An interesting piece in the San Francisco Chronicle spells out the problems assistant prof Eric Hedin is having at Ball State U in Muncie, Indiana, where he teaches an honours course exploring the nature of the universe. He is accused by atheists of promoting intelligent design, and is under investigation. Here is who is investigating him, according to John West of the Discovery Institute, who did some research:
The three other panelists [besides Catherine Pilachowski, an astronomy prof from Indiana U who has chaired the American Astronomy Society] are Ball State faculty members Gary Dodson, a professor of biology; Juli Thorson Eflin, a professor of philosophy; and Richard Fluegeman Jr., a professor of geological sciences.
West said Pilachowski was on the governing council of AAS when it issued a declaration denouncing intelligent design in 2005 and stating that it should not be taught in science classes.
He also said Dodson signed an anti-creationism petition circulated by the lobbying group the National Center for Science Education and that in 2009, Dodson was a presenter and discussion leader for a Darwin Day conference organized by the Ball State Freethought Alliance.
Fluegeman delivered the opening lecture at the same Darwin Day conference.
Some of us suspect that the problem is a bit like this: The fine tuning of our universe suggests it is designed. The only serious alternative these days is the multiverse, for which there is no evidence.
So anyone who sets forth the facts honestly could be got on charges of non-atheism.
Hey, ya gotta choose: Lies, nonsense… or just don’t teach. Call it, if you like, the Ball State Railroad.
(We’ve covered this story here. And here.)
Note: Yes, that’s the same place as just hired exoplanet hunter Guillermo “Earth is special” Gonzalez. Maybe Hedin can get him to teach a few sessions on what a real planetary “habitability zone” involves. A bit more, let’s say, than two-inch type about billions of “habitable” planets.