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Ball State Takes Stand for Philosophical Naturalism as Science – Embarrassing Us Alums

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President Joanne Gora of Ball State University has publicly declared that the worldview of philosophical naturalism (PN) is the only legitimate worldview that may be taught in any science classroom at BSU.  Her comments were in response to the controversy raised by the Freedom From Religion Foundation over certain aspects of an upper level elective course taught by Science Prof. Eric Hedin on the Boundaries of Science.  Including in his reading list for the class were books favorable to the theory of Intelligent Design (ID) with respect to the origin of natural systems, including biological systems. ID stands in contrast to the favored view within science that all things in nature are the result of undirected, natural cause and effect.  By declaring that ID is “religion” and “not science”, President Gora has, in effect declared that the worldview of PN and only that worldview can be heard in any science class at BSU.  Of course, Gora likely doesn’t see that as even being a worldview question, which is part of the problem here.  She, like so many others, likely believes that by declaring ID out of bounds, she has made sure that BSU’s science classrooms are “worldview neutral”.  Such is not the case.

 

President Gora may want to consider exactly how any academic discipline is “worldview neutral.”  (exactly what does a “worldview free science classroom look like?)  Careful reflection as to what material is actually being taught across a whole range of disciplines at BSU (or any other school for that matter) will reveal that all courses are fraught with worldview implications and perspectives.  Naively (there’s no other word for it), Gora thinks she can protect the science department at BSU from worldview intrusions.  Perhaps she would be so kind as to explain in detail exactly how that is accomplished, especially when one particular worldview, PN in this case,  is given free reign and actively promoted throughout the entire discipline.  This seems strangely at odds with her statement that:

Creation science, intelligent design, and other worldviews that focus on speculation regarding the origins of life represent another important and relevant form of human inquiry that is appropriately studied in literature and social science courses. Such study, however, must include a diversity of worldviews representing a variety of religious and philosophical perspectives and must avoid privileging one view as more legitimate than others.

Unless and until scientists that think ID is NOT science can tell us how they know scientifically that any apparent design we observe in natural systems, including biological systems, can not be actual design, even in principle, then holding to the view that undirected natural cause is science, whereas intelligent cause is “religion” is bluff and bluster.  By giving the PN worldview free reign in science classes at BSU, President Gora is violating her principle of “privileging one view as more legitimate than others.”  From the dawn of human history to today there has never been a single, peer reviewed scientific research study that even remotely confirms the hypothesis (if there even is such an hypothesis) that nature is a completely closed system of natural cause and effect.  However, there has been a plethora of philosophical opinion on the matter, much of it being passed off as actual science in more recent decades.  This, evidently,  is the “consensus opinion” to which Gora made appeal in her remarks.

Intelligent design is overwhelmingly deemed by the scientific community as a religious belief and not a scientific theory,” President Jo Ann Gora said. “Therefore, intelligent design is not appropriate content for science courses. The gravity of this issue and the level of concern among scientists are demonstrated by more than 80 national and state scientific societies’ independent statements that intelligent design and creation science do not qualify as science.”

The question is not one of academic freedom, but one of academic integrity, she added. “Said simply, to allow intelligent design to be presented to science students as a valid scientific theory would violate the academic integrity of the course as it would fail to accurately represent the consensus of science scholars.

And there you have it.  The “consensus” of science scholars is that PN is how things really are.  If only they had the actual science to back that up.  President Gora might want to reconsider how she can defend the view that PN is science and anything opposed to that, especially ID, is not.  Its a sham and I’m embarrassed to be an alum! (Earned my MA there)

 

Comments
Robert Byers @ 4 What difference does it really make if she is a woman in this position or whether it is a man that is at the top of the university? When I first read your comments, they seemed somewhat misogynistic putting it mildly. Are you implying that women shouldn't be in these types of leadership roles? I can understand your biblical position of male spiritual leadership in the home and as an overseer (elder) or senior pastor of a church, but when it comes to being the president of a university or a business owner or any other secular position... I don't really think about whether it is a man or a woman in this position, I'm only concerned about their actions. Perhaps you could clarify what you mean by "...hiring and promoting women to bring a desired result to these high positions. In short affirmative action pervades the culture and is the origin for these women reaching the top." Are you saying that women shouldn't reach the top of these positions? Or that it is somehow wrong to promote women to high positions? (Debra in the O.T? Queens?, etc.) Perhaps you could/should clarify.Breckmin
August 3, 2013
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LarTanner what part didn't you like. I'm convinced I'm right on all parts. I watched this for a long time and i have my accusations and conclusions and very confident about them. Yet I'm all ears!!Robert Byers
August 2, 2013
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LT:I suggest instead that this is far more representative of design theory than Mr Byers' idiosyncratic fulminations. KFkairosfocus
August 2, 2013
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Robert Byers, Thanks for your comment at #4. It represents UD and the ID community perfectly.LarTanner
August 2, 2013
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I'm expecting that you guys dealt with this a month ago when I wasn't around..but what was the follow up with Guillermo's hire? Did he keep his position? http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/07/09/ball-state-university-astronomy-pick-raises-questions-light-ongoing-creationismBreckmin
August 1, 2013
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Women only recently rose in higher education. Say since the 60.s or so. I accuse the education establishment of hiring and promoting women to bring a desired result to these high positions. In short affirmative action pervades the culture and is the origin for these women reaching the top. I don't need to know her case as its so general she must suffer from it. Its a fraud. Anyways the worldview on things is to be the truth. If they censor a position then either they are censoring a option for truth or they have decided its NOT true. Thats logic ma,am. Again with the thing about the scientific community deciding iD etc is not science. What do they know about subjects unrelated to their degrees ?/ Its invoking a esteemed authority to settle the truth. Martin Luther would of had no chance back in old germany!! The only folks that matter are origin researchers. Then they are trumped by the Christian people and heritage and the general public who say origin issues are not settled by these universities. Prove it and we demand a rebuttal. Another worthless President missing the chance to defend truth, the great faith , and free enquiry in complicated things that higher education is meant to be flirting with. She doesn't deserve a place in history as shes a quota but some president somewhere could make history and not be a obscure footnote. There are famous university presidents from the past.Robert Byers
August 1, 2013
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A surprisingly fitting recent video with Dr. William Dembski: What Your Science Teacher Got Wrong #1 - Chris Galanos/Dr. William Dembski - video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX8M7YGM1l8bornagain77
August 1, 2013
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Here is my letter to Dr. Gora: Dr. Gora, I have read about your decision to silence the Intelligent Design voice at Ball State, and I commend you on your fervent devotion to the status quo. By decrying ID as being out of touch with the mainstream of scientific thought, you are demonstrating that you understand the necessity of marching lock-step with the loud and influential voices. Truth? That is necessarily of secondary importance, particularly when you are dealing with donors, grants and the egos of research faculty. Consensus is the key thing in science. We cannot afford to question, much less abandon, the Darwinian line of thought as there is no other conceivable alternative to the order and complexity that we find in our world. Let us never doubt for one second that we are monkeys with enlarged brains; it's self-evident. After all, if we didn't evolve, we wouldn't be here, right? In closing, thank you for showing the fools who dare to question authority and to challenge the system that they have no forum at Ball State, a genuinely materialist institution that has no room for anything unorthodox. Let us bow in prayer to Darwin. Sincerely, Jason L. PooleOldArmy94
August 1, 2013
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Are we surprised? Not really...humbled
August 1, 2013
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