In the ongoing debate over Intelligent Design, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported today:

The University of Kansas religion professor whose proposed course on the “mythology” of intelligent design sparked an uproar last month said he was beaten up early Monday morning by two men who were angry over his disparaging remarks about Christians…..

Paul Mirecki, who is chairman of the religious-studies department at Kansas, had proposed a course called “Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism, and Other Religious Mythologies.” The title itself angered intelligent-design proponents, who objected to being lumped in with “other religious mythologies.”

Professor Mirecki canceled the class last week and his dissent from the majority was silenced.

15 Comments

  2. It was unfortunate all around, simmering. It seems Professor Mirecki was looking for an intellectual fight and said so in private email that was made public. Some don’t know the difference between a verbal debate and a fist beating.

  3. That doesn’t excuse the behavior, though. Looking for an intellectual fight can actually be helpful. Beating someone up for their beliefs doesn’t do anyone any good.

  4. I take your point, simmering, and I certainly agree with you. Talk — in whatever form — is protected while hitting someone is almost always the wrong thing.

  5. With Christians like that, (who’ll beat up or kill those who do things they think is wrong) it’s no wonder others hate us.

  6. I always wonder about people who resort to violence in order to spread the “Good News.” Beating the professor is exactly the opposite of what Jesus teaches us and is the opposite of Christ’s values.
    If Jesus took human form again and came back to visit, I’m sure he’d sit down for a good debate with the professor after he helped the homeless, the downtrodden, and those despised by society. How many people keeping the pews warm would head out to the streets to do the same today?
    Christ said there would be many who claimed to know Him, but He wouldn’t know them. So-called Christians who beat people aren’t really Christians, despite what they might think.

  11. Where’s the proof this happened.
    Read the information that was given to the police from Mirecki. It’s laughable.
    What were these 2 guys doing? Punching him saying “ya no good, maker funner of Christians, will ya!?”
    I don’t buy the story until there is some proof. Or atleast to the degree that cops will start buying it. Read what the police Lt. has to say about it.
    But, for some of you on here. Mirecki could have described the attacker as a black man with bushy hair and you still would have believed it.

  12. Where’s the proof this happened.
    Read the information that was given to the police from Mirecki. It’s laughable.
    What were these 2 guys doing? Punching him saying “ya no good, maker funner of Christians, will ya!?”
    I don’t buy the story until there is some proof. Or atleast to the degree that cops will start buying it. Read what the police Lt. has to say about it.
    But, for some of you on here. Mirecki could have described the attacker as a black man with bushy hair and you still would have believed it.

  13. JimQ —
    I’m surprised Bank One/JPMorganChase lets you get online to make these kinds of comments from work on their backbone!
    You don’t find Mirecki’s bruises and a broken tooth evidence of an attack?
    As for a curious Sheriff’s department — that’s their job to investigate, not to determine truth or falsity.
    Perhaps Mirecki made it all up as you appear to claim — but why would he do that? For sympathy? If so, bad move. If not, I hope he heals.
    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/06/tech/main1099028.shtml

  14. JimQ —
    I’m surprised Bank One/JPMorganChase lets you get online to make these kinds of comments from work on their backbone!
    You don’t find Mirecki’s bruises and a broken tooth evidence of an attack?
    As for a curious Sheriff’s department — that’s their job to investigate, not to determine truth or falsity.
    Perhaps Mirecki made it all up as you appear to claim — but why would he do that? For sympathy? If so, bad move. If not, I hope he heals.
    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/06/tech/main1099028.shtml

  15. JimQ —
    I’m surprised Bank One/JPMorganChase lets you get online to make these kinds of comments from work on their backbone!
    You don’t find Mirecki’s bruises and a broken tooth evidence of an attack?
    As for a curious Sheriff’s department — that’s their job to investigate, not to determine truth or falsity.
    Perhaps Mirecki made it all up as you appear to claim — but why would he do that? For sympathy? If so, bad move. If not, I hope he heals.
    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/06/tech/main1099028.shtml

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