Paul Mirecki, a religious studies professor at Kansas University, proposed a new class studying Intelligent Design as a religious phenomenon. After Christians complained, he had to withdraw it. Now he says he was the victim of a roadside beating by people who, according to Mirecki, referenced the withdrawn class as they pummeled him.

The Wichita Eagle reports:

Originally called “Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies,” the course was canceled last week at Mirecki’s request. [...]

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.

Andrew Stangl, president of the Society for Open Minded Atheists and Agnostics at the university, described the attack as “bizarre and terrifying.” ... “That absolutely shocked me,” he said, “because people don’t do that in a civilized society.”

Who said that such people are civilized? Christian extremists make a lot of noise about returning values, morality, decency to America, but some are willing to impose it by force if necessary because they can’t abide by the existence of people who disagree with their religion and are willing to criticize it.

Not all Christians are like this, obviously. Plenty of Christians disagree with Intelligent Design themselves and among those who support it, few are willing to physically assault its critics. Then again, it doesn’t necessarily take very many people, does it? A few committed extremists who can find it in themselves to beat and hurt others in the name of their ideology can do a lot of harm.

 

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