SGU Episode 21

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SGU Episode 21
7th December 2005
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 20                      SGU 22
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
P: Perry DeAngelis
Guest
Wallace Sampson MD
Links
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SGU Podcast archive
Forum Discussion

Introduction

You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.

S: Hello and welcome to The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe. This is your host, Steven Novella, President of the New England Skeptical Society.Today is December 7th, 2005. With me today as always are Bob Novella

B: Good-evening

S:Perry DeAngelis

P:I'll have to put down my copy of the Psychic Sasquatch to join you but, I shall.

S:Oh, thanks for the sacrifice, you can get back to it later. And er and again as always Evan Bernstein.

E:Hello everyone

S:Guys thanks again for joining me tonight.

E: Thank you Steve.

News Items

Item 1

S: So today's December 7th, a day that will live in infamy right, The Pearl Harbor Day.

E:Pearl Harbor Day

B:I remember that yeah

E:I'll never forget that

S: We will remember all of the Americans who lost their lives and limbs on that infamous day in 1941.

E:Changed the world, changed the world forever.

S:The Germans bombed Pearl Harbor

E: Yeah there's, evidence to prove that.

S: So we have a, we have an excellent guest on our show tonight. Wallace Sampson,(Perry cheers in the background) who will be joining us in just a few minutes. But first there's just a couple of quick news items.

First an update on our last show. We had reported that the University of Kansas was planning a course entitled "Special topics in religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other religious mythologies". The course was to be put on by Professor Paul Mirecki, we discussed the fact that the University, trying to retain some shred of scientific, you know credibility and prestige, is trying to do anything to counteract the fact that the Kansas State School Board for a second time is voting to either limit the teaching of evolution or promote the teaching of intelligent design in Kansas public schools.

Well,unfortunately the course has now been withdrawn by the University of Kansas. The apparent reason for doing this, is the fact that Paul Mirecki, again the Professor who was going to run the course,made some indiscreet anti-religious remarks. I think actually it was in an email to students. And he was you know,slapped on the wrist by University and he had to formally apologize. He said " I made a mistake in not leading by example in this student organisation email forum, the importance of discussing different view point in a civil and respectful manner." he said.

The Chancellor Robert Hemmingway referred to his comments as repugnant and vile. Whenever you make any comment that is insensitive, the err, it always seems that the University has to condemn it in the most extreme language they can possibly muster.

P: Do we have any idea of the nature of the comments?

S: Yeah lets see. He said he was mocking Christian Fundamentalists.

P: Ok , that's pretty broad.

S:Yeah, I think he called them, referred to Christian Conservatives as "Fundies", and said "a course depicting intelligent design as mythology would be nice slap in their big fat face." That's it.

P: That's pretty horrific.( laughter)that's...

S: Obviously he shouldn't of done that, he's a Professor...

P: I agree

S: and he's teaching a controversial course to specifically ,to highlight the intellectual superiority of scientific honesty above you know, religious fundamentalism masquerading as science. And he totally muddied it with these unnecessary comments.

P: It's true...

S:It's just unfortunate. It's unfortunate.

P: He shouldn't have done it.

S: Although I have the sense that the University was happy to have an excuse to cancel it and get out of the controversy. They should have stuck to their guns. I mean, they should have made him apologized but not pull the course, I don't see why they had to do that.

E: Right, sounds like, I don't know, an excuse. Maybe they were never too hot on the course to begin with and it's just a door that opened to allow it to be gone.

S: It's unfortunate,he should have known that by doing this he was putting himself you know in the limelight as it where. He should have really been on his best behavior.

P: Cancelling the course still seems a little extreme.

S: I think so. I think it's a little excessive. So we'll keep you updated on this raging culture war. The judge has yet to make a decision in the case, you'll be sure to hear it on the Skeptics Guide when the decision comes down

References