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Professor Paul Mirecki at Vortex of Kansas Storm Over Teaching "Intelligent Design"

Soon after Kansas' Board of Education ordered the state's schools to begin teaching "intelligent design," University of Kansas professor of religion Paul Mirecki announced he would be teaching a course critiquing the controversial notion. Mirecki made news again when emails he wrote mocking the religious right became public and the resultant outcry forced him to cancel the class and resign as chair of his department. Mirecki was subsequently hospitalized after a beating at the hands of unknown assailants.

Mirecki mum on details of beating

By Eric Weslander, Lawrence Journal-World, December 7, 2005

With a bruise visible under his right eye, Paul Mirecki paid a visit Tuesday afternoon to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Mirecki, a Kansas University religious studies professor, has been in the national spotlight since he reported early Monday that he was beaten by two unidentified men who made reference to his controversial online remarks about religion.

Sheriff's officials on Tuesday continued to investigate the case, and they've asked for the public's help in finding the suspects Mirecki described: two white men in their 30s or 40s, one with a red visor and wool gloves, both wearing jeans, and driving a large pickup truck.

As he waited outside the sheriff's office, Mirecki said he'd stopped returning phone calls from the media. And he declined to talk with a reporter about details of the case.

Within moments, a sheriff's deputy came out to meet him and bring him into the office.

"We can always develop more information when we have an opportunity to talk to the victim a second time," Lt. Kari Wempe, a sheriff's spokeswoman, said. "I do not know what the purpose of that interview is."

Mirecki, the chairman of the religious studies department, caused an uproar recently with his remarks on the Internet about an upcoming course in which he planned to teach intelligent design as mythology. He said the class would be a "slap" in the "big fat face" of religious fundamentalists.

Early Monday, Mirecki reported to deputies that he was driving in a rural area south of Lawrence when two men in a large pickup truck began tailgating him and he pulled over. He said he got out and the two men beat him with their fists and a metal object while making references to the recent Internet controversy.

He was treated and released at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

"I got the hell beat out of me," he told the Journal-World on Monday.

Key facts about the reported attack remained unclear Tuesday, including exactly where it happened. A report released by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said the location was "unknown" and listed it as south of 31st Street on either East 1400 Road or East 1500 Road.

Louisiana Street turns into East 1400 Road outside the city limits. Haskell Avenue becomes East 1500 Road.

Also, there was conflicting information about whether Mirecki reported it at the scene or at the hospital. In an interview Monday with the Journal-World, he said he called police from the side of the road, but sheriff's officials said they were dispatched to the hospital.

Mirecki declined to clarify the discrepancy when asked about it Tuesday outside the sheriff's office.

"I can; I just don't want to," he said.

The sheriff's report, which is classified as an aggravated battery, says that Mirecki suffered minor injuries. It says the incident started about 6:20 a.m. and was reported about 6:40 a.m.

KU faculty on Tuesday pondered the effects that recent weeks' events would have on the religious studies department.

"I don't think we know how it's going to shake out yet," professor Tim Miller said. "This is a difficult time to get through. I want to get through as well as we can."

Religious studies professor Jonathan Boyarin said, "I hope that we will be able to move forward in our scholarship and teaching with mutual respect among the academic community and the people of Kansas and the larger community around us."

Creation as Mythology Class Canceled

E-mail mocking Christians added to the professor's troubles

Focus on the Family, December 1, 2005

A University of Kansas (KU) professor intensely criticized over his plans to teach creation and intelligent design as "mythology" canceled the class on Thursday.

Paul Mirecki, chair of the Religious Studies Department, had previously apologized and promised to teach a class that respected all points of view.

But that appeared to be a long shot after an e-mail came to light in which Mirecki, who is also the faculty adviser for the school's atheist club, wrote about "fundies" (meaning fundamentalists) and how the class "will be a nice slap in their big fat face by teaching it as a religious studies class under the category of mythology."

Amanda Tate, a KU senior, called that offensive, but not surprising given the liberal bent on campus.

"Basically him giving that quote shows that he has a hidden agenda in doing this and that he wants to make the conservative fundamentalists mad," she said.

Rob Crowther, director of communications at the Discovery Institute, told Family News in Focus he doubted Mirecki could have taught a respectful class.

"I'm very skeptical as to whether he can present intelligent design in an intellectually honest or balanced way, he said.

Mirecki, who in his e-mails referred to himself as "Evil Dr. P," appears to have created problems for himself far beyond campus. Kansas state Rep. Brenda Landweir has called for hearings into the incident.

"I've made the request to have the chancellor from KU come in, as well as the professor, and explain their position and answer questions," she said.

She added that she would ask the chancellor to get rid of Mirecki.

Prof. critical of creationism resigns post

By John Milburn, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 7, 2005

TOPEKA, Kan. -- A University of Kansas professor who drew criticism for e-mails he wrote deriding Christian fundamentalists over creationism resigned Wednesday as chairman of the Department of Religious Studies.

Paul Mirecki stepped aside on the recommendation of his colleagues, according to Barbara Romzek, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

"This allows the department to focus on what's most important - teaching, research and service - and to minimize the distractions of the last couple of weeks," Romzek said in a statement after receiving Mirecki's resignation.

Contacted by The Associated Press, Mirecki declined to comment about his decision, only saying he was still a member of the university faculty and planned to continue teaching.

Mirecki had planned to teach a course in the spring that examined creationism and intelligent design after the State Board of Education adopted science standards treating evolution as a flawed theory.

Originally called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies," the course was canceled last week at Mirecki's request.

A recent e-mail from Mirecki to members of a student organization referred to religious conservatives as "fundies" and said a course describing intelligent design as mythology would be a "nice slap in their big fat face." Mirecki apologized for those comments.

Later, other e-mails written by Mirecki that surfaced were deemed "repugnant and vile" by Chancellor Robert Hemenway for their views toward Catholics and other Christians.

On Monday, Mirecki was treated at a Lawrence hospital for head injuries after he said he was beaten by two men on a country road. He said the men referred to the creationism course. Law enforcement officials were investigating.

Mirecki, who joined the university in 1989, is an expert in ancient Mediterranean cultures, languages and religions.

Professor beaten; attackers cite KU creationism class

Wichita Eagle, December 6, 2005

LAWRENCE - A professor whose planned course on creationism and intelligent design was canceled after he sent e-mails deriding Christian conservatives was hospitalized Monday after what appeared to be a roadside beating.

University of Kansas religious studies professor Paul Mirecki said that the two men who beat him made references to the class that was to be offered for the first time this spring.

Originally called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies," the course was canceled last week at Mirecki's request.

The class was added after the Kansas State Board of Education decided to include more criticism of evolution in science standards for elementary and secondary students.

"I didn't know them," Mirecki said of his assailants, "but I'm sure they knew me."

One recent e-mail from Mirecki to members of a student organization referred to religious conservatives as "fundies," and said a course describing intelligent design as mythology would be a "nice slap in their big fat face." Mirecki has apologized for those comments.

Lt. Kari Wempe, a spokeswoman for the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, said a deputy was dispatched to Lawrence Memorial Hospital after receiving a call around 7 a.m. regarding a battery.

She said Mirecki reported he was attacked around 6:40 a.m. in rural Douglas County south of Lawrence. Mirecki told the Lawrence Journal-World that 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."

He said the men beat him on the head, shoulders and back with their fists, and possibly a metal object.

Wempe said Mirecki drove himself to the hospital after the attack.

Mirecki told the student newspaper, the University Daily Kansan, that he spent between three and four hours at the hospital. He said his injuries included a broken tooth.

"I'm mostly shaken up, and I got some bruises and sore spots," he told the Lawrence Journal-World.

Wempe said Mirecki described the suspects as two white men between 30 and 40 years of age. One of the men was described as wearing a red, visorlike ball cap and wool gloves. Mirecki said the men left in a large pickup.

Wempe said the department would investigate "every aspect," but couldn't discuss specifics.

Andrew Stangl, president of the Society for Open Minded Atheists and Agnostics at the university, described the attack as "bizarre and terrifying." He said Mirecki, who is the group's faculty adviser, was adamant that the beating was related to the recently canceled course.

"That absolutely shocked me," he said, "because people don't do that in a civilized society."

State Sen. Kay O'Connor, a Mirecki critic, said there is no excuse for someone physically assaulting the professor -- regardless of their politics.

"I have zero tolerance for thugs," she said. "There is never an excuse to behave in such a manner. This was just thugs. They used a flimsy excuse, if they had one, to behave as thugs. They can talk about the ID (intelligent design) course if they want to, but that's not an excuse."

To see the police report on the incident (a PDF file), click here.

KU Professor who Mocked Some Christians Treated for Beating

WIBW Television, December 5, 2005

A University of Kansas religion professor who belittled Christian fundamentalism on the Internet is recovering tonight from a roadside beating.

Paul Mirecki was treated at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and released earlier Monday.

Mirecki tells the Lawrence Journal-World he was attacked about 6:40 a.m. in rural Douglas County by two men who had been tailgating him in a pickup truck as he drove to breakfast.

Mirecki said he and the men got out of their vehicles and that the men beat him with their fists and possibly a metal object. He said he was left bruised and sore.

Mirecki says the assailants mentioned the controversy about a class he had planned to teach on creationism and intelligent design as mythology.

He cancelled the class last week when e-mails he sent to a student group mocking some fundamentalist beliefs became public.

To see the police report on the incident (a PDF file), click here.

KU Delays Class on Creationism After Professor's Comments

WIBW Television, December 1, 2005

A class to discuss creationism and intelligent design has been canceled from the spring schedule at the University of Kansas.

The school said today the professor who has been a target of conservative criticism requested that the class be withdrawn. Professor Paul Mirecki made the decision in light of e-mails he posted on a student organization forum deriding Christianity and religious conservatives.

It is not clear if and when the course will be taught, which already had 25 students enrolled.

Mirecki, chairman of the Religious Studies Department, repeated an earlier apology for his statements.

The class was added after the Kansas State Board of Education decided to include more criticism of evolution in science standards for public-school students.

Lawmakers Not Satisfied With Apology

WIBW Television, November 30, 2005

Some conservative lawmakers aren't satisfied with University of Kansas professor Paul Mirecki's official apology for his remarks about religious fundamentalists.

State Senator Kay O'Connor says Mirecki has "hate in his heart'' for Christians and wonders why more severe action isn't being taken against him. Mirecki plans to teach about intelligent design next semester and mocked fundamentalists in a recent e-mail that was later posted on the Internet.

KU Approves Intelligent Design Course as Professor Apologizes

WIBW Television, November 29, 2005

The religion department at the University of Kansas approves a new elective course to be called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design and Creationism.''

Faculty members in KU's Department of Religious Studies voted Monday to offer the course in the upcoming spring semester. A full description and reading list will be made public before classes begin.

Department Chairman Paul Mirecki will teach the class, which he initially called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies.''

The word "mythology'' drew protests from some people who support the teaching of intelligent design. Mirecki also angered many with a message on a Yahoo listserv that said teaching the theory as religion would be "a nice slap'' to those who regard it as science.

Mirecki issued a public apology Monday, saying his words were "offensive.'' He pledged to teach the course as a serious academic subject.

Professor of New Creationism Course Criticized for E-Mail

WIBW Television, November 24, 2005

Critics of a new course at the University of Kansas that equates creationism and intelligent design with mythology are angry at the professor who will teach the class.

They say an e-mail sent by the chairman of the KU religious studies department proves the course is designed to mock fundamentalist Christians.

In a recent message on a Yahoo listserv, Paul Mirecki said the course "will be a nice slap in their big fat face by teaching it as a religious studies class under the category mythology.'' He signed the note "Doing my part (to upset) the religious right.''

Republican State Senators Karin Brownlee and Kay O'Connor of Olathe blasted Mirecki. Brownlee says his mockery of Christian beliefs is inappropriate, while O'Connor wonders why tax dollars are being spent to promote hatred.

KU Course Seeks to Debunk Creationism, Intelligent Design

WIBW Television, November 22, 2005

Creationism and intelligent design will be studied as mythology, not science, in a course being offered at the University of Kansas next semester.

It's called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies.''

Religious studies professor Paul Mirecki says the KU faculty "has had enough'' with promotion of the intelligent design concept in Kansas.

The state Board of Education recently adopted new science standards that treat evolution as a flawed theory, defying the view of national science groups. Intelligent design says the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power.

Intelligent design advocate John Calvert said equating intelligent design to mythology is to label advocates as religious nuts.

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