Dr. Janet Smith blasts AFP for 'inaccurate' contraception article [CNA]

[buffalo]

This isn’t about elitism, its about professionalism and credibility. Its also a very curious situation given that its extremely uncommon for lecturers not to provide their educational background.

If you were upfront about your educational history then I would probably consider what you had to say. However, education shows that an individual has been evaluated by others in that field and that the individual has had to justify and defend their various thesis and ideas. That’s a far cry from simply reading up on something and offering an opinion.

Like I said, she may indeed hold all the proper educational credentials. I just find it odd that its not readily available.

Let’s pretend for a moment that she’s saying the exact opposite of what you agree with. Let’s pretend that she’s a Catholic moral theologian who’s writing in favor of contraception and using theology and sociology to back up her arguments. Would you not ask even the simple question of, “What is your educational background regarding these issues?”

No - there are orthodox and heterodox PHD’s. What matters is whether they are in accord with the Magisterium.

 

[puzzleannie]

I see we are still uninterested in discussing article on its merits, call me when we get back on topic. Are the comments of the distinguished professor of moral theology from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit on target, or not.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

You are ignoring the article and points made and engaging in ad hominem argument. Feel free to refute the points she made. You can do that regardless of her credentials…or perhaps you can’t.

I’m not addressing the article at all. I asked a question that I’ve been asking for a while now and am simply looking for answers. I am not attempting to refute anything she has to say. Its not ad hominem to ask a simple question.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

No its not normal for authors and professors to list what their degrees are in. They usually just give the type of degree and if they teach Philosophy…well you do the math.

Its is normal for lecturers to present their educational backgrounds. I’m yet to attend a conference where someone speaking on behalf of an issue doesn’t have their educational and professional background information presented in some manner.

You act like because she has only PHD behind her name that she is somehow shady or dishonest.

I never said it was shady or dishonest. What I said was that its unusual.

So why this fascination with finding out what her PHD is in? Don’t agree with what she says so you suspect her PHD is in music or something?

{Sigh} Really? I mean, seriously, is that how you view the world? If you agree with what someone say then you ask no questions? I don’t. And indeed, for all I could find, she might have her PhD in music.

Just make sure you use the same strict criteria the people you agree with too–spending your afternoon researching what their majors were in so that you can continue agreeing with them.

{Sigh} Where did I state anywhere that I disagreed with her? Nowhere. And yes, anytime someone makes living selling books and giving lecturs I’m going to do a quick check of their CV to see if they’re worth my time. Usually that takes about 5 minutes to look up. But for whatever reason, not in this case.

 

[rlg94086]

I’m not addressing the article at all.

Correct. That is basically what I was pointing out. Isn’t the point of these threads to discuss the articles? I guess that’s just crazy talk.