Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary course requirement: troll websites

[muriel_volestrangler]

via Richard Dawkins' website:

AP410 This is the undegrad course. You have three things to do: (1) take the final exam (worth 40% of your grade); (2) write a 3,000-word essay on the theological significance of intelligent design (worth 40% of your grade); (3) provide at least 10 posts defending ID that you’ve made on “hostile” websites, the posts totalling 2,000 words, along with the URLs (i.e., web links) to each post (worth 20% of your grade).


AP510 This is the masters course. You have four things to do: (1) take the final exam (worth 30% of your grade); (2) write a 1,500- to 2,000-word critical review of Francis Collins’s The Language of God -- for instructions, see below (20% of your grade); (3) write a 3,000-word essay on the theological significance of intelligent design (worth 30% of your grade); (4) provide at least 10 posts defending ID that you’ve made on “hostile” websites, the posts totalling 3,000 words, along with the URLs (i.e., web links) to each post (worth 20% of your grade).

http://www.designinference.com/teaching/teaching.htm

And, wow, this question from their Christian Faith and Science exam:

Trace the connections between Darwinian evolution, eugenics, abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia. Why are materialists so ready to embrace these as a package deal? What view of humanity and reality is required to resist them?

Talk about intellectually bankrupt.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. That explains some of the trolls around here

Or maybe not. After all, we do tombstone the ones that get too disruptive--I'm waiting now for one to start something and then when challenged say, "But this is my homework!"

[crikkett]

6. it's something that's worth asking a troll, isn't it?

"Is this your homework or something?"

[Botany]

2. 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

So setting up a phony ID so as to get on and disrupt discussions is O.K. for this Christian Taliban?

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. Faith trumps truth

Abraham, the great Biblical patriarch of faith, was a serial liar who never seemed to be able to acknowledge that his wife (and half sister) Sarah was indeed his wife. When asked he would say she was his sister. That, of course, made her available and protected his sorry ass. Some faith. He was a lying coward.

[izquierdista]

3. Hi ho, hi ho, It's off to troll I go!

Next we'll find out that Catholic seminaries have a "coaching boy's gym" requirement.

[Jim__]

5. I don't think their attempt to defend ID on "hostile" websites is a bad thing.

On most of those websites, they are presumably going to be confronted with powerful refutations. While most of these students won't really try to understand the refutation, some of them may.

[Enthusiast]

7. Long suspected this to be an organized effort.

They do this on many message boards. I guess they believe they will convince us to embrace creationism.

[Silent3]

8. There doesn't seem to be any requirement...

...to truly engage in debate, however. All these students probably have to do is a bunch of hit-and-run posts: dump some tired dogma and regurgitated talking points, then leave. No need to stick around and see how easy it is to poke holes in their rhetoric.

[Jim__]

9. But, if they don't stick around for the debate, they lose.

Most of their claims are easily refuted. So, to make claims and then have them publicly refuted only serves to expose the weakness of their arguments.

[ChadwickHenryWard]

10. Wow, I've never had an essay question that told me what my position was

before I started. Sounds like an easy grade; all you have to do is parrot the professors position back to him.

[TZ]

11. Thats because you were taught critical thinking obviously

That is obviously not only not wanted but dangerous to their "ideas".

[sakabatou]

12. Religion, especially fundy religion

abhors critical thought.

[ChadwickHenryWard]

15. That's not a very good way to teach.

Dembski is making idiots. The entire course requirement consisted of agreeing with him. There is no actual work required for the course. The students aren't learning anything. That's a very poor way to groom "intellectuals" for your side of the debate.

[TZ]

16. I have to say most of the time when I debate them

their answers go like this..No. You are wrong. Carbon dating is wrong. Why? Cause the Bible says so......
Seriously.

[moggie]

19. I don't entirely agree

Dembski isn't making idiots: he's making idiots worse.

[silverweb]

13. Talk about an anti-science attitude!

Effectively, they're being told: Here's your dogmatic conclusion. Now go find or fabricate an argument to support it.

Oh, and: PS -- Be ready to kill for it.

[charlie]

14. Lol, whatta pencil neck wiener

Dembski wants his students to do what he couldn't/wouldn't. After mouthing off like Muhammad Ali, he didn't show at the Dover trial, leaving Behe to do the heavy lifting. It's a regular occurence with him. Strut like a badass, accuse opponents of being afraid to mix it up, and become scarce at showtime.

[skepticscott]

17. I wonder how many of the Looney Toons

will try to argue that infanticide began around 1860, blissfully unaware of the fact that it was a perfectly acceptable practice thousands of years before anyone had even conceived of evolution. Interesting too, it would be, to see them slip slavery in there with their other list of social ills..

[donheld]

18. These are why sex threads should be allowed

Give the Baptists something to keep them occupied.