NASA in battle with intelligent design

[cathy]

Ah this story has just broken over at Biblical Creation Society where the long dead John Ray speaking thru his medium there has posted it in his diary for March. Interestingly it says.

A computer specialist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is going to court over allegations that he was wrongfully terminated because of his belief in intelligent design.

And later on the truth actuallly emerges:

In an emailed statement, JPL dismissed Coppedge's claims. In court papers, lawyers for the California Institute of Technology, which manages JPL for NASA, said Coppedge received a written warning because his co-workers complained of harassment.
They also said Coppedge lost his team lead status because of ongoing conflicts with others.

Read between the lines. Harassment, in all forms, not recognising that your attentions are unwelcome and people are sick to death of hearing you go on about the same thing. It's hard enough having to deal with Marc here, if I had to listen to ID crap at work where I couldn't take a break I'd go insane. And complain if they didn't shut up and leave me alone.

Oh and to confirm his pain in the @@@@ism it also says this:

Coppedge's attorney, William Becker, contends his client was singled out by his bosses because they perceived his belief in intelligent design to be religious. Coppedge had a reputation around JPL as an evangelical Christian, and interactions with co-workers led some to label him as a Christian conservative, Becker said.

In the lawsuit, Coppedge says he believes other things also led to his demotion, including his support for a state ballot measure that sought to define marriage as limited to heterosexual couples and his request to rename the annual holiday party a Christmas party.

Bringing religious politics into the workplace? Wishing to impose his particular sets of beliefs?

GrumpyBob wrote: The case is really about a long history of disruptive behaviour by the employee (according to JPL), the ID issue is only part of it. I believe the DiscoTute are egging this on and the Coppedge's lawyer (who has ties to DI) is trying to make it a single issue thing around ID victimisation.

Now that is surprising ha ha.

[cathy]

The UK is possibly one of the more secular of the European countries thanks to an apathetic state religion and an extremely liberal public broadcaster

I don't think it is an apathetic state religion. The fact it isn't perceived as extremist, tends to be moderate, caring and largely thoughtful and respectful of others is a strength not a weaknes- and the reason so many people would still term themselves christians in the UK (even if not obviously devout). And I think thats the reason most don't object at all to having a state religion.

Dawkins and the Archbishop of Canterbury can debate amicably and find areas of agreement. That would never happen with creationis loons and most people would balk at a state religion that was like the Christian Institute.Tho if the CofE continues to import crap from the US that will change.

If it lets creationist loons in or if they get a higher profile in christianity then things will change. Then it will become a perceived threat rather than a perceived force for good. The RC church had to change and tend towards presenting a far more moderate face in the UK for those very reasons and very quickly (tho they've never been creationists). Their hardline authoritarian stance (even before the contributions of the abuse scandal) lost them a whole generation that will be difficult to get back. Here and in the Republic.

[cathy]

Too optimistic Roger! Far too many do not know about ID and the cons creationists use. We have our Devon

Agreed. Most people here know sweet FA about ID. Lots still confuse it with the sort of belief I used to hold and Michael and co still do - ie real science with God as overall creator. Not dodgy science and creationist bull@@@@.

[Brian Jordan]

The UK is possibly one of the more secular of the European countries thanks to an apathetic state religion and an extremely liberal public broadcaster

Yeah, that's what Ham said in his blog yesterday, but he blamed the situation on a belief in evolution, and those Christians who compromised with it and millions of years.

Well, the country is a lot older than the USA!

[GrumpyBob]

Time Magazine has an interesting article on Coppedge vs JPL, written by a legally trained journalist who has read the court filings rather than pick up press releases from the Discotute - Legal Smackdown: NASA, Religion and Intelligent Design.

Robert