Course's name offends Kansas conservatives

LAWRENCE, Kan., Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The name of a new Kansas University religious studies course has infuriated conservatives in the state for referring to Intelligent Design as a myth.

The class, "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationisms and other Religious Mythologies," incensed some conservatives to the point of suggesting the school should see a cut in funding, the Lawrence Journal-World reported Wednesday.

The course will explore intelligent design, the idea that life is too complex to have evolved without a "designer," presumably a god or other supernatural being.

In response to the uproar, Provost David Shulenburger issued a written statement in an attempt to clarify the use of the word "myth."

"It is unfortunate that the course title's reference to 'mythologies' has been misconstrued," Shulenburger wrote. "The terms 'myth' and 'mythology' are common in the academic study of religion and not an affront."

But some conservatives, such as Republican Sen. Kay O'Connor, were unmoved.

"If you're going to have an intelligent design course and call it mythology, I think in the very least it's a slap in the face to every Judeo-Christian religion that's out there," she said.