KU professor beaten for talking out about intelligent design

Douglas County sheriff’s deputies are investigating the reported beating of a Kansas University professor who gained recent notoriety for his Internet tirades against Christian fundamentalists.

Kansas University religious studies professor Paul Mirecki reported he was beaten by two men about 6:40 a.m. today on a roadside in rural Douglas County. In a series of interviews late this afternoon, Mirecki said the men who beat him were making references to the controversy that has propelled him into the headlines in recent weeks.

“I didn’t know them, but I’m sure they knew me,” he said.

Mirecki said he was driving to breakfast when he noticed the men tailgating him in a pickup truck.

“I just pulled over hoping they would pass, and then they pulled up real close behind,” he said. “They got out, and I made the mistake of getting out.”

This is saddening, as this will put a chill on people expressing opinions against intelligent design.  What do you think?  This reminds me of history repeating itself.

Comments

[Jan-san]

Hmm... This doesn't look good...

If the fundamentalists are such jerks, why do they claim that all they do is in the name of God and such? I support evolution theory, but I'd like a good look at the other side of the arguement as well before coming to any definate conclusions....

[Cybe R. Wizard]

Hmmm, they (christian fundamentalists) are showing their true colors, eh? It figures that, not being able to make a rational case for their stupid ideas, they would resort to violence.
Just like their hero, G. W. Bush.

[Cybe R. Wizard]

Hmmm, they (christian fundamentalists) are showing their true colors, eh? It figures that, not being able to make a rational case for their stupid ideas, they would resort to violence.
Just like their hero, G. W. Bush.

[Cybe R. Wizard]

sorry for the double post

[Karlo]

I'm sure glad that U.S. troops are running around the world making it free of fundamentalist violence!

[BAWDYSCOT]

I am sure most Christians are peace-loving, decent people and they would not condone such activity. I also believe Muslims are the same. Bad apples are bad apples and they come in many varieties. I just wish more Christians would act more like Christ. These two thugs wouldn't recognize Christ if he came up and kissed them. Go Christ!

[JohnDoe]

Hm, I'm very against the whole "intelligent" design movement, since it seems but thin cover for religious fundamentalist extremism... NONETHELESS, this story seems almost too good to be true--revealing the IDers as thugs, etc. I won't be surprised if it turns out to be a hoax of some kind. If it IS true, my heart goes out to Prof. Mirecki, and I hope his assailents evolve some compassion next time around.

[Gene]

I saw nothing in the article about Christian fundamentalist attacking this man?? I saw nothing in the article about being attacked over ID. From the comments he had beeen making it sounds like his belittlement of the locals caused him to bite off more than he could chew. Make no mistake the attack was wrong, but if you are going to treat others beliefs with ridicule and disrespect, you might want to take the O'Reilly route and hire some body guards. Hoax anyone??

I can't help but wonder why the terrorist attacks by muslim dundamentalist never make the blog highlights....I mean they actually kill their targets......

[Jeff]

goddamn christian terrorists. they want us all to believe their shit cause they didn't evolve and now are too dumb to keep up with the rest of us. they have to resort to thug violence cause their brains are so underdeveloped.

the good news is the next generation is smarter than this one...and they are the least christian generation we've seen. hopefully the continued exploits and evil doings of christians will continue that trend. shit like this is only going to help in the long run. lets cross our fingers...christianity is dying. lets stick a fork in it. someday all of these christian dummies will be like the dinosaurs. we've just got to sit back and let them self destruct.

[Big John]

We can expect more of the same from these brainless hooligans: same impulse as the KKK in the South. Maybe the intelligent design supporters can be enlisted to fight in Iraq - nah, they're way too cowardly to do that.

[Mugwump]

Mirecki wrote that he would debunk ID not as a scholar but as a polemicist, that it would be a “nice slap” in the “big fat face” of fundamentalists."

He insulted folks and got beat down. As Chris Rock says, I'm not saying I agree, but I understand.

[Karlo Provi]

"I saw nothing in the article about being attacked over ID."

According to Mirecki, the tailgaters knew who he was and were upset over his recent remarks about ID and Christian fundamentalists.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/dec/06/mirecki_treated_after_roadside_beating/?city_local

[Brandon]

Excuse me Gene, but where do you get off baching chrstianity? "Christianity is dying. Let's stick a fork in it."? This country was founded by Christians and upon Christian principles. That's a fact, and if you don't like that fact maybe you should move. It's funny how no one mentions the good things that these "Christian dummies" do, and only the very few ignorant things that people posing as Christians do. This is called "stereotyping" everybody. Now say it with me S-T-E-R-E-O-T-Y-P-I-N-G. Good job, class dismissed

[John]

"I saw nothing in the article about Christian fundamentalist attacking this man?? I saw nothing in the article about being attacked over ID. From the comments he had beeen making it sounds like his belittlement of the locals caused him to bite off more than he could chew. Make no mistake the attack was wrong, but if you are going to treat others beliefs with ridicule and disrespect, you might want to take the O'Reilly route and hire some body guards. Hoax anyone??

I can't help but wonder why the terrorist attacks by muslim dundamentalist never make the blog highlights....I mean they actually kill their targets....."

Gene, your hatred for everything that isn't like you shines through and through.

He wasn't verbally attacking the locals, he was attacking the vile people who run the ID movement. One of the main tenets of many religions is to listen to God. But who knows the word? Only those 'in the know,' right? This used to be the preists, back in the days before the printing press. Now, its people like James Dobson and Pat Robertson, who call for people to think like them and to even kill other world leaders (ie, Hugo Chavez) with virtual immunity.

So Gene, you expect me to swallow your BS line about the muslim fundamentalists? I don't care about them either way (except that I dislike them because they're extremists) because they're not running my country. But the American Fundamentalists are dangerously close to outright control of US government. Don't you remember the brownshirts, Gene?

[Brandon]

Sorry Gene, I meant Jeff

[Jeff]

Brandon,

check your facts. this country was founded by pilgrims who seeked an end to religious persecution.

[Jeff]

Brandon,

Your just like the others. Maybe I should move? are you and your christian thugs going to find me and beat me if i don't? like it or not brandon, the future is smarter than we are...and they are decideldly less christian. what do you make of that? probly nothing. i doubt you have the intellience to derive a conclusion.

so let me say this. keep claiming the sun rotates around the earth. imprisson and supress those who are smarter enough to know the truth. when it is totally obvious how wrong you are, appolgize. keep claiming the infidels need to die. wage wars. go on crusades. when it becomes obvious how wrong you are, appologize. keep molesting little kids. fuck the shit out of 'em. scar 'em for life. when it becomes obvious how wrong you are, appologize. talk your intelligent design. explain why we have tailbones, wisdom teeth and male nipples using complete nonsense. well i have news for you. it is obvious how wrong you are again. stop thugging people. appologize. you guys have been wrong on everything you have ever taken a stance on. don't you ever get sick of being the idiots? apparently not. keep talking brandon. keep talking gene. quote the bible. go to war. oppress women. oppress gays. go murder minorities and beat up professors...but don't expect your stupid oppressive religion to carry on to our evolving and educated future.

[Gene]

"Gene, your hatred for everything that isn't like you shines through and through."

John, you hate is so great you are no longer capable of recognizing it. You know .... how every one of you post is meant to demean Christians, Republicans, Bush, Wal-Mart, insert cause here. Actually, I never have seen a post from you that positions the terrorist in a bad light...hmmm. How anyone who disagrees with you point of view as "hate-mongers" or bigot. Exactly how does such liberal hog-wash fall under the tenant of freethinking?

"But the American Fundamentalists are dangerously close to outright control of US government. Don't you remember the brownshirts, Gene?"

Ditto John, but I would insert far-left radicals in place of Fundies and "REDS" in place of brownshirts.

Mirecki said:
The fundies want it all taught in a science class, but this will be a nice slap in their big fat face by teaching it as a religious studies class under the category ‘mythology.’ ” Mirecki said he was “doing my part” to upset “the religious right” and signed his posting “Evil Dr. P.”

No, I'm sure this isn't to be upsetting to the local citizens John......very professional.

[BRAYKEN]

Jeff,
check your own facts. this country was founded by pilgrims who seeked an end to religious persecution.

These pilgrims then proceeded to persecute anyone who didn't believe in just the same way they did. The Puritans persecuted the AnaBaptists, the Catholics, conducted the Witch Trials in Salem. etc.....ad nauseaum. This country was founded not on religious freedom, but on separatist ideals. The religious freedom didn't come about until much later when the Bill of Rights and the Constitution were drafted. Check it out and then report your own facts and findings

[Jeff]

what are you arguing brayken? what is your point? brandon made some stupid comment about who founded this country and he was wrong. that really doesn't play much into the overall debate about christians beating up a university professor...or are you a christian trying to change the argument?

whatever you want to say, a bunch of white people that believed in jesus came over here and annhilated the native population. (maybe they got them confused with infidels). and since then (and before then) christian peoples have tried to intimidate, kill, and beat those that don't agree with them. well, its not going to happen much longer. you guys and your crappy belief system are following the buffalo, baby. and i am loving it.

[g. wallace]

First off, not much ID going on here. Remember folks, religion melted down is just power.

[John]

Gene--

You should read the title to my site, it is called 'A Freethinker's Paradise.' I don't censor comments unless they are illegal under some statute (threats, etc.). However, that doesn't mean I have to agree and and it also doesn't mean that I have to agree with you. You can pay money and set up your own site like this one and plug away at us evil secularists if you like. There's even some sites for free. BTW, I don't hate groups of people. I dislike groups that are willfully ignorant of reality (this includes all extremists), and fundamentalist Christians fall into that category, as do many other groups.

[Shadeseether]

Uh....

GENE and JOHN...

"But the American Fundamentalists are dangerously close to outright control of US government. Don't you remember the brownshirts, Gene?"

"Ditto John, but I would insert far-left radicals in place of Fundies and "REDS" in place of brownshirts."

How about this...

We are guaranteed freedom of speech in this country. Therefore we are as yet neither red shirted communists or brown shirted gestapo. The first amendment guarantees us the right to express ourselves without fear of retribution. When someone strikes you or incites physical harm against your person because of your opinions they infringe on your First Amendment rights. PERIOD. If this violence is perpetuated in the name of Intelligent Design, which has become a religious principle by this point, they have done a great disservice to their cause. Intelligence denotes the ability to tell the difference from right and wrong and to learn new concepts. Because it is a religious concept, the religion to which they subscribe needs to condemn their actions, otherwise they promote terrorism and know nothing of intelligence. Let alone intelligent design.

So Gene, I'm betting these good ole boys were Baptist. You want to condemn their actions or is it okay because 'they were provoked?' Be very careful with your answer, there are hellfire and brimstone baptists preaching on campuses across America trying to 'provoke' students. The actions of these men were illegal and immoral and unchristian in nature. It doesn't matter that he 'provoked' them by having the audacity to speak his own mind. Are these guys the gestapo? Acting at the behest of their church elders to silence the opposition?

Furthermore...

"The remarks caused an uproar, Mirecki apologized, and KU announced last week the class would be canceled. "

He apologized. So these men do not know forgiveness.

[BAWDYSCOT]

As I said in a recent thread, Christians have blood on their hands as do Muslims. The worst kind of war is a religous war, two divine truths battling it out. Even if Mirecki said what he was supposed to have said, a beating was not warranted. It brings me back to the quote of the great American, Rodney King(toungue in cheek), "Why can't we all get along". It just doesn't work that way when you are talking the divine truth.

[henry]

Gene,

Did you actually bother to read the other articles? Or did you decide what you wanted to know with the headline?