When religious beliefs conflict with one's function as a science minister they become relevant to job function. Would you hire a Christian Scientist to direct a public health program? One has a right to one's beliefs; one does not have a right to hold a job that one refuses (for whatever reason) to perform properly (according to contract, job description, etc). And in this case it doesn't sound like there was any problem knowing what his beliefs were (at least to the extent that they compromised his support for science).
On Mar 22, 2009, at 10:38 PM, Michael Smith wrote: > Hmmm. Seems all the good stuff happens when I'm not around. > (I wonder if that's a conspiracy...nah...can't be...I think) > > Why is it important to know his beliefs? > > Are we not supposed to hire people for positions without predjudice > with regard to religion, color, sexual orientation etc? > > --Mike > > > On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 6:24 PM, William Scott <[email protected]> > wrote: > Chris Green sez: > ------ > "I think the major reason that attention > has suddenly become focused on the Science Minister is that his > government just cut the budgets of the major research funding agencies > as part of their "economic stimulus" package. Go figr." > ---------- > But he, himself, objected to those cuts!! > > I'm taken with the following comments by Lorna Dueck in the Toronto > Globe & Mail: > > "He made a defensive stumble in an environment he assumed would not > allow the breadth of questions needed to explore Christianity and > science. He drew the line around his faith tightly, with what > appears to be a "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. The fact that we > cannot intelligently explore a science minister's personal beliefs > in God because it's deemed political suicide in a sound-bite > culture should alarm us all about the erosion of our freedoms." > > While I agree that it is important to know his beliefs, I do > understand the defensiveness which led to his statements. > >>> "Christopher D. Green" <[email protected]> 03/18/09 7:53 PM >>> > [email protected] wrote: > > Our Science Minister, (yes, our _science_ minister), with the proud > > title of federal Minister of State for Science and Technology, was > > asked whether he "believed in evolution". > > > > > And then... > > Shame on us. > > > > Indeed. However, it has been long known that the current Minister of > International Trade (and former Leader of the Opposition) Stockwell > Day > is a "young Earth creationist." I think the major reason that > attention > has suddenly become focused on the Science Minister is that his > government just cut the budgets of the major research funding agencies > as part of their "economic stimulus" package. Go figr. > > Chris Paul Brandon Emeritus Professor of Psychology Minnesota State University, Mankato [email protected] --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
