tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post2625137023449352569..comments2024-03-27T14:50:47.345-04:00Comments on <center>Sandwalk</center>: Washington D.C.Larry Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-26603752366387772009-04-06T14:54:00.000-04:002009-04-06T14:54:00.000-04:00I'm an Australian University student who'll be att...I'm an Australian University student who'll be attending, speaking on the Sunday. I will intrduce myself! I love your blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-34574460255321976492009-04-05T19:26:00.000-04:002009-04-05T19:26:00.000-04:00re: "Center for Inquiry"The word 'inquiry' touches...re: "Center for Inquiry"<BR/><BR/>The word 'inquiry' touches a nerve and sometimes it seems to me that universities need to impose this more forcibly on their assorted departments, etc., too.<BR/><BR/>As a simple <I>example</I>, a local theology Professor recently delivered a piece on solving the problems in Africa. He listed a lot of problems, then—with no evidence of inquiry at all—declared that the solution was Christianity. <BR/><BR/>(I emphasise 'example' as I'm not trying to "hit" on his group; I could equally give examples from other groups with vested interests such as those with connections to business or political activities. I choose this particular example as it so overtly avoided honest inquiry as to practically be begging for attention!)<BR/><BR/>A brief skim of the university charter suggests it barely touches on inquiry (it certainly doesn't contain the word 'inquiry').<BR/><BR/>Maybe this has already been done, but I'm bring this up as it seems to me that one thing that might be useful for such a conference as you are attending, is to push for a universal, concise, over-arching "charter" defining the characteristics of a modern secular university. It might include such things as:<BR/><BR/>- all courses must be delivered in the spirit of honest inquiry (and briefly state what constitutes honest inquiry)<BR/>- honest inquiry must include examination of any founding assumptions<BR/>- (re: 'secular') neither individuals nor departments should be, nor seen to be, promoting personal religious agendas or beliefs; if they hold any they should be pursued in their private time<BR/>- if presenting work under the university's name, or a title associated with the university (e.g. Professor of X), the content should follow that expected of the university charter<BR/><BR/>etc., etc.<BR/><BR/>I bring this up, as (genuine!) inquiry seems to be at the heart of what constitutes a university activity and one what to promote this might be to promote an international overarching charter (or the like) for universities?<BR/><BR/>(Please note I'm referring to 'charter' in the sense of "a written constitution or description of an organization's functions", not in the sense of a granting activity!)<BR/><BR/>Just a loose Monday tea-break thought!BioinfoToolsnoreply@blogger.com