Texas Judge Rips Creationism Group in Science Degree Suit

[cali]

By Clifford M. Marks

File this under things you never want a judge to write about you.

Austin federal judge Sam Sparks dismissed a suit by the Dallas-based Institute of Creation Research, which seeks the right to grant a master’s degree in science from a biblical perspective. And by “dismissed,” we mean the judge tore it apart.

But first, a summary of the suit, as reported today by the San Antonio Express-News. The Institute seeks to offer a masters degree that critiques evolution and champions a literal interpretation of the biblical account of creation. Texas’s higher education board nixed the group’s application, because of the proposed program’s creationist slant. This, the Institute contended, was a violation of its First Amendment Rights.

That claim was dismissed by Sparks in an opinion that criticized the Institute’s arguments as incoherent. At one point he writes that he will address the group’s concerns “to the extent is able to understand them.” At another, he describes the group’s filings as “overly verbose, disjointed, incoherent, maundering and full of irrelevant information.” Click here for the judge’s opinion.

ICR is reviewing the ruling and considering appeal, the Express-News reports.

<snip>

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2010/06/23/texas-judge-rips-creationism-group-in-science-degree-suit/

[petronius]

1. The last paragraph in that article is a kick in the teeth:

"All, however, is not lost for would-be grad students in science through a biblical lens. Students can still get the Institute’s masters in science degree in California, where the Institute has regulatory approval."

As a Californian, I'm rapidly running out of states I can make fun of...

[gratuitous]

2. Did the judge quote Richard Mouw?

"There's nothing wrong with having a fifth grade understanding of the Bible . . . if you're in fifth grade."

(Mouw is the president of Fuller Theological Seminary, and is interviewed in the documentary "For the Bible Tells Me So.")

[Kerrytravelers]

3. The Fuller Theological Seminary is in Pasadena, California, correct?

[hayu_lol]

4. That is certainly a consistant piece of legal writing...

a real adventure. Well worth the time to read it. Pretty clear all the way through. The Board did it's job well and the court finished the job.

On to the next attack I suppose.

[gratuitous]

6. That's the one

Mouw is one of the "anti" voices in terms of gay exclusion from full participation in the life of churches, but he comes off pretty sincere and not hateful (as opposed to segments involving Jimmy Swaggart and others). I think the documentary is online, and it's worth a watch.

[Swamp Rat]

5. LOL!!

Great! :D

[NoodleyAppendage]

7. "overly verbose, disjointed, incoherent, & full of irrelevant information" like the Bible? n/t

J