Thoughts in a Haystack

I'm a student at Baylor. The reason why the paper removed the story, rewrote it for its online version, and published corrections the next day is because Professor Beckwith complained to the paper that it had misrepresented his views. You are, unfortunately, doing the same thing. Beckwith is not "an outspoken supporter of the Intelligent Design Movement." In fact, if you knew anything of his philosophical writings on religion you would know that he is no great fan of design arguments. His project on ID concerns the legal question of teaching it in public schools. He argues that it is constitutionally permissible. But he also argues that it should not be required. And as a matter of policy, he is against teaching it.

Your painting with a broad brush is sloppy and a sign of intellectual laziness.

Why do you perpetuate falsehood against another person? Do you think it is ethical? What would you think of someone who did that to you, or your family?
 

First of all, Beckwith does support the "Intelligent Design Movement" by supporting the teaching of it in public schools, since the promotion of Christianity of a certain stripe at public expense is what the movement is about, not any honest philosophical argument. I find it strange that you think that his support of this disingenuous project is somehow mitigated by the fact that he admits ID is intellectually bankrupt.

As to the rest, I was unaware that the student paper had rewritten the article, not having checked it against the original since I would have expected that any such change would have been prominently noted by reputable journalists-in-training. I'll certainly look into it now.

Finally, do you think it is ethical to hide behind anonymity to criticize others? At least I said what I said about Beckwith out in the open, not crouching in the shadows.