[Thee Alex]

A useless, credulous, mimsy, soapsop, pictured yesterday

DUNDEE UNIVERSITY has been accused of “antagonising Christians” with a forthcoming Christmas lecture that challenges one of the central tenets of the faith.

Oh no! We can't see Christians being 'antagonised'! They may have to turn the other cheek TWICE!! Of course, if they actually did what their 'holy' book told them to, they'd be down there en masse stoning Jones for blasphemy.

Second-year dental student Emily Mackie said the university’s decision to call its inaugural Dundee Christmas Lecture “Why Evolution is Right … and Creationism is Wrong” is badly timed and insensitive to Christians.

I think the University probably 'chose' to call the lecture it's title. And badly timed? What about this notion that Jesus was born at Christmas? Shurely Shome Mishtake, Emily? Or have you not gone too deeply into this?

The lecture is being given by Steve Jones, professor of genetics at University College, London, who claims that all biologists support the theory of evolution and that “intelligent design”—the belief that life was created as part of a divine plan—is wrong.

Sounds reasonable to me, creationism (as laid out in the Bible) IS wrong, 6000 year old Earth? Life created in the wrong order in a week? 'Wrong' is pretty much the perfect word.

Dundee University principal Alan Langlands said the lecture will “serve to celebrate the close links between the university and the people of Dundee.”

Not sure what the Principal is talking about here, has he got Dundee mixed up with Oxford or some other city where the majority of the population isn't Kappa wearing Neds?

However, Miss Mackie, who is also a member of Dundee University’s Christian Union—reckons the lecture will create divisions rather than bring the community together.

Yeah, there'll be riots in the streets, you over dramatising, publicity seeking div.

She said, “I appreciate that the role of a university is to encourage academic debate on a wide range of sometimes controversial issues.

“However, as a Christian I am offended that the lecture purporting to coincide with such an important Christian festival has so clearly been chosen to antagonise Christians.

Christmas is only tentatively a Christian festival, so Emily should just shut the fuck up before she ends up looking even more like a puritanical 'Not in front of the children!' reactionary.

“I also feel that the lecture title allows no scope for a balanced debate on the subject.

Of course it bloody doesn't you dimbulb! There IS no balanced debate on this! Science has absolutely shown the biblical creation story to be a crock of shit.

“I call on the university to take a moral stand and choose a new title which better reflects the celebration of the birth of Christ.”

What have morals got to do with this? And why would an atheist evolutionary biologist want to celebrate the mythical birth of a composite character?

Miss Mackie added that while the Genesis tale that God created the world in six days has been disregarded by many Christians, it is still a central tenet of the faith that God created the world and is in control of human destiny.

Yeah, so it comes down to your 'faith' being shaken, eh? At least you're going to the lecture, hopefully you'll open that wool-filled mind of yours a little and come away with a better understanding of reality. Jones is an excellent lecturer (the stuff I have of him on my iPod is spectacular) and will be presenting very compelling evidence.

Dundee University said its decision to book Professor Jones for its Christmas lecture was “opportunistic” as he is a highly sought after speaker who could only be available at this time.

Love the way the Courier has leapt on 'opportunistic' in an attempt to make it look like the Uni is being cynical and deliberately confrontational.

A spokeswoman added that the university has featured both sides of the creationism debate in recent months, with two very high-profile lectures from arch-atheist Richard Dawkins and celebrity fertility expert Robert Winston, who presented the view that science can’t provide all of the answers to life on Earth.

Wish I'd seen that Dawkins lecture

The spokeswoman said, “There are over 700 people booked to attend what is sure to be a very interesting and highly topical debate.

“However, I would deny that we have put opportunism over sensitivity as I think this will provide an opportunity for all sides of the argument to be aired.

The problem will be that one side is completely open minded, and the other will be coming along with the intention of converting the foul unbelievers to the message of Christ.

“There will be a question and answer session at the end of the lecture where people will be able to—and undoubtedly will—challenge Mr Jones’ point of view.”

I hope Emily takes him on and gets mown down in a wall of logic.