the Board of Trustees formed a creation-evolution study group to solve the problem after that time, a survey was conducted after that time and even La Sierra admitted it had a problem as of February 2011, and Lee Greer got himself fired for trying to solve the problem in 2011.

      I don’t want to play games with you about the word “atheistic.” The problem is teaching mainstream origins science as a valid, factually supported theory of origins, rather than as a false theory. That problem has been ongoing for decades and continues unabated to the present moment.

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  22. Sean Pitman: It’s also very misleading to use a quote from a single student’s perspective to suggest that the personal views and promotion of Darwinian thinking in the classroom really doesn’t have much of an effect on most students. That’s also just not true.

    Why should readers consider your knowledge of classroom teaching superior and more reliable than that of someone who was actually in the classroom? Need I remind you that you have yet to produce any evidence to support your assertions? Just who is misleading who?

    I trust that when you do produce something one day (it’s been several years now that I’ve been requesting the elusive evidence), it will be from more than just one student’s perspective, which you deem unreliable.

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  23. In all fairness, I will add the limited data I have personally gleaned.

    I have personally communicated with three LSU biology majors who graduated in the period 2005-2009. Two of them made clear that there was inappropriate teaching at LSU, and one insisted there was none (of course, individual experiences and intepretations of what was taught will vary). That’s 2/3 supporting Educate Truth’s claims about problems dating to 2009 or earlier, and as I’ve indicated many, many times, I totally believe the claims.

    I have also personally communicated with two biology majors who were enrolled after that time, each of whom insisted they were never taught atheistic origins as fact. Adding the third student I quoted above (posted at LSU’s website), that’s 0/3 supporting Educate Truth’s claims of continuing inappropriate teaching.

    I wish my sample size was larger, but if I am to rely on empirical evidence, which Dr. Pitman continually preaches, how can he fault me for rejecting his claims when he still refuses to back them up with anything beyond bald assertions? And David Read has called into question my “integrity” because of my reliance on empirical data!

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  24. A Servant:
    This should lay to rest your suggestion that La Sierra has, during the last three years, not been teaching evolution as the origin of life. Many more witnesses are available to me beside these.

    Finally, someone (albeit anonymous) offers something of substance. I’m genuinely concerned by this. I’d like to know whether this message was conveyed from the front of the classroom, in the hallway, or in an office. I’d also like to know the language that was used. I do have concern that statements can be misinterpreted. I’m not saying your friends are wrong. If you’re uncomfortable sharing details publicly (as well you should be), I am one who can honor confidential details without divulging them. No one here or elsewhere has seen me share confidetial information from the private conversations I have had. You can email me if you’re willing at ProfessorKent .AT. gmx.com.

    I don’t understand why my requests for evidence have been so offensive to some. I’ve stated repeatedly my convictions that (1) SDA faculty/employees must treat SDA doctrines with respect, and that (2) allegations without foundation in fact are immoral, i.e., bearing false witness. I’m not a pariah for holding to these values.

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    • @Professor Kent: Prof. Kent, I am a biology major who graduated from LSU in 2009. I’ve since moved onto medical school and am about to graduate for there too.

      I transferred in from a public university and I remember that my first thought was, “There is no difference in my science classes from the school I came to the school I’m at now.” I was expecting at least a fair shake to be given to Creation but none ever came. My very first biology class at LSU was general biology with Dr. McCloskey who repeatedly would use this famous line while lecturing, “I too believe in a Creator God, but the evidence speaks for itself.” This statement was always used when addressing the facts of an evolutionary outlook on science. I guess it is fair to say that, he never said “Evolution is the only way that things could have happend.” But you better believe that our classes were taught with that slant. I spoke to Dr. McCloskey privately on various occasions and he would present evidence to me that the flood never happend and that I should study the evidence for myself. I was in Dr. Greer’s break-out session for worship, where he presented a lecture debunking the creation story of Genesis. He went on to say that Genesis 1 and 2 had two conflicting creation accounts and that proved that it was just a story and not fact. He informed us of the literary devices used to structure the story and how it was just that, a story, used by the Hebrews to compete against their neighboring nations, in terms of the origins of the world. I was there when Louis Bishop asked a question in the break-out session and Dr. Grismer blew a gasket and basically yelled at him, calling Christians “idiots, ignorant and closed minded.” I was there when Dr. Bradley presented a lecture on the evolutionary history of humans and how we came from apes and how the account in the Bible of Creation is fictitious. Dr. Bradley told our class that to be created in God’s image, means “to develop thinking and functioning minds, that our ancestor hominids did not possess.” I too was there when Dr. Webster, from the religion department was brought in as a guest lecture and told our class that the Creation account in Genesis was just a story and that it was time that the church catch up with Science.

      I spoke to many of my professors about the origin story that they were so staunchly driving us to adapt as our own. Dr. Perumal’s response to my questioning was one that I respected very much. He said, “we as humans will never know the whole truth, we only know a small part. But one day when we see Jesus, He will answer all our questions.” This stood out to me in stark contrast from the other professors (McCloskey, Greer, Grismer, Bradley) who openly told us time and time again (in lecture halls and outside of them) that they believed in an evolutionary origin story and taught our classes from that slant.

      As a scientist, I have no problem learning about evolution. In fact, I think that it is essential to know about it to be a functioning member of the scientific community. However, my problem resides in the fact that I paid hard earned money to attend an Adventist school and that school did not present me with a fair view of both sides. I struggled a lot with what I was learning and had it not been for my strong upbringing in my faith, I may have discarded the truths I had been taught as a child. But ultimately I chose to just learn this information for my classes and instead believe what my convictions and the Bible said to be true.

      -One Student’s Perspective

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  25. David Read: Jeff, your refusal to deal with reality in this situation is exceedingly strange. You’ve admitted there was a problem at La Sierra, but bizarrely insist that it was magically solved as of 2009, when in fact AAA saw problems after that time, the Board of Trustees formed a creation-evolution study group to solve the problem after that time, a survey was conducted after that time and even La Sierra admitted it had a problem as of February 2011, and Lee Greer got himself fired for trying to solve the problem in 2011.

    I have addressed these remarks from you at Spectrum in much greater detail, but can summarize my response here. The AAA/student survey/creation-evolution study group documents provide no evidence nor even one conclusion to indicate that evolutionism has been taught as fact at LSU since the fall 2009 biology seminar in which a non-LSU individual suggested that Genesis 1 and 2 may not be literal. That was the last evidence anyone has put forth despite several years of repeated requests for it. If you find something in the documents that contradicts my conclusion, then please share. Lee Greer’s firing constitutes no proof whatsoever that evolutionism was being taught as fact.

    You, Sean, and others need to stop belittling me for asking repeatedly for evidence to back your claims. You folks insist that LSU needs to disclose evidence of supportive teaching. You insist that GOD’S WORD cannot be believed without evidence. And then you treat me with exceeding rudeness when I am reluctant to believe YOUR WORD without evidence. Why I should prioritize your word ahead of God’s–and then be roundly criticized for refusing to do so–is utterly beyond me.

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  26. Come on Professor Kent. We live in the information age. Everyone knows LSU teaches evolution. No amount of “smoke screen” by you or anyone else will cover up this reality. Why do you think Jay Galimore in his conference would not support people from his conference to LSU?

    Why not “man up” and admit the truth of the matter and then deal with it. Sean and others have been researching this issue for years. Do you think they dreamed all this up? Or, do you suppose if you repeat your view long enough, it will somehow eventually become the truth?

    Start with the obvious and then go from there. You sound like our liberal politicians who assume everyone is so ignorant they won’t know the difference. Or, more likely, in the end, people just don’t care. Most knowledgeable people know the liberals have control of the church and they plan to keep it that way. And maybe they will. Who knows?

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  27. Sean Pitman: You know very well why I am not at liberty to list off specific names.

    You know very well, Sean, that you have refused to divulge even the slightest details about any evidence you have other than a vague, “I know what I’m talking about.” You have refused to indicate whether you have video or sound recordings that date after 2009; emails from student eyewitnesses that date after 2009; or have had personal conversations with student eyewitnesses after 2009. Frankly, I don’t believe you have any of this evidence. At the very least, you could say something like, “I spoke with two senior biology students in spring 2011 who told me how a biology teacher got up in front of class and told students that all living organisms today descended from a single ancestor.” You lck all credibility when you make very serious claims and then refuse to back them up with evidence.

    I can readily demonstrate your unwillingness or inability to support your claims with facts. Give us one date and venue in which Mr. Diaz, in his short tenture at LSU (3 weeks), has taught LSU students that the full tenets of evolutionism are factual and the SDA position nonsense. And give us the exact number of individuals on your list that constitute the “thousands” of students whose faith was destroyed by LSU.

    If you can’t give us these, then it’s clear your assertions constitute a false witness. It’s as simple as that.

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  28. Professor Kent: Bill, the report put together by th Creation-Evolution Study Group was by far the most detailed investigation. They had access, resources, and manpower that far exceeded anything available to Sean Pitman and Educate Truth. Note the following remarks in their assessment:

    Nevertheless, at least as worrisome as the issue of how the university’s biology curriculum presents creation and evolution is the hostility and lack of civility with which some members of the community have conducted the dialogue of this issue. While coursework in this area comprises a few weeks of time in one or two classes taken by about four percent of the entire student body, the need for civil and reasonable discourse is a matter that should be part of all conversation, both on campus and within the larger Adventist community. And it should be one that is based on facts, not fueled by speculation and rumor.”

    Their emphasis on “two classes taken by about four percent of the entire student body” makes clear their displeasure with Educate Truth’s over-reaction and sensationalization of the issues fueled to no small extent by “speculation and rumor.” I trust their assessment far more than Sean’s or yours. This committee found reasons for grave concern and made recommendations for change, many of which were implemented. But nowhere have they or anyone else formally presented evidence that teaching of evolutionism as fact persists on the campus. And I am still far from fully convinced, though I would like to communicate more with “A Servant” (whose integrity remains far from established).

    You can cry “everyone knows it” until the heavens fall, but the simple reality is that people see conspiracy and evil where they want to see it, even when evidence is lacking. There are people who insist Jesuit Priests have deeply infiltrated our Church. For conspiracists, nothing rallies them more than lack of evidence.

    And yes, I do think Sean dreamed up much, including his unsubstantiated claim that LSU has destroyed the faith of thousands of students. Do you believe he has a list of names?

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  29. If the evidence of LSU’s teaching infidelity has been so substantial, why make a big deal about Raul Diaz? Why seek to defame him by criticizing his looks, his personal leisure tastes, his professional knowledge, and more? Why seek to harm his reputation? Why would Sean state, “All I want to know, at this point, is if he believes in and will teach neo-Darwinism” if he could prove that Diaz is already teaching evolutionism as fact at LSU?

    You folks bought the story hook, line, and sinker, even as Sean was busy editing the story with updated details that did not match the earliest claims. You people believed the initial details based entirely on hearsay. And why? Because you wanted to believe it. As Bill Sorensen put it, “Everyone knows LSU teaches evolution” and “Sean and others have been researching this issue for years.” Talk about confirmation bias!

    The obvious reality is that truth doesn’t matter. In war, truth is the first casualty.

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  30. Sean Pitman: It’s LSU’s taste’s that we’re concerned about here. The hiring of Diaz simply adds to the evidence that LSU really doesn’t care what the church organization believes or thinks or asks them to do.

    Oh…so you’ve expanded the arena of your complaints. It’s no longer just about evolution-creation. Thank you for clarifying.

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  31. Bill Sorensen: Start with the obvious and then go from there.

    So pray tell, Bill. Why, precisely, have you believed that LSU faculty have taught all along that evolutionism is fact. Is it because you have faith in Sean’s word, despite his failure to deliver anything other than “I just know?” Is it because God told you so directly? Is it because you yourself spoke with people at LSU and got your own facts that you failed to disclose here? Was it because you simply wanted to believe it?

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  32. Professor Kent. My brother told me over 20 years ago they were teaching evolution at LSU. He knew people who affirmed it. Guess what? I believe him and all the present dialogue only confirms what hundreds of people know and have known for years. It is just now coming to a head.

    And I am sure the “study committee” is very objective in their evaluation…..not.

    So, as the saying goes, “You can fool all the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can not fool all the people all the time.”

    Like I said, we live in the information age. With all that smoke, we can be sure there is a fire. By the way, I went to LSU in the early 60’s when it was only a college.

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    • @Bill Sorensen: Bill, twenty years ago seems almost ancient history. My neighbor’s daughter went to LSU just a few years (5) ago. Her faith was so shaken she almost left the church. If it was NOT for daily conversations via phone with her dad she would have! LSU certainly did indeed undermine this young lady’s faith in what the SDA Church offically teaches.

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  33. Jesus was put on the cross, in part, because of false accusations brought against Him. I know He cannot possibly look lightly upon those who bring false accusations against others. Our country’s judicial system is built on the presumption of innocence for good reason, and one can say it adheres to Biblical principle. Thus, while I have leaned all along toward believing that La Sierra has some elements that at a minimum bear vigilance, I very much applaud Prof Kent’s insistence that we not rush to judgment, and his reminder that we are all subject to confirmation bias. I also respect his willingness to consider factual evidence when presented.

    I have visited this site with some regularity the past few years, and confess at times I did not know what to believe or who to side with. One issue I have leaned away from was Prof Kent’s position on faith. His arguments have been articulate, thoughtful, and forceful, as well they should be. And he might be right. But I bring this up because he has now made a point that we should all be humble enough to contemplate seriously. He remarked, “Why I should prioritize [Sean’s] word ahead of God’s–and then be roundly criticized for refusing to do so–is utterly beyond me.” Wow! It seems to me there is only one individual whose word can truly be trusted, and that is God.

    If anything, I appreciate the great respect Prof Kent has for rightness, fairness, and dependence on God’s word, and wish that we could be more gracious and accommodating in our discussion, which the Creation-Evolution Study Group rightly called for.

    By the way, did I miss the link to that group’s document? I would like to read it myself.

    Warm regards to all.

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  34. Bill Sorensen: Professor Kent. My brother told me over 20 years ago they were teaching evolution at LSU.

    I have Adventist friends who told me over 20 years ago there were Jesuit priests at the GC, Southern Adventist University, and elsewhere. They insisted at the time they had their facts. Today, ever increasing numbers of Adventists sincerely believe the Jesuit infiltration persists. The Illuminati controls everything. And why do they believe? Like you, they listened to what someone told them, and rather than check the facts out for themselves, their confirmation bias led them to accept the tales as fact. That’s human nature.

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  35. Daniel R Shannon:
    @Bill Sorensen: Bill, twenty years ago seems almost ancient history.My neighbor’s daughter went to LSU just a few years (5) ago.Her faith was so shaken she almost left the church.If it was NOT for daily conversations via phone with her dad she would have!LSU certainly did indeed undermine this young lady’s faith in what the SDA Church offically teaches.

    Daniel, in all sincerity I’m glad that you ministered to your daughter during her formative experience. You’re a model for all parents. Since your daughter did not attend another university, we have no idea how well she would have fared elsewhere. I think the Church would benefit from a thorough study that examines church retention among students attending the various SDA institutios.

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    • Ummm Professor I would suggest you go back and reread my reply. I said it was my NEIGHBOR’s daughter, not mine. Secondly the very issue that almost caused her to lose her faith was THIS very issue under discussion. Evolution versus Creation. She conveyed to us that the professor responsible ridiculed ANYONE who disagreed with him, embarassed them in front of the whole class. In other words, any one that believed God created this planet in six days was attacked.

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  36. No one is “totally objective” Jeff. You know that and so do I. We can be relatively objective enough to come to some rational viable conclusion, can’t we?

    You constantly “muddy” the waters by a lot of inane arguments when if you are “objective” you already know that LSU teaches evolution as a fact. Why don’t you simply [edit] admit it?

    Liberals won’t [admit it]. Obscurity and evasion work best when you want to deny some reality. So, no, I did not do a detailed investigation of every issue. But I have read and heard more than enough to believe I can come to some rational and viable conclusion that LSU is in fact [promoting] evolution and has done so for a number of years.

    Are you denying this, Jeff, or not? Are you claiming LSU is not and has not [promoted] evolution either now or in the past? Where is your “evidence” to support this claim?

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  37. From a post on Spectrum by Ron Osborn:

    The [LSU PR] letter mentions the charge that he [Diaz] is an Agnostic and then proceeds to say absolutely nothing contradicting that assertion. The only sentence they produced to answer this charge they are supposedly responding to: 1. Says nothing about his beliefs. 2. Says nothing about the present and 3. Says nothing about the regularity of his religious practice whenever it was “throughout the span of his academic career” that he attended these “various” churches. It’s not too comforting when in response to the charge of agnosticism you don’t even confirm his belief in God, let alone his Christian belief, let alone his Adventist belief, or even present religious practice, but instead have to appeal to some undefined amount of church attendance at some undefined point of his life. I can think of three explanations: 1. Diaz is a committed, believing, Adventist who was falsely accused and LSU’s PR rep. had a bad day and wrote an incredibly weak defense. 2. He’s a committed, believing, Adventist, but the PR doesn’t think that’s any of our business. In which case, they should have been honest and said that, instead of insulting our intelligence by a response that doesn’t even come to addressing the charge. 3. The worst possibility: that response was actually good PR. It was the best “response” that could possibly be given.

    http://spectrummagazine.org/blog/2013/01/27/la-sierra-university-responds-recent-attacks#disqus_thread

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  38. Bill Sorensen: You constantly “muddy” the waters by a lot of inane arguments when if you are “objective” you already know that LSU teaches evolution as a fact. Why don’t you simply [edit] admit it?

    Bill, I seem to have gotten under your skin. I know for 100% fact that last school year LSU Biology gave a vigorous and supportive presentation of the SDA position of creation. If Sean Pitman knows as much as he claims he does, he is fully aware of this. Of course, he only wants you people to know one side of the story.

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    • If you are refering to a very quitely held lecture by Walter Veith at LSU last year, what’s your point? A single lecture from a outside professor in support of creation, having nothing to do with what the science or even religion departments at LSU are themselves teaching, doesn’t remotely negate the effects of hiring and maintaining neo-Darwinists who believe in and promote just the opposite in their classrooms, press releases, public statements, and publications. Bringing on Dr. Raul Diaz only confirms the lip service attitude that LSU’s leadership pays to the name their school is supposed to represent – “Seventh-day Adventist University”.

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  39. Sean Pitman: If you are refering to a very quitely held lecture by Walter Veith at LSU last year, what’s your point?

    If you (or Bill) knew as much as you claim, you could readily tell us who taught biology seminar, what the topics were, and who the invited speakers were. Hint: it wasn’t Veith.

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  40. Sean Pitman: Why don’t you tell us? After all, I’ve spoken there a couple times myself. Again, this is irrelevant to the fact that LSU hires and maintains professors who believe and promote neo-Darwinism as the most plausible story of origins.

    I’m reluctant to tell you because:

    1) Your readers might think Professor Kent has a better grasp on the situation than you do. Moreover, they would be very disappointed in, or refuse to believe, any report that LSU upholds SDA beliefs.

    2) You and your readers would mount an all-out campaign to discredit another fellow Christian.

    And it’s disengenuous to say it is “irrelevant to the fact that LSU hires and maintains professors who believe and promote neo-Darwinism as the most plausible story of origins” if, in fact, LSU was teaching that neo-Darwinism has limitations and cannot be regarded as the most plausible story of origins.

    Sorry, but I don’t believe you’re as well informed as you want your readers to believe, and I don’t think that truth really matters to you.

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    • Your readers might think Professor Kent has a better grasp on the situation than you do. Moreover, they would be very disappointed in, or refuse to believe, any report that LSU upholds SDA beliefs.

      Not true. I’d personally be very happy to publish credible evidence that LSU is now active in upholding and promoting the SDA position on origins. Such news would be very encouraging to me personally…

      As far as someone else having a better grasp on what’s happening at LSU, that’s certainly possible since I’m not there. I live in N. Cal. after all and have to depend on what people who are there are telling me.

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  41. Sean Pitman: As far as someone else having a better grasp on what’s happening at LSU, that’s certainly possible since I’m not there. I live in N. Cal. after all and have to depend on what people who are there are telling me.

    I appreciate your frank admission.

    Do you believe that two people who see the same event, such as an automobile accident, often describe it in different terms? Have you ever heard a sermon in which two people thought the speaker was saying very different things?

    In all seriousness, do you suppose those most likely to communicate things to you are those who are most likely to interpret statements by others the way you do? Or do you suppose the information you get is bias-free?

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  42. David, I believe you are underestimating the gravity of the situation. I know you want to pin much of this on Randal Wisbey, who is a brilliant tactician and enginereed much of this after the fortuitous Louis Bishop incident. But the reality is that he could not orchestrate these things entirely on his own. He had to have help when as President of Columbia Union College he secretly arranged for the eventual withdrawal of accreditation at Atlantic Union College. He knew full well they were vulnerable and saw it as a great starting point to thwart Adventist education. Of course he jumped at the opportunity to become President at LSU, because he knew that their biologists and theologians could easily be manipulated to create public furor over evolutionist teaching. He was able to arrange the firing of five faculty over a few years time (McClosky, Bradley, Katz, Beach Greer), hoping that one of them (three as it turned out) would force a lawsuit and a confrontation with WASC. But he had to have help, of course, because he could not afford to be with the LSU “four” when they supposedly inadvertently recorded their forbidden talk of WASC accreditation. He knew full well that once WASC capitulated to his ruse, other regional accreditation agencies would see the value in WASC’s approach to wresting control of private universities from their church organizations. But again, he could not achieve all of this without the covert cooperation of other SDA leaders, almost surely including other SDA university presidents, at least one critical person at the GC whose name you can probably surmise, and probably one or two WASC officials whom he has possibly paid off. I’m guessing that Wisbey has already anticipated your efforts to block his plan, so he probably has an end-around in place. He is no doubt one step ahead of us, so let’s not settle too quickly on sensible explanations like the one you have proposed. We’re going to have to dig deeper and maintain suspicion of other influential parties as well. This is war, and we cannot allow this one mastermind to inflict irreparable harm to Adventist education. And we need to be alert to the possibility that a mastermind is manipulating Wisbey.

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    • @Professor Kent: Jeff, obviously your tongue is planted firmly in your cheek, but I really do admire Wisbey as a tactician and strategist. He is way ahead of the laity (who aren’t really even in the game, because no one wants to believe how committed the Left Coast is to liberalizing the SDA Church), he easily outmaneuvered Ricardo Graham (who is a creationist but is hopelessly over his head with Randal), he eventually outmaneuvered the three capable creationist women on his board (and had them kicked off the board), he is way ahead of AAA (he has them utterly bamboozled), he managed to use the LSU-3 situation, which should have revealed to the larger church how liberal La Sierra is, to his advantage vis-a-vis his strategy to use WASC to loosen church control, and he managed to thwart Lee Greer’s attempt at compromise with Larry Blackmer, AAA and the NAD, and not only to thwart it but to use it to consolidate his power, by kicking 3 of the 4 board members who signed the Greer document off the board and eventually firing Lee Greer.

      So you may ridicule Wisbey’s conspiratorial abilities, but I do not. I have a healthy respect for both his determination to liberalize La Sierra and the larger church and his ability to make it happen.

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    • We already know that there was a conspiratorial effort on the part of several professors at LSU to separate LSU from the church. This little conspiracy was recorded, inadvertently, and published, by one of the conspirators himself, on the internet. That is why they all resigned when they saw the transcript of what had been published. It was pretty blatant stuff. And, it is the reason why there is a lawsuit in the works between these professors and LSU – over the right of the church or LSU to use this inadvertently published “private” conversation between the four conspirators… without the involvement of the school board.

      Now, regarding the theory that Wisbey was also involved and planned much of what has taken place since 2009, I really doubt it. He certainly is liberal in his thinking regarding Adventism, and does evidently view mainstream Darwinian theories in a favorable light. However, I cannot bring myself to imagine that he is deliberately trying to remove LSU from the church or to orchestrate some conspiratorial effort in this regard. I just don’t think he cares if neo-Darwinism is promoted in our schools. I think he views such efforts as “progressive”. That’s all.

      It seems to me that much of what has happened has been completely unpredictable by all – including Wisbey. I think he’s been completely surprised by what has taken place numerous times. I don’t think he planned for all the WASC interventions nor was he aware of the secret recordings or plans of the four professors who recorded themselves conspiring against the church. I don’t think he’s been supportive of the church in any regard, but I don’t think he’s some brilliant conspirator either – more along the lines of George W and the 9/11 conspiracy theories. There’s just not enough horse power to pull it off.

      Sean Pitman
      http://www.DetectingDesign.com

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  43. Sean&#032Pitman: We already know that there was a conspiratorial effort on the part of several professors at LSU to separate LSU from the church.

    Uncomfortable posting my messages again, eh? I should have taken another screen shot, but I can rewrite this again:

    No one has conspired more fervently to separate LSU from the SDA Church than you, David Read, Bob Ryan, and others here. You condemn several faculty potentially affected by WASC actions for having a private conversation in a home about how WASC might respond to external pressure that you yourself have orchestrated, yet you guys have repeatedly called for the separation of LSU from the denomination, even urging SDA parents to boycott the university by sending their kids elsewhere.

    Talk about the ultimate hypocrisy!

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    • There’s no “conspiracy” on my part. What I’m doing I’m doing quite openly – without the use of pseudonyms or hidden agendas. There is no confusion regarding what I think about LSU. Clearly, I don’t think LSU is a truly Adventist institution in that it has long undermined, in a very active manner, the Adventist position on origins in its science, and even religion, classrooms. LSU has destroyed the faith of many students in the Adventist message regarding origins – probably hundreds and possibly thousands of students and/or, by extension, those with whom they associate (such as wives, children, family and friends) over the course of the past several decades.

      These students were sent, at great cost, to what their parents thought was an institution supportive of all Adventist fundamentals. Such false advertising is unconscionable on the part of LSU and many will have to answer in the Judgement for what has happened to the charges under their care.

      Certainly no parents who wish their children to receive a truly Adventist education should send their children to LSU. And, if LSU does not change its deliberate course and become supportive of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church is morally obligated to warn its own membership at large that LSU is really no longer an SDA institution – and AAA accreditation should be suspended indefinitely until this situation is rectified.

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  44. It is self-evidently preposterous to claim that, because Gabe Diaz was baptized as an 11-year old, his current views are orthodox. And yet that is what Larry Becker does. Incredible!

    I do want to address Larry Becker’s soothing words about the bylaw changes. Randal Wisbey is far too smart to try to get all of the church officers kicked off the La Sierra Board of Trustees. That might shake some important people out of their collective coma. He understands that he has to work incrementally to loosen the university’s ties to the church, and that is what he is doing.

    But let us not minimize what a big step these bylaw changes really are. Under the current bylaws, the president of the Pacific Union is automatically the chairman of La Sierra’s Board of Trustees. He doesn’t have to be elected to that position; it goes with his office. Now, Ricardo Graham, if he disagrees with Wisbey on origins (and I am told he does) has been ineffective at overruling Wisbey and correcting the problem; Wisbey has been easily able to control him. But what if a new union president came into office, one who was opposed to Wisbey’s agenda and was strong enough to effectively resist Wisbey? That would be a huge setback for Wisbey and his Darwinistic, liberal agenda. But with these bylaw changes, that can never happen. That hypothetical new union president couldn’t even be elected chair of La Sierra’s board. Assuming that Pacific Union College doesn’t change its bylaws, the president of the Pacific Union will still be the ex-officio chair of PUC’s board and hence can never again serve as the chair of La Sierra’s Board of Trustees.

    We are told that, under the proposed bylaw changes, the chairman must be a church officer, but that leaves several persons to choose from. The chairman must be elected by the board, and Randal Wisbey has been packing the board with liberals who he hopes will support his agenda. He flexed his muscles in late 2011, when he had three strong creationists and opponents of his agenda (Carla Lidner-Baum, Kathy Proffitt, and Marta Tooma) kicked off the Board of Trustees. The liberal board that Wisbey has put in place can easily vote for the most liberal of the several church officers who are on the board.

    So the current bylaw changes are a major step toward “institutional autonomy” and away from church control of La Sierra. Moreover, Larry Becker’s press release notwithstanding, “institutional autonomy” has been WASC’s stated concern and the stated reason why WASC recommended bylaw changes for La Sierra. The purported conflict of interest posed by having one man chair both PUC’s and La Sierra’s boards was not a concern of WASC; it is a cover story put forward by La Sierra to divert attention from the fact that they are about to approve bylaw changes that loosen their ties to the Adventist Church. What we have here is WASC recommending bylaw changes to strengthen “institutional autonomy” and diminish church control, and La Sierra carrying out exactly that type of bylaw changes, hence setting a disastrous precedent for other regional accrediting bodies and other Adventist colleges.

    This is a blueprint for how to separate every Adventist college from the denomination, and yet no one seems to be paying attention. What will wake denominational leadership up to the fact that our entire post-secondary educational system is about to be imperiled by a vote on February 21?

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    • I agree@David Read:

      I agree that their strategy for the board is also a well crafted plan designed to remove what little positive influence the Union could possible have – in the future.

      If the board does not like a chosen liberal Union chair who does not turn out to be as in-the-tank as they were first thinking – they could simply threaten to vote in some other Union lib. This continual threat to change chair persons would always give them leverage with each new chair person. They can always remove any chair person that happens to vote or influence someone in a direction that does not serve evolutionist goals, or SDA separationist goals in general.

      When will the SECC laity wake up?

      When will the PUC laity wake up?

      Or are they already awake – and is this thing really serving their own separatist agendas? What is the real deal with that part of the extreme left-coast?

      ( I say this as a true native of that extreme left coast – but not at all happy with how far down the slippery slope it has gone.)

      in Christ,

      Bob

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  45. David&#032Read:
    @Professor Kent: Jeff, obviously your tongue is planted firmly in your cheek, but I really do admire Wisbey as a tactician and strategist…

    My tongue actually formed the words “Jesuit Priest,” and my fingers typed out the letters, but someone refused to post that message.

    In all seriousness, I think you know and understand less about the man than you believe you do. At the same time, while you might be right, I sincerely hope that Dr. Wisby is committed to maintaining a healthy, loyal, respectful Adventist environment on the campus. I’m far from convinced he’s the devious force you make him out to be.

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  46. Art&#032Chadwick: I am fearful that we may not see the awful consequences of failing to act when there is blatant disregard for the truth of the Scriptures being promoted by an agency of our church.

    What blatant disregard? Give us some tangible evidence that evolutionism has been taught as fact at LSU within the past three years. I’ve repeatedly challenged Sean Pitman and David Read, here and at Spectrum, to produce this evidence. All I’ve gotten is, from David Read (last night at Spectrum), “Jeff, there is no doubt whatsoever that La Sierra teaches Darwinism as fact, as the preferred belief about origins. Lee Greer has been frank and honest about that, as have others. I don’t know what is driving your need to muddy the waters, but it is a comment on your integrity, not mine or Sean Pitman’s.”

    You people claim to be able to differentiate empirical evidence from faith. Why don’t you actually supply some evidence so that we know your claims are more than just a warm feeling in your gut.

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    • Professor Kent, I have 4 eyewitness testimonies from students who have attended La Sierra during the last three years, that evolution has been promoted repeatedly as the mechanism for the origin of life, according to La Sierra professors on the La Sierra campus. Since I am a medical student at Loma Linda, I have easy access to the campus at La Sierra and often see these friends.

      I am not willing to share their names in this forum, because I believe they would receive reprisal from LSU administration or faculty if their identities were revealed. I realize that this gesture of respect for them may make it difficult for you to believe that my report is accurate. However, others who read this blog may judge differently.

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  47. 2Chron 36:14-16
    “Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the Lord which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.
    15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.

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  48. I am fearful that we may not see the awful consequences of failing to act when there is blatant disregard for the truth of the Scriptures being promoted by an agency of our church. Nor can we, individually or as a church, just ignore this. The whole church suffers when we fail to act to deal with sin in our midst. I pray that our leaders may be courageous to face this problem at La Sierra and elsewhere. The following quotation supports the contention that all of us should be very concerned:

    “I was shown that the manner of Achan’s confession was similar to the confessions that some among us have made and will make. They hide their wrongs and refuse to make a voluntary confession until God searches them out, and then they acknowledge their sins. A few persons pass on in a course of wrong until they become hardened. They may even know that the church is burdened, as Achan knew that Israel were made weak before their enemies because of his guilt. Yet their consciences do not condemn them. They will not relieve the church by humbling their proud, rebellious hearts before God and putting away their wrongs. God’s displeasure is upon His people, and He will not manifest His power in the midst of them while sins exist among them and are fostered by those in responsible positions.”

    — Testimonies for the Church Volume Three, page 270

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  49. Sean&#032Pitman: Also, if you continue to post deliberately misleading attacks, as well as personal attacks and conjectures regarding motives and morality, I will most certainly block you from continuing to post in this forum.

    You have blocked my comments on Matthew 18 for reasons you really should address. Do you believe you honored the principles of Matthew 18 and the clearly stated policies in the SDA Church Manual when you posted inflammatory comments about Mr. Diaz before going to him in person?

    If you have complied with these principles and policies, then why would you label my comments “misleading attacks,” “personal attacks,” and “conjectures regarding motives and morality?” After all, haven’t you and David Read made statements that Diaz, Wisbey, and others would consider “personal attacks?” Haven’t you guys made “conjectures regarding motives and morality?” Or do you seriously believe you have all your facts and ducks lined up, and I’m the one out of line to ask you the hard questions?

    I don’t care if you make me look bad. Maybe I am failing to understand how you justify your actions. Just explain how it is you’ve complied with Matthew 18 and the Church Manual in the way you guys have treated Diaz, Wisbey, and LSU. If you can do so, I can stop asking.

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    • I have not blocked any of your posts for mentioning Matthew 18. This isn’t about Dr. Diaz. This is about LSU hiring someone who is fundamentally opposed to a doctrinal position of the Adventist Church – and is quite public about his position(s). LSU has already been warned, privately and publicly over many years, without a substantive change in course. You have a different view on these matters, which is fine. You just need to express yourself in a more civil manner, as you usually do.

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  50. Sean&#032Pitman: You know very well why I am not at liberty to list off specific names.

    You know very well, Sean, that you have refused to divulge even the slightest details about any evidence you have other than a vague, “I know what I’m talking about.” You have refused to indicate whether you have video or sound recordings that date after 2009; emails from student eyewitnesses that date after 2009; or have had personal conversations with student eyewitnesses after 2009. Frankly, I don’t believe you have any of this evidence. At the very least, you could say something like, “I spoke with two senior biology students in spring 2011 who told me how a biology teacher got up in front of class and told students that all living organisms today descended from a single ancestor.” You lck all credibility when you make very serious claims and then refuse to back them up with evidence.

    I can readily demonstrate your unwillingness or inability to support your claims with facts. Give us one date and venue in which Mr. Diaz, in his short tenture at LSU (3 weeks), has taught LSU students that the full tenets of evolutionism are factual and the SDA position nonsense. And give us the exact number of individuals on your list that constitute the “thousands” of students whose faith was destroyed by LSU.

    If you can’t give us these, then it’s clear your assertions constitute a false witness. It’s as simple as that.

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  51. Sean&#032Pitman: It’s also very misleading to use a quote from a single student’s perspective to suggest that the personal views and promotion of Darwinian thinking in the classroom really doesn’t have much of an effect on most students. That’s also just not true.

    Why should readers consider your knowledge of classroom teaching superior and more reliable than that of someone who was actually in the classroom? Need I remind you that you have yet to produce any evidence to support your assertions? Just who is misleading who?

    I trust that when you do produce something one day (it’s been several years now that I’ve been requesting the elusive evidence), it will be from more than just one student’s perspective, which you deem unreliable.

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  52. Sean&#032Pitman: LSU is still undermining the Adventist position on origins, not promoting it. It is just that the information I get isn’t coming from LSU administration. This has never been the case. There’s always been an effort to cover up or whitewash the promotion of Darwinian thinking at LSU

    All I’m asking for is transparency. You should be up front about your information–if, in fact, you have any. Parents need the truth about La Sierra University. It’s false advertising on your part when you make claims that you cannot back up with facts.

    LSU’s website proclaims in several places that they uphold and teach the SDA interpretation of origins. They are more transparent in this regard than any other SDA university. Your website insists LSU is lying and covering up what you claim is all-out indoctrination of evolutionism. But it’s increasingly clear that rather than offer empirical evidence, Educate Truth continues to cover up or whitewash the lack of evidence supporting its claims.

    Look, Sean, if there is no empirical evidence to support your belief that LSU continues to teach evolutionism as fact, then your belief is as useless as belief in Santa Claus, the Tooth Ferry, and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. God expects us to use our God-given brains. I shouldn’t need to remind you of this. I’m sorry, but blind faith based on bald assertions from you and others just does not cut it for me.

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  53. Sean&#032Pitman: I have not blocked any of your posts for mentioning Matthew 18. This isn’t about Dr. Diaz. This is about LSU hiring someone who is fundamentally opposed to a doctrinal position of the Adventist Church – and is quite public about his position(s).

    If this was true, you wouldn’t be digging up personal details about Mr. Diaz’s taste in music and movies, which you are now having fun with at Spectrum. You’re delving into what you deem to be character issues that go far beyond his beliefs in origins. When character assassination meets your needs, you consider it fair play.

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    • Larry Becker’s suggestion that Dr. Diaz is a church-going Adventist young man who is well in line with and supportive of the church’s primary goals and mission simply isn’t true – regardless of how wonderful a person Dr. Diaz may be. How he presents himself in various public forums is very much at odds with Adventist fundamentals as well as what is generally considered to be a church-going Adventist lifestyle. Again, parents and the church membership at large have a right to know how a professor at one of our schools publicly presents himself. This isn’t some secret information that Diaz is trying to hide. This is how he wishes to present himself in public forum.

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  54. Bill&#032Sorensen: Start with the obvious and then go from there.

    So pray tell, Bill. Why, precisely, have you believed that LSU faculty have taught all along that evolutionism is fact. Is it because you have faith in Sean’s word, despite his failure to deliver anything other than “I just know?” Is it because God told you so directly? Is it because you yourself spoke with people at LSU and got your own facts that you failed to disclose here? Was it because you simply wanted to believe it?

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  55. Professor Kent. My brother told me over 20 years ago they were teaching evolution at LSU. He knew people who affirmed it. Guess what? I believe him and all the present dialogue only confirms what hundreds of people know and have known for years. It is just now coming to a head.

    And I am sure the “study committee” is very objective in their evaluation…..not.

    So, as the saying goes, “You can fool all the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can not fool all the people all the time.”

    Like I said, we live in the information age. With all that smoke, we can be sure there is a fire. By the way, I went to LSU in the early 60’s when it was only a college.

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    • @Bill Sorensen: Bill, twenty years ago seems almost ancient history. My neighbor’s daughter went to LSU just a few years (5) ago. Her faith was so shaken she almost left the church. If it was NOT for daily conversations via phone with her dad she would have! LSU certainly did indeed undermine this young lady’s faith in what the SDA Church offically teaches.

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  56. If the evidence of LSU’s teaching infidelity has been so substantial, why make a big deal about Raul Diaz? Why seek to defame him by criticizing his looks, his personal leisure tastes, his professional knowledge, and more? Why seek to harm his reputation? Why would Sean state, “All I want to know, at this point, is if he believes in and will teach neo-Darwinism” if he could prove that Diaz is already teaching evolutionism as fact at LSU?

    You folks bought the story hook, line, and sinker, even as Sean was busy editing the story with updated details that did not match the earliest claims. You people believed the initial details based entirely on hearsay. And why? Because you wanted to believe it. As Bill Sorensen put it, “Everyone knows LSU teaches evolution” and “Sean and others have been researching this issue for years.” Talk about confirmation bias!

    The obvious reality is that truth doesn’t matter. In war, truth is the first casualty.

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  57. David&#032Read: In promoting an atheistic origins narrative in opposition to the biblical, Adventist view of a creation in six literal days a few thousand years ago, La Sierra is flagrantly disregarding the Lord’s messenger for our time. I should think this would be obvious to you.

    It is, indeeed, obvious to me that promoting an atheistic origins narrative in opposition to the SDA narrative at La Sierra would be flagrantly ignoring Ellen White’s advice. It would also be exceedingly disrespectful.

    But it’s equally obvious to me that if they are not doing so, then your changes are baseless, immoral, and possibly criminal. Wouldn’t you agree that publicly accusing others of wrongdoing without a basis in fact is flagrantly ignoring both God’s direct word (specifically “Thou shalt not bear false witness”) and the Lord’s messenger for our time? I should think this would be obvious to you.

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    • @Professor Kent: Jeff, your refusal to deal with reality in this situation is exceedingly strange. You’ve admitted there was a problem at La Sierra, but bizarrely insist that it was magically solved as of 2009, when in fact AAA saw problems after that time, the Board of Trustees formed a creation-evolution study group to solve the problem after that time, a survey was conducted after that time and even La Sierra admitted it had a problem as of February 2011, and Lee Greer got himself fired for trying to solve the problem in 2011.

      I don’t want to play games with you about the word “atheistic.” The problem is teaching mainstream origins science as a valid, factually supported theory of origins, rather than as a false theory. That problem has been ongoing for decades and continues unabated to the present moment.

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  58. Jesus was put on the cross, in part, because of false accusations brought against Him. I know He cannot possibly look lightly upon those who bring false accusations against others. Our country’s judicial system is built on the presumption of innocence for good reason, and one can say it adheres to Biblical principle. Thus, while I have leaned all along toward believing that La Sierra has some elements that at a minimum bear vigilance, I very much applaud Prof Kent’s insistence that we not rush to judgment, and his reminder that we are all subject to confirmation bias. I also respect his willingness to consider factual evidence when presented.

    I have visited this site with some regularity the past few years, and confess at times I did not know what to believe or who to side with. One issue I have leaned away from was Prof Kent’s position on faith. His arguments have been articulate, thoughtful, and forceful, as well they should be. And he might be right. But I bring this up because he has now made a point that we should all be humble enough to contemplate seriously. He remarked, “Why I should prioritize [Sean’s] word ahead of God’s–and then be roundly criticized for refusing to do so–is utterly beyond me.” Wow! It seems to me there is only one individual whose word can truly be trusted, and that is God.

    If anything, I appreciate the great respect Prof Kent has for rightness, fairness, and dependence on God’s word, and wish that we could be more gracious and accommodating in our discussion, which the Creation-Evolution Study Group rightly called for.

    By the way, did I miss the link to that group’s document? I would like to read it myself.

    Warm regards to all.

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  59. Come on Professor Kent. We live in the information age. Everyone knows LSU teaches evolution. No amount of “smoke screen” by you or anyone else will cover up this reality. Why do you think Jay Galimore in his conference would not support people from his conference to LSU?

    Why not “man up” and admit the truth of the matter and then deal with it. Sean and others have been researching this issue for years. Do you think they dreamed all this up? Or, do you suppose if you repeat your view long enough, it will somehow eventually become the truth?

    Start with the obvious and then go from there. You sound like our liberal politicians who assume everyone is so ignorant they won’t know the difference. Or, more likely, in the end, people just don’t care. Most knowledgeable people know the liberals have control of the church and they plan to keep it that way. And maybe they will. Who knows?

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  60. A&#032Servant:
    This should lay to rest your suggestion that La Sierra has, during the last three years, not been teaching evolution as the origin of life. Many more witnesses are available to me beside these.

    Finally, someone (albeit anonymous) offers something of substance. I’m genuinely concerned by this. I’d like to know whether this message was conveyed from the front of the classroom, in the hallway, or in an office. I’d also like to know the language that was used. I do have concern that statements can be misinterpreted. I’m not saying your friends are wrong. If you’re uncomfortable sharing details publicly (as well you should be), I am one who can honor confidential details without divulging them. No one here or elsewhere has seen me share confidetial information from the private conversations I have had. You can email me if you’re willing at ProfessorKent .AT. gmx.com.

    I don’t understand why my requests for evidence have been so offensive to some. I’ve stated repeatedly my convictions that (1) SDA faculty/employees must treat SDA doctrines with respect, and that (2) allegations without foundation in fact are immoral, i.e., bearing false witness. I’m not a pariah for holding to these values.

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    • @Professor Kent: Prof. Kent, I am a biology major who graduated from LSU in 2009. I’ve since moved onto medical school and am about to graduate for there too.

      I transferred in from a public university and I remember that my first thought was, “There is no difference in my science classes from the school I came to the school I’m at now.” I was expecting at least a fair shake to be given to Creation but none ever came. My very first biology class at LSU was general biology with Dr. McCloskey who repeatedly would use this famous line while lecturing, “I too believe in a Creator God, but the evidence speaks for itself.” This statement was always used when addressing the facts of an evolutionary outlook on science. I guess it is fair to say that, he never said “Evolution is the only way that things could have happend.” But you better believe that our classes were taught with that slant. I spoke to Dr. McCloskey privately on various occasions and he would present evidence to me that the flood never happend and that I should study the evidence for myself. I was in Dr. Greer’s break-out session for worship, where he presented a lecture debunking the creation story of Genesis. He went on to say that Genesis 1 and 2 had two conflicting creation accounts and that proved that it was just a story and not fact. He informed us of the literary devices used to structure the story and how it was just that, a story, used by the Hebrews to compete against their neighboring nations, in terms of the origins of the world. I was there when Louis Bishop asked a question in the break-out session and Dr. Grismer blew a gasket and basically yelled at him, calling Christians “idiots, ignorant and closed minded.” I was there when Dr. Bradley presented a lecture on the evolutionary history of humans and how we came from apes and how the account in the Bible of Creation is fictitious. Dr. Bradley told our class that to be created in God’s image, means “to develop thinking and functioning minds, that our ancestor hominids did not possess.” I too was there when Dr. Webster, from the religion department was brought in as a guest lecture and told our class that the Creation account in Genesis was just a story and that it was time that the church catch up with Science.

      I spoke to many of my professors about the origin story that they were so staunchly driving us to adapt as our own. Dr. Perumal’s response to my questioning was one that I respected very much. He said, “we as humans will never know the whole truth, we only know a small part. But one day when we see Jesus, He will answer all our questions.” This stood out to me in stark contrast from the other professors (McCloskey, Greer, Grismer, Bradley) who openly told us time and time again (in lecture halls and outside of them) that they believed in an evolutionary origin story and taught our classes from that slant.

      As a scientist, I have no problem learning about evolution. In fact, I think that it is essential to know about it to be a functioning member of the scientific community. However, my problem resides in the fact that I paid hard earned money to attend an Adventist school and that school did not present me with a fair view of both sides. I struggled a lot with what I was learning and had it not been for my strong upbringing in my faith, I may have discarded the truths I had been taught as a child. But ultimately I chose to just learn this information for my classes and instead believe what my convictions and the Bible said to be true.

      -One Student’s Perspective

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  61. David&#032Read: Jeff, your refusal to deal with reality in this situation is exceedingly strange. You’ve admitted there was a problem at La Sierra, but bizarrely insist that it was magically solved as of 2009, when in fact AAA saw problems after that time, the Board of Trustees formed a creation-evolution study group to solve the problem after that time, a survey was conducted after that time and even La Sierra admitted it had a problem as of February 2011, and Lee Greer got himself fired for trying to solve the problem in 2011.

    I have addressed these remarks from you at Spectrum in much greater detail, but can summarize my response here. The AAA/student survey/creation-evolution study group documents provide no evidence nor even one conclusion to indicate that evolutionism has been taught as fact at LSU since the fall 2009 biology seminar in which a non-LSU individual suggested that Genesis 1 and 2 may not be literal. That was the last evidence anyone has put forth despite several years of repeated requests for it. If you find something in the documents that contradicts my conclusion, then please share. Lee Greer’s firing constitutes no proof whatsoever that evolutionism was being taught as fact.

    You, Sean, and others need to stop belittling me for asking repeatedly for evidence to back your claims. You folks insist that LSU needs to disclose evidence of supportive teaching. You insist that GOD’S WORD cannot be believed without evidence. And then you treat me with exceeding rudeness when I am reluctant to believe YOUR WORD without evidence. Why I should prioritize your word ahead of God’s–and then be roundly criticized for refusing to do so–is utterly beyond me.

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  62. Professor&#032Kent: Bill, the report put together by th Creation-Evolution Study Group was by far the most detailed investigation. They had access, resources, and manpower that far exceeded anything available to Sean Pitman and Educate Truth. Note the following remarks in their assessment:

    Nevertheless, at least as worrisome as the issue of how the university’s biology curriculum presents creation and evolution is the hostility and lack of civility with which some members of the community have conducted the dialogue of this issue. While coursework in this area comprises a few weeks of time in one or two classes taken by about four percent of the entire student body, the need for civil and reasonable discourse is a matter that should be part of all conversation, both on campus and within the larger Adventist community. And it should be one that is based on facts, not fueled by speculation and rumor.”

    Their emphasis on “two classes taken by about four percent of the entire student body” makes clear their displeasure with Educate Truth’s over-reaction and sensationalization of the issues fueled to no small extent by “speculation and rumor.” I trust their assessment far more than Sean’s or yours. This committee found reasons for grave concern and made recommendations for change, many of which were implemented. But nowhere have they or anyone else formally presented evidence that teaching of evolutionism as fact persists on the campus. And I am still far from fully convinced, though I would like to communicate more with “A Servant” (whose integrity remains far from established).

    You can cry “everyone knows it” until the heavens fall, but the simple reality is that people see conspiracy and evil where they want to see it, even when evidence is lacking. There are people who insist Jesuit Priests have deeply infiltrated our Church. For conspiracists, nothing rallies them more than lack of evidence.

    And yes, I do think Sean dreamed up much, including his unsubstantiated claim that LSU has destroyed the faith of thousands of students. Do you believe he has a list of names?

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  63. Sean&#032Pitman: It’s LSU’s taste’s that we’re concerned about here. The hiring of Diaz simply adds to the evidence that LSU really doesn’t care what the church organization believes or thinks or asks them to do.

    Oh…so you’ve expanded the arena of your complaints. It’s no longer just about evolution-creation. Thank you for clarifying.

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  64. Bill&#032Sorensen: Professor Kent. My brother told me over 20 years ago they were teaching evolution at LSU.

    I have Adventist friends who told me over 20 years ago there were Jesuit priests at the GC, Southern Adventist University, and elsewhere. They insisted at the time they had their facts. Today, ever increasing numbers of Adventists sincerely believe the Jesuit infiltration persists. The Illuminati controls everything. And why do they believe? Like you, they listened to what someone told them, and rather than check the facts out for themselves, their confirmation bias led them to accept the tales as fact. That’s human nature.

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    • @Professor Kent: Jeff, the messenger of the Lord for our time is Ellen White, and you should be familiar with her warnings regarding Lyellism and Darwinism. If not, some of the more pertinent passages are set out in chapter 7 of my book, “Dinosaurs — an Adventist View.”

      In promoting an atheistic origins narrative in opposition to the biblical, Adventist view of a creation in six literal days a few thousand years ago, La Sierra is flagrantly disregarding the Lord’s messenger for our time. I should think this would be obvious to you.

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  65. Earlier today at Spectrum, Sean wrote:

    Sean Pitman: Just come out with it and openly admit what you stand for and are in fact teaching. Allow relevant excerpts and video clips from classroom notes and lectures to be published for all to see what is being taught to our young people. Allow some transparency here.

    Clearly, Sean has no clue what is and is not being taught at LSU. If he had access to what is being taught, he would not be begging for the details to be released.

    Contrast all the claims here with a quote from a current LSU student:

    They aren’t teaching evolutionary theory as fact at LSU. We are presented with evidence identified by the scientific community, and informed of different methods and measurement tools by which that evidence and certain biological processes are assessed. We are able to make use of laboratory equipment to conduct experiments and can ask questions of our professors if we have any…

    In the SDA academy that I attended, my science teacher never wanted to engage in any discussion or deal with any questions from students about evolution. Just the word was enough to elicit fear. So I, and other students like me, came to La Sierra University without any level of understanding at all regarding evolutionary theory. Imagine how tense it got in the classroom when a professor announces that we will be learning about it. It was completely new to me, but I was able to spend time both in and out of class discussing it with my professor. He didn’t push anything on me. He didn’t encourage me to question the existence of God. In fact, more than ever, I gained a new level of appreciation of the incredible beauty and detail of God’s creation. And I gained an understanding of (not belief in) evolutionary theory so that when needed, I can engage in discussion with individuals who do not know my God. The experience strengthened my faith.”

    I know, I know. You folks will insist this student is lying.

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    • LSU is still undermining the Adventist position on origins, not promoting it. It is just that the information I get isn’t coming from LSU administration. It should be standard policy for the administration of the school to be transparent about what is being taught at LSU. This has never been the case. There’s always been an effort to cover up or whitewash the promotion of Darwinian thinking at LSU (as in this latest very misleading statement from Larry Becker). That’s a problem.

      It’s also very misleading to use a quote from a single student’s perspective to suggest that the personal views and promotion of Darwinian thinking in the classroom by admired professors really doesn’t have much of an effect on most students. That’s also just not true. The knowledge of what a professor personally believes on a given topic has a profound effect on many students who look up to him/her as a mentor.

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  66. In all fairness, I will add the limited data I have personally gleaned.

    I have personally communicated with three LSU biology majors who graduated in the period 2005-2009. Two of them made clear that there was inappropriate teaching at LSU, and one insisted there was none (of course, individual experiences and intepretations of what was taught will vary). That’s 2/3 supporting Educate Truth’s claims about problems dating to 2009 or earlier, and as I’ve indicated many, many times, I totally believe the claims.

    I have also personally communicated with two biology majors who were enrolled after that time, each of whom insisted they were never taught atheistic origins as fact. Adding the third student I quoted above (posted at LSU’s website), that’s 0/3 supporting Educate Truth’s claims of continuing inappropriate teaching.

    I wish my sample size was larger, but if I am to rely on empirical evidence, which Dr. Pitman continually preaches, how can he fault me for rejecting his claims when he still refuses to back them up with anything beyond bald assertions? And David Read has called into question my “integrity” because of my reliance on empirical data!

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  67. Daniel&#032R&#032Shannon:
    @Bill Sorensen: Bill, twenty years ago seems almost ancient history.My neighbor’s daughter went to LSU just a few years (5) ago.Her faith was so shaken she almost left the church.If it was NOT for daily conversations via phone with her dad she would have!LSU certainly did indeed undermine this young lady’s faith in what the SDA Church offically teaches.

    Daniel, in all sincerity I’m glad that you ministered to your daughter during her formative experience. You’re a model for all parents. Since your daughter did not attend another university, we have no idea how well she would have fared elsewhere. I think the Church would benefit from a thorough study that examines church retention among students attending the various SDA institutios.

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    • Ummm Professor I would suggest you go back and reread my reply. I said it was my NEIGHBOR’s daughter, not mine. Secondly the very issue that almost caused her to lose her faith was THIS very issue under discussion. Evolution versus Creation. She conveyed to us that the professor responsible ridiculed ANYONE who disagreed with him, embarassed them in front of the whole class. In other words, any one that believed God created this planet in six days was attacked.

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  68. No one is “totally objective” Jeff. You know that and so do I. We can be relatively objective enough to come to some rational viable conclusion, can’t we?

    You constantly “muddy” the waters by a lot of inane arguments when if you are “objective” you already know that LSU teaches evolution as a fact. Why don’t you simply [edit] admit it?

    Liberals won’t [admit it]. Obscurity and evasion work best when you want to deny some reality. So, no, I did not do a detailed investigation of every issue. But I have read and heard more than enough to believe I can come to some rational and viable conclusion that LSU is in fact [promoting] evolution and has done so for a number of years.

    Are you denying this, Jeff, or not? Are you claiming LSU is not and has not [promoted] evolution either now or in the past? Where is your “evidence” to support this claim?

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  69. LSU University Relations – has now confirmed that Dr. Diaz is listed as a member of the Adventist church. So that anyone who supposed that he was not an actual member of an SDA congregation some place – can rest assured.

    We also know from that letter by Larry Becker – that Dr Diaz has done work in an area of science that can “make possible advances in human health and medicine, agriculture, and the environment”.

    Recall that the initial article was about LSU hiring yet another evolutionist and raised questions about whether hiring more evolutionists was in fact complying with AAA policies.

    Did the well crafted LSU article actually get to addressing the main points?

    Anyone?

    in Christ,

    Bob

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    • @BobRyan:

      Yes, Mr. Becker did address the “evolutionary biologist” concept by suggesting that Diaz only believes in and promotes microevolutionary concepts – not true neo-Darwinism with all living things evolving from a single common ancestor that lived a billion years ago.

      Of course, Becker knows that he is putting out deceptive statements here. He knows the truth, but seems willing to stoop to deceptive strategies (as he has done before) to keep up the facade of LSU.

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      • @Sean Pitman:

        Sean you say that Becker is making the claim that Diaz does not believe in true neo-Darwinism.

        I don’t find that as an explicit statement by Becker in his well crafted document.

        If you have such a quote from him actually stating that as fact – I would be interested in reading it.

        Rather he simply settles for trying to “give that impression” without ever taking the risk of actually saying the words (- because presumably he himself does not think he can get by with explicitly claiming that Diaz is not a neo-Darwinist.)

        in Christ,

        Bob

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  70. Sean&#032Pitman: If you are refering to a very quitely held lecture by Walter Veith at LSU last year, what’s your point?

    If you (or Bill) knew as much as you claim, you could readily tell us who taught biology seminar, what the topics were, and who the invited speakers were. Hint: it wasn’t Veith.

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  71. From a post on Spectrum by Ron Osborn:

    The [LSU PR] letter mentions the charge that he [Diaz] is an Agnostic and then proceeds to say absolutely nothing contradicting that assertion. The only sentence they produced to answer this charge they are supposedly responding to: 1. Says nothing about his beliefs. 2. Says nothing about the present and 3. Says nothing about the regularity of his religious practice whenever it was “throughout the span of his academic career” that he attended these “various” churches. It’s not too comforting when in response to the charge of agnosticism you don’t even confirm his belief in God, let alone his Christian belief, let alone his Adventist belief, or even present religious practice, but instead have to appeal to some undefined amount of church attendance at some undefined point of his life. I can think of three explanations: 1. Diaz is a committed, believing, Adventist who was falsely accused and LSU’s PR rep. had a bad day and wrote an incredibly weak defense. 2. He’s a committed, believing, Adventist, but the PR doesn’t think that’s any of our business. In which case, they should have been honest and said that, instead of insulting our intelligence by a response that doesn’t even come to addressing the charge. 3. The worst possibility: that response was actually good PR. It was the best “response” that could possibly be given.

    http://spectrummagazine.org/blog/2013/01/27/la-sierra-university-responds-recent-attacks#disqus_thread

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  72. Sean&#032Pitman: Why don’t you tell us? After all, I’ve spoken there a couple times myself. Again, this is irrelevant to the fact that LSU hires and maintains professors who believe and promote neo-Darwinism as the most plausible story of origins.

    I’m reluctant to tell you because:

    1) Your readers might think Professor Kent has a better grasp on the situation than you do. Moreover, they would be very disappointed in, or refuse to believe, any report that LSU upholds SDA beliefs.

    2) You and your readers would mount an all-out campaign to discredit another fellow Christian.

    And it’s disengenuous to say it is “irrelevant to the fact that LSU hires and maintains professors who believe and promote neo-Darwinism as the most plausible story of origins” if, in fact, LSU was teaching that neo-Darwinism has limitations and cannot be regarded as the most plausible story of origins.

    Sorry, but I don’t believe you’re as well informed as you want your readers to believe, and I don’t think that truth really matters to you.

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    • Your readers might think Professor Kent has a better grasp on the situation than you do. Moreover, they would be very disappointed in, or refuse to believe, any report that LSU upholds SDA beliefs.

      Not true. I’d personally be very happy to publish credible evidence that LSU is now active in upholding and promoting the SDA position on origins. Such news would be very encouraging to me personally…

      As far as someone else having a better grasp on what’s happening at LSU, that’s certainly possible since I’m not there. I live in N. Cal. after all and have to depend on what people who are there are telling me.

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  73. Sean&#032Pitman: As far as someone else having a better grasp on what’s happening at LSU, that’s certainly possible since I’m not there. I live in N. Cal. after all and have to depend on what people who are there are telling me.

    I appreciate your frank admission.

    Do you believe that two people who see the same event, such as an automobile accident, often describe it in different terms? Have you ever heard a sermon in which two people thought the speaker was saying very different things?

    In all seriousness, do you suppose those most likely to communicate things to you are those who are most likely to interpret statements by others the way you do? Or do you suppose the information you get is bias-free?

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  74. Bill&#032Sorensen: You constantly “muddy” the waters by a lot of inane arguments when if you are “objective” you already know that LSU teaches evolution as a fact. Why don’t you simply [edit] admit it?

    Bill, I seem to have gotten under your skin. I know for 100% fact that last school year LSU Biology gave a vigorous and supportive presentation of the SDA position of creation. If Sean Pitman knows as much as he claims he does, he is fully aware of this. Of course, he only wants you people to know one side of the story.

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    • If you are refering to a very quitely held lecture by Walter Veith at LSU last year, what’s your point? A single lecture from a outside professor in support of creation, having nothing to do with what the science or even religion departments at LSU are themselves teaching, doesn’t remotely negate the effects of hiring and maintaining neo-Darwinists who believe in and promote just the opposite in their classrooms, press releases, public statements, and publications. Bringing on Dr. Raul Diaz only confirms the lip service attitude that LSU’s leadership pays to the name their school is supposed to represent – “Seventh-day Adventist University”.

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