Articles

Christian biologist fired for beliefs, suit says

by D. Jones

In recent news a Christian biologist named Nathaniel Abraham is filing a lawsuit with the U.S. District courts claiming that he was fired in 2004 because he would not accept evolution as fact. He is seeking $500,000 in compensation for what he is claiming as discrimination of his beliefs. Abraham is a firm believer in the literal creation story of Adam and Eve as told by the Bible.

In my opinion it is very difficult to see how this man could have become a biologist in the first place without being able to understand the process's of evolution. He was employed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, one of the most prestigious Institutes in the state. How did he get a job there in the first place? I also wonder why he waited 3 years after the fact to file a lawsuit for $500,000 conveniently after he is now employed by the notoriously ignorant Liberty University. Liberty University in Virginia for those of you who don't know was founded by the late Jerry Falwell a Christian fundamentalist and all around nice guy.

For a person to deny evolution is nothing new in this country, especially for a Christian. But if you are employed and doing active research for a place such as Woods Hole, you should have to be able to explain how evolution is not fact and why your views are, in Mr. Abraham’s case, that the Bible is the only truth. If you are unable, in the field of science, to back up your opinion with facts then you should be fired. Science isn't out to destroy faith but if your job is about using applied scientific methods and you choose to employ matters of opinion, the results can be counterproductive.

Conflicts of opinions are nothing new to the world of science. In fact, without them we would never move foreword in science. If Galileo had never had a difference of opinion then we might still think the sun revolves around the earth. But in most logical cases one side eventually concedes his views and they collectively move on to the next problem. Sadly in this particular case no resolution will ever be made. Instead of putting his beliefs to the test Mr. Abraham is demanding monetary compensation. This issue doesn't come down to a group of mean scientists picking on the different kid in class. It comes down to rationality and science versus delusion and ignorance. I am in no way implying that a difference of opinion always equals ignorance but when a problem cannot be resolved, the two issues should be compared side by side. With each claim evidence should be provided to prove or disprove. This basically comes down to an unwillingness to accept fact over faith.

Imagine if you will the following scenario. You are on your way to the hospital and your mother is suffering a heart attack, you reach the hospital and the ER nurses rush to her side with a defibrillator to help restart her heart. Just as they are about to help her, the Doctor pushes them aside and proclaims, "There is no evidence to suggest that this procedure will work. We must instead pray for her and let god decide." For some this solution would seem reasonable but for the majority of us we would probably want to kill the doctor. The doctor would be trying to suggest that his faith-based views are more valid than scientific ones. Obviously, this is merely an example because acceptance of evolution is not a matter of life and death. But when employed in a position where you are trying to expand the world’s knowledge, rationality and proven evidence cannot be pushed aside by matters of faith. If they are, then there is no room for that kind of person in that profession. Period.

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