We learned last week that the chairman of the Religious Studies Department at the University of Kansas was taking a firm stand against intelligent-design creationism — by including it in a course on “religious mythologies.” As Prof. Paul Mirecki explained, “Creationism is mythology. Intelligent design is mythology. It’s not science. They try to make it sound like science. It clearly is not.”
It was a great idea that seemed to be well received by the academic community, students began signing up for the course, and non-creationists everywhere were thrilled. But it was all for naught. The course has been cancelled — because Mirecki got a little careless with his choice of words.
A University of Kansas course devoted to debunking creationism and “intelligent design” has been canceled after the professor caused a furor by sending an e-mail mocking Christian fundamentalists.
Twenty-five students had enrolled in the course, “Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design and Creationism,” which had been scheduled for the spring. Professor Paul Mirecki, chairman of religious studies, canceled the class Wednesday, the university said.
Mirecki recently posted an e-mail on a student organization forum in which he referred to religious conservatives as “fundies” and said a course depicting intelligent design as mythology would be a “nice slap in their big fat face.” He later apologized, and did so again in a statement issued by the university.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said Mirecki’s comments were “repugnant and vile.”
Let this be a lesson to all of us — if you’re going to teach a course to make religious fundamentalists look ridiculous, don’t put your motivations in print and publish them on the Internet.