Now that I’ve gotten your attention, I’m happy to report that they’re teaching it in the religious studies department, as modern American mythology, as reported by AP today:
A course being offered next semester by the university religious studies department is titled “Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies.”
“The KU faculty has had enough,” said Paul Mirecki, department chairman.
“Creationism is mythology,” Mirecki said. “Intelligent design is mythology. It’s not science. They try to make it sound like science. It clearly is not.”
[SNIP]
Mirecki said his course, limited to 120 students, would explore intelligent design as a modern American mythology. Several faculty members have volunteered to be guest lecturers, he said.
Another glimmer of hope that the tide is turning.
If you want to send kudos to KU, some contact information is given below; you know the ID crowd is probably already planning something in response to this.
While searching the KU website for contact information, I found this statement by the chancellor of the university, also taking up the cause against ID. Here’s a sample:
Evolution Statement
Dear Colleagues:
Six years ago the Chronicle of Higher Education published a column I wrote on the evolution controversy. My point of view then, and remarks I have made publicly many times since, should surprise no one: Evolution is the central unifying principle of modern biology, and it must be taught in our high schools, universities and colleges. On a personal level, I see no contradiction in being a person of faith who believes in God and evolution, and I’m sure many others at this university agree.
But the attack on evolution continues across America and compels me to again state the obvious: The University of Kansas is a major public research university, a scientific community. We are committed to fact-based research and teaching. As an academic, scientific community, we must affirm scientific principles.
The university’s position is not an attack on anyone. We respect the right of the individual to his or her beliefs, including faith-based beliefs about creation. However, creationism and intelligent design are most appropriately taught in a religion, philosophy, or sociology class, rather than a science class.
Contact information to send attaboys:
Religious Studies Department: rstudies@ku.edu 785-864-4663 (ph) 785-864-5205 (fax)
Professor Paul Mirecki: pmirecki@ku.edu 785-864-7252 (ph) Homepage address: http://www.people.ku.edu/~pmirecki
Robert Hemenway, Chancellor: chancellor@ku.edu 785-864-3131 (ph) 785-864-4120 (fax)
