@Professor Kent: You said: “For having those views, and for sharing …

Comment on LSU Board says ‘we apologize’ by Angelina.

@Professor Kent:

You said:
“For having those views, and for sharing their doubts, I don’t believe they should be faulted any more so than faculty who share their honoest views on dancing, caffeine or alcohol consumption, abortion, homosexuality, sex on the Sabbath, or other Adventist “hot potatoes.”

My reply:
The faculty did far more than ‘have a view, and share a doubt”. They TAUGHT their views on evolution as the only logical explanation of our origins. It is one thing to HAVE a view, quite another to TEACH it to the exclusion of and in opposition to the one and only Bible-based belief of origins on which the SDA church was founded.

You said:
“What the faculty should unquestionably be faulted for is insensitivity and failure to be more accomodating toward those who had divergent views.”

My reply:
Divergent views? So now, a view of Creationism as an explanation of origins in an SDA school is considered ‘divergent’? Did I understand that correctly?

The mere fact that this whole, sad and pathetic saga has gone on for this long is proof enough that incompetence has reigned supreme. Just because La Sierra’s administrators have now sprung into action does not undo decades of misuse of power, and leaving them in office going forward will only serve to fester the current situation of mistrust.

That said, I was honestly blown away to read they were issuing an apology. Not quite sure yet what the apology is for, but I am hopeful it is a step in the right direction. The next step should be a call for letters of resignation/termination. Yes, back to that, I’m afraid.

Sincerely,
Angelina

Angelina Also Commented

LSU Board says ‘we apologize’
@Professor Kent:

Unfortunately, I am not at all in a position to comment on SAU’s search for biology professors. I can only imagine how hard the task would be for them, and as you have described how frustrating, on the flipside, it would be to be interviewed for such a position. I’m afraid I don’t have answers, even any suggestions (strange because I always have something to say), only that I would leave it in the Lord’s hands. He is my go-to person.

You said:
“Who would want to teach at an institution with constituents who assume a priori you’re an evolutionist, dissect endlessly any statement that could be twisted to mean something sinister, expose to public ridicule on the internet anyone who fails to state “the weight of evidence favors the traditional SDA position” (Sean Pitman’s favored tactic), and send blanket hate mail to every biologist on the staff?”

In all fairness to Sean/Shane, you know that going viral was preceded by their repeated attempts to draw attention to the issue in other ‘quieter’ ways: in person and through letters. Didn’t work, did it? I’ve been on that end with my own battle, and believe me it’s no picnic. Being ignored, or politely listened to THEN ignored when there is a pressing issue at hand, certainly one which involves our youth, or in my instance young children, you don’t have time to sit back and wait hoping something will happen. You act. And, as a parent I am grateful to people like Sean/Shane for their willingness to take a public stand. You may not like their ‘tactics’ and mine were also criticized, but if standing for what is right means ruffling a few feathers resistant to change, then so be it.

Sincerely,
Angelina


LSU Board says ‘we apologize’
Professor Kent,

And exactly how are these people then held accountable? For so many years/decades, our youth has been misled even humiliated, concerned parents have been lied to, and the Lord’s money, wasted. Charitable? That’s exactly what the church(on every level) has been until now, and I believe our church leaders will answer one day for being asleep at the helm.

Teaching in our schools is not just another job. It is an awesome responsibility, the effects of which will have repercussions for generations of people and either help steer them to Christ or away from Him. When one accepts this responsibility, wouldn’t you agree that this is far different than a single person’s choice to drink alcohol and the effect it has, on one or a small number of lives? Personally, I believe that the church should stay consistent with expectations for its employees on all levels, even “general positions on faith and behaviour”, but if it does not, then can what LaSierra’s professors have done really fall in this same category, or do we need to asses first and foremost what the fallout has been, and what the potential risk is if they were to continue to teach?

One more point: If we have any hope of winning back any of the precious souls lost because of this, then the message has to be clear and unequivocal — What happend was not right. What you were taught was not right. These professors have no place teaching at our schools — The charity we extend has to do with continued patience and love for them as church members, not as employees. Just like you would not award custody of an abused child to his abusive, albeit remorseful parents, neither should we leave these professors to continue teaching our youth. How could we trust them again, or ever?

I look forward to reading your suggestions.

Angelina


LSU Board says ‘we apologize’

@Angelina: …As he has done so generously at Southern Adventist University with, what is it, four Biology positions open?

Perhaps this 4-year wait speaks to how far SDA scientists have strayed from Truth, scientific or not. I don’t know, but I choose not to question God’s ways. Not always easy, but liberating for sure.