@Carl: These issues must not be to complicated as Southwestern …

Comment on Are LSU professors breaking the 8th commandment? by Shane Hilde.

@Carl: These issues must not be to complicated as Southwestern Adventist University and Southern Adventist University are teaching science that supports a recent creation.

One reason why this scheme from the Board to develop a curriculum is ridiculous is because quite a few of our schools already have a curriculum. They’re already teaching science from a creationist world view. LSU should be looking to our school who are already doing what they’re being paid to do as an example.

Shane Hilde Also Commented

Are LSU professors breaking the 8th commandment?

The students’ first assignments with the equipment will involve genetic analysis of Grismer’s animals to detect the creatures’ ties to other species and populations.

“Through its DNA, we will find its closest relative,” Grismer said. Uncovering such information can help scientists better understand planet Earth, he said.

At least the faculty are open about it. Now if we could just get the administration to be as open as their faculty.


Are LSU professors breaking the 8th commandment?
On March 19, 2008, LSU published an article by Darla Tucker about Lee Grismer. A few things caught my eye about this article: 1) considering Grismer’s notoriety and 2) Greer’s contribution of the DNA sequencing equipment, it’s no wonder that LSU would like to hang on to these professors. The third thing I noticed was this small mention of common ancestry in the excerpt from below. At least that is what it sounded like to me. Am I wrong?

La Sierra biology students will begin analyzing Grismer’s newly discovered pit viper and gecko this spring when they fire up new DNA sequencing equipment. The university purchased the equipment last fall with the help of two grants obtained by La Sierra biology Professor Lee Greer.

The students’ first assignments with the equipment will involve genetic analysis of Grismer’s animals to detect the creatures’ ties to other species and populations.

“Through its DNA, we will find its closest relative,” Grismer said. Uncovering such information can help scientists better understand planet Earth, he said.

The arrival of the LI-COR 4300 DNA Analyzer and a number crunching, snail-shaped super computer means Grismer can study the genetics of his new species on campus. Previously he shipped tissue samples to the labs of colleagues and friends.

“We’ve never had DNA sequencing at La Sierra,” Grismer said. “We’re going to make some serious inroads.”

Grismer estimates use of the sequencing equipment will push the university’s production of scientific papers from an average of 13 papers a year to approximately 20. “These projects will terminate in top-tier, peer-reviewed journals,” such as Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution, Systematic Biology and the Journal of Herpetology, Grismer said.

The availability of such high-tech apparatus may also mean additional treks into the wild to find more animals. “Oh yeah,” said Grismer. “This is what I live for.” (http://www.lasierra.edu/news/2008/march/grismer.html)

LSU, in my opinion, is not going to let these professors go. This is going to be a very difficult battle for the church if they ever choose to confront LSU head on.


Are LSU professors breaking the 8th commandment?
Bob, Bravus, Sean:

If you guys would like to continue discussing entropy etc, please exchange email addresses. The discussion has drifted off the topic of this thread.


Recent Comments by Shane Hilde

Elder Graham: “Why I Support La Sierra University”
@MLB: The article was written before Ted Wilson was elected. Despite personally knowing his views on creation from conversations with him, I’m disappointed that he’s taken this long to mention them. Perhaps he has published them else where and I am unaware.

I like what he says here:

As constituents of this union, you deserve accurate information.

That’s exactly one of the reasons Educate Truth exists, because LSU is being dishonest about their biology department.

And they are committed to making whatever adjustments might be necessary to provide the best Seventh-day Adventist Christian education possible.

Really? How can he say that when LSU has done absolutely nothing to address what is happening in the biology classroom? Even their attempt with the biology seminar class was a utter failure.

If his his two goals are all we are to expect then the board will have accomplished virtually nothing. There should be more than respect and support for the biblical creation account. It should be taught and promoted.

If anything happens at LSU to address the situation, it would not surprise me if it was because of out side intervention. The Board isn’t addressing anything.


La Sierra University Continues Deceptive Spin Tactics

Maybe the solution is for two streams of thought to be taught: conventional biology and creation science. Allow the existing professors to teach evolution and bring in creation scientists to teach the latter. That way there is no need to fire anybody or sanction LSU.

What do you think of that idea.?

Sean may give his own answer but I would like to jump and share what I think are some key points in regard to your suggestion.

We’re not dealing with preferences, flavors, likes, or dislikes. The SDA Church believes that what the Bible says is the truth. So when when LSU biology professors “only discuss” (new word from LSU) the theory of evolution as the truth, then we have a big problem. Teaching both world views is not the answer, because it is allowing plurality on a foundation issue. If you don’t stand for anything, you stand for nothing and that’s essentially was plurality boils down to.

The theory of evolution should be taught, but not as the truth. We don’t believe it’s the truth so why would we pay professors to teach it as such.

If the professors do not want to be supportive of the Church in this particular issue by promoting the biblical creation account, then there really isn’t any other alternative, but to fire them or ask them to resign.


Andrews University statement on creation
First of all, we’re not asking that the theory evolution not be taught. You have been misinformed on this point. The problem is how it is presented. They teach it as the truth. This is misrepresenting the church’s postion and contradictory to the Bible.

This statement from the LSU biology department is nothing but misleading and bordering being an outright lie. It boggles my mind how they can claim not to promote the theory of evolution when it’s the only world view that is presented as truth. Absolutely no evidence has been found or presented by LSU that demonstrates that the church’s position is favorably promoted, if at all, in the biology courses taught. Yes, the theory of evolution is discussed, but many times as if it were true. This has been documented for over a year. When the professors believe the theory of evolution is truth and exclude promotion of the biblical world view as being true, then they are in fact promoting the theory of evolution. Unless they can show that they are promoting a recent, literal six-day creation, they are promoting the theory of evolution when they exclude other world views as being “lunatic” like one professor labeled those who believe in the biblical creation.

Keep in mind that many of the biology faculty personally believe in long ages of life on earth and common ancestry. This is not a secret. They also do not believe that Genesis 1 & 2 depicts literal events that occurred in the recent past. This is why we have never seen statements from the department saying we believe and support the church’s position in a recent, literal six-day creation. All they can say is that they believe God the Creator is the source of all life.

This is nothing more than a continuation of LSU’s deceptive advertising practices.


Dr. Geraty clarifies his “Challenge” to literal 6-day creationism
This statement from the LSU biology department is nothing but misleading and bordering being an outright lie. It boggles my mind how they can claim not to promote the theory of evolution when it’s the only world view that is presented as truth. Absolutely no evidence has been found or presented by LSU that demonstrates that the church’s position is favorably promoted, if at all, in the biology courses taught. Yes, the theory of evolution is discussed, but many times as if it were true. This has been documented for over a year. When the professors believe the theory of evolution is truth and exclude promotion of the biblical world view as being true, then they are in fact promoting the theory of evolution. Unless they can show that they are promoting a recent, literal six-day creation, they are promoting the theory of evolution when they exclude other world views as being “lunatic” like one professor labeled those who believe in the biblical creation.

Keep in mind that many of the biology faculty personally believe in long ages of life on earth and common ancestry. This is not a secret. They also do not believe that Genesis 1 & 2 depicts literal events that occurred in the recent past. This is why we have never seen statements from the department saying we believe and support the church’s position in a recent, literal six-day creation. All they can say is that they believe God the Creator is the source of all life.

This is nothing more than a continuation of LSU’s deceptive advertising practices.


Mrs. White: “Don’t send your children to…”
@Adventist in High School: You’re missing the point. The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes that God created the heaven and earth in six days, within the recent past (about 6,000 years). They believe Genesis gives an accurate depiction of this event. So the problem isn’t that our youth are merely being presented with a false theory, it’s that they’re being presented the theory as if it were truth. I would also add that the biblical/church position is not promoted at all, if it’s even mentioned at all.

These professors are taking our money and misrepresenting our faith to hundreds, thousands of students. When an employee finds that he can no longer uphold the beliefs of the institution and teach them properly, he should consider teaching for an institution that is more conducive with his belief system or be fired.