Prof. Avila
- Thread starter rollcy
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Wow, wouldn't that be construed as trying to sway your students to your way of thinking? So he's basically trying to be objective and gain everybody's respect all semester, then at the end he tells you what conclusion he came to "objectively"? That sounds to me like he's using the trust he has built up as a professor for "impressionable minds" to use that trust in converting people to his way of thinking. I can't imagine what Avalos would do if one of the other religion professors did something similar and the last day of class stated "I have searched and researched every possible theory and idea and the only possible solution is that the Bible is Truth and God breathed and the only way to heaven is through putting your trust and faith in Jesus Christ". We would be talking about another professor casualty here as he would slaughter them with a slew of petitions and articles in the Daily.
My own opinion on having an Atheist as a religion professor is that it's ridiculous. I have seen many people say that even though he is likely influenced by his beliefs, so would a Christian or Muslim professor be. That to me doesn't make it any more understandable. I would way rather see a Muslim or Hindu teaching our religion classes than somebody that doesn't believe in anything. I would equate it with a person who doesn't believe in aliens teaching a course on the science of aliens. I really don't see how you can effectively teach something that you don't believe in. If I didn't believe in long division I'd have a big problem teaching it to my 4th graders.
Finally, everybody bashing Deace's article calling it "ad hominem" and a host of other fallicies from their beginning philosophy courses, get a clue! This isn't an article about some scientific theory found in a research journal. It's a freaking opinion piece on a message board! I'm pretty sure that if he had written in in the crusty, fact based format that some of you seem to think he should have, most of us would have fallen asleep reading it and you same people would be calling it a bore. If you think it's a crappy read, it's probably just because you don't agree with his viewpoints, but what type of researched, documented piece did you expect to read on Cyclone Nation (or any other cyclone board)?
Seriously? This is nothing more than revealing what biases one might have, which I would want my teachers to do. It makes sense to do this at the end of the class so that students have had time to form their own opinions and so that your arguments for the other side are taken seriously.
The classes he teaches, from his ISU profile page:
How does not believing in God prevent one from effectively teaching about these things? Even more pointedly, how would being a Muslim or Hindu help in teaching these. He's not teaching a "God is Great!" or a "Jesus Saves!" class.
I expect something that at least makes a reasoned argument instead of personal attacks and obvious fallacies. It's not that difficult. I see such things from people I disagree with on this message board all the time.
Ah, so how would not believing in strict evolution prevent one from teaching science?:sweet:
Say what you want about how much you respect the way Avalos taught Religious Studies, personally, I respect the way Eric Northway taught it even more. This is a man who grew up Atheist, went to the University of Dunham in England as an Atheist, and was an Atheist when he went into a personal study to prove the Bible fallible. The end result? He gave his life to Christ. So you're probably asking "how unprofessional, he gave his life story in class." Wrong. He never once stated his personal beliefs in class. He always left it up to us to interpret. And he didn't give a schpiel on the last day to try to convert you to his viewpoint. So how did I find out about his life story? A friend of mine was so disgusted with the teaching in the class that she decided to drop the class, and at the same time confront the Prof. Northway. That's how he told his life story and viewpoints, after being asked. Just the way it should be. Not on the last day of class when no one will be around to complain.
Well, he's got to teach people about something he doesn't believe in, and that other people do believe in. What does he teach his students about God...is God a real being or a fictitious being? What does he teach about Jesus...was he the Son of God or not? Did Jesus rise from the dead or not? God and Jesus are major characters in the OT and NT...it's kind of hard to avoid them if teaching the OT and NT. Does he tell the students that it's up to them to decide? I don't know...I'm just curious what approach he takes...
If that article was in print, I would have used it for TP fifteen minutes ago. Way to prefece your article by telling the tolerant people not to read it. "Those of you who think you're 'tolerant' should stop reading." That just tells everyone that you're not only rather robust, but that you're also a religious bigot. Way to be an idiot, Deace!
IF you ask me, this is all the work of the Hawkeyes. The last few years the Cyclone community was at odds with Coach Mac. Keep him or get rid of him, we were split along two sides. Well, now we get a coach we are all pretty happy with so far, so, now they find us something else to argue about. We need to remember we are all on the same side here. It's a football team and it should be their choice. I keep hearing things like, "I'm XXXX religion so, I guess I'd feel that way." The biggest thing to remember is we aren't members of the football team. Your religion has nothing to do with them. If it's not funded by the state then we all need to shut the **** up and let them get on with football.
I guess I'm just glad that this really isn't a controversy that really has anything to do with football.
I guess I'm just glad that this really isn't a controversy that really has anything to do with football.
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Do you think Deace is who we are hiring as the chaplain? If not, you and some others on this thread seem to be projecting Deace's view onto the role of a chaplain that Chizik has in mind. Last I checked Deace is not a chaplain, and Deace is not Gene Chizik.
Let Chizik run his football team how he wants to as long as it is legal and ethical. This whole "issue" has nothing to do with Deace. He, like many others (Avalos included) should just stay out of it.
Interesting. Nowhere in your description did I read about his qualifications for running a football team or an athletic department.
I'm curious why none of you against the idea of a Chaplain ever list Voodoo when you bring up other religions?
The most common religion discussed here other than Christianity appears to be Islam...typically used here in the context of "what would you think if they wanted an Islamic Chaplain" (to paraphrase what many have written).
I say we get a Voodoo Priest and have him not only convert all of the players to Voodoo but all of the fans as well. He can give every player and coach his own Gris Gris Bag. All fans can be given Voodoo Dolls. I'm sure the new Voodoo Chaplain could do this through his/her proselytization in pretty short order.
Think of the power of those Gris Gris Bags and Voodoo Dolls...I can visualize us winning the National Championship this season!
The most common religion discussed here other than Christianity appears to be Islam...typically used here in the context of "what would you think if they wanted an Islamic Chaplain" (to paraphrase what many have written).
I say we get a Voodoo Priest and have him not only convert all of the players to Voodoo but all of the fans as well. He can give every player and coach his own Gris Gris Bag. All fans can be given Voodoo Dolls. I'm sure the new Voodoo Chaplain could do this through his/her proselytization in pretty short order.
Think of the power of those Gris Gris Bags and Voodoo Dolls...I can visualize us winning the National Championship this season!
- Mar 23, 2006
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Voodoo priest? Nah, never work. I once saw an episode of Scooby Doo and get this, the voodoo priest? He was just some white guy in a disguise. Turned me off of voodoo forever after that. Darn them meddling kids and their dog.
And in Major League, all that worshipping of Joboo by Cerrano netted in one key home run. He gave Joboo "cigar and rum" to him all season and all he got was just one home run at an opportune moment (and that was only after he threatened to be done with Joboo). He then went and converted to Buddhism in the offseason. I see Voodoo backfiring big time...
This article is one of the worst pieces of crap I have read in a long time. Can someone point out to me one *specific* example in the whole diatribe? I don't believe that he supported his name calling with one bit of evidence. He expects us to believe that this Avalos is a raging atheist on a mission do destroy his good Christian world without presenting us one bit of evidence. What a bunch of bull.
