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Ben Carson vs. the Emory University Science Department
By: Kim Moreland|Published: June 22, 2012 10:41 AM
Topics: Education, Health & Science

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I know that it must be extremely tough to be a president of a college or university, but what's happening in higher education institutions around the country illustrates that some of them could use more courage. One of them in particular.

The story started innocently enough. Talented pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson was invited to give the commencement address at Emory University. He accepted. News of Carson's questioning of strict Darwinian evolution became known. The science department decided to protest his invitation. The president, James W. Wagner, caved into their demands and ordered extensive background checks from now on into whether its would-be speakers questioned naturalism. Read here, here, and here.

But the story doesn't end badly. Ben Carson shows the students and faculty what true grace looks like.

I encourage you to watch the whole speech, but his comments specifically concerning the brouhaha is at 3:05.


Comments:

Alan, Actually the problem of stifling dissent can be found across the U.S. It even happened to Bill Dembski at Baylor University.

I remember when astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez was denied tenure at Iowa State University for advocating ID.
Posted By: Kim Moreland on July 10, 2012 2:03 PM
What a great speech
I listened to about 8 minutes - what a great speech. A great man, and a role model. Every time this general issue comes up, my mind goes back to the Ben Stein documentary "Expelled." Ever since I saw that film, I have not been able to get it out of my head. I have spent a number of years in graduate schools in several universities myself, and admit the cases in the documentary (and this one) were extreme cases. BUT the pressure is on for the school to conform. It is up to the students to stand up (many do), the trustees to be courageous, the media to be honest and the academics themselves to be bold in their search for truth at all costs.
Posted By: Alan Eason on July 10, 2012 11:48 AM
Ironic
Kevin, as you point out this is incredibly ironic that the liberal elitists of our day no longer support free speech if it disagrees with their presuppositions. Instead, they have become some of the most vitriolic censors on the planet.
Posted By: Philip Fennell on July 01, 2012 1:18 PM
I've seen it first-hand
In 2004, the federal Laboratory where I work invited a speaker from the Mayo Clinic to speak on Nanotechnology. But then someone here found that the speaker had testified to the U.S. House of Representatives against human embryonic stem cell research, and the invitation was withdrawn. (I was involved in trying to arrange his talk.)

I was flabbergasted, that in Berkeley of all places- home of the Free Speech Movement!-- someone was being denied the platform to speak, merely because of his views on a completely unrelated topic. It cemented in my mind just a little more thoroughly the awareness that, at least in Berkeley and much of the Bay Area, 'tolerance' all goes in one direction only.

I must admit, it is rather breathtaking when one sees the hypocrisy so blatantly.
Posted By: Kevin Peet on June 28, 2012 2:52 PM
Glad to hear the grace!
Thank you for posting this. I had been praying and signed a petition to allow him to speak. What impressed me was not only his grace, but that he personally didn't back down on his speech. He basically not only gave the students a call to action...but lectured the supposed "learned leaders" on lessons they obviously need. i.e. political correctness, being open to honest academic inquiry etc. I am not surprised and it has always been clearly evident that he is a fantastic Godly man of character. I pray that God continues to use him...Lord knows our country and youth NEED this kind of mentorship!
Posted By: Felicia Buchanan on June 28, 2012 2:27 PM

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