Skip to main content.
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
A Random Image


Related

More news articles & news archive on Creationism


Translate



Advertisements *

What is a cult: Cult Definition
Simple steps to financial health and a good credit score


Elsewhere

The facts behind the Da Vinci Code fiction


Creationism:

Creationists sue biology professor


ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 2197 • Posted: Saturday February 1, 2003  

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark
Click here... More articles on this topic: Creationism

The Guardian (England), Feb. 1, 2003
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles

A religious group that believes God literally created the world has brought a legal action against a biology professor, claiming that he refuses to write letters of recommendation for students who do not believe in evolution.

It represents yet another dispute in the American education system about the teaching of the biblical version of creation in science classes.

The action has been filed against Professor Michael Dini of Texas Tech University in Dallas by a student and the religious group, the Liberty Legal Institute. The institute argues that Prof Dini is discriminating against students on the grounds of belief and has asked the department of justice to investigate.

Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel for the institute said: “Students are being denied recommendations not because of their competence in understanding evolution, but solely because of their personal religious beliefs.”

The issue was first raised last year when a complaint was made and the university defended Prof Dini.

“A letter of recommendation is a personal matter between a professor and student and is not subject to the university control or regulation,” Texas Tech’s Chancellor, David Smith, said at the time.

No one was available for comment at the university yesterday.

Prof Dini refers callers to a website that explains his position. The site advises students seeking a recommendation to be prepared to answer the question: “How do you think the human species originated?”

“If you cannot affirm a scientific answer to this question, then you should not seek my recommendation for admittance to further education in the biomedical sciences,” Prof Dini writes.

At the centre of the legal complaint is the Texas Tech student Micah Spradling, 22, who left the university and moved to Lubbock Christian University because of Prof Dini’s policy.

Mr Spradling said that he did not believe in evolution and could not say that he did. He has now re-enrolled at Texas Tech. “You read about it [evolution] in textbooks. I could explain the process, maybe how some people say it happens, but I could not have said … I believe in it.”

A creationist website, creationism.org, argues: “Each new false religion of the post-Flood period has sought to detract from our Creator and from our responsibilities in this life; evolution’s effect is no different. Pray about this!”

Texas has the country’s only Creation Evidence museum.

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark


What You Can Do From Here

Read More Articles On These Topics
more cult news articlemore religion news Categories: Creationism
more religion news aboutmore Religion News Blog articles about
Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Follow Religion News Blog on Twitter


Read Another Article
Find Related Information
cult research search enginecountercult information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults
Find Related Books


Most Popular Today


Share This Article

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:





Counter Cult Search

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.


Apologetics Search

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.

Home
Latest Headlines
RSS news feed [?]
Headlines by Email
News Trackers
Free content for your site
About RNB
Privacy Policy
Contact RNB
Link to RNB
Advertise on RNB
Apologetics Index
Cult FAQ
Apologetics Search Engine
CounterCult Search Engine