The Coppedge case: An illustration of Expelled: No intelligence Allowed

Joel Kontinen


What happens when a NASA employee lends two pro-ID DVD documentaries to his co-workers?



Although Dr. Wernher von Braun, the father of the US Apollo programme, and several astronauts were professing Christians, the atmosphere at NASA has changed diametrically from the days astronauts could read the opening verses of the Book of Genesis while orbiting the moon.

Since 1997 David Coppedge has worked as an information technology specialist and system administrator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. According to the Evolution News and Views blog, ”in 2000 he earned recognition for excellence, receiving the important role of 'Team Lead SA' (system administrator), a role he held until his demotion in 2009.”

The reason for his demotion? He loaned two DVDs - The Privileged Planet and Unlocking the Mystery of Life to his co-workers.



Source:

Crowther, Robert. 2010. How NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Punished David Coppedge for His Views on Intelligent Design. (16 April)
http://www.evolutionnews.org/2010/04/how_nasas_jet_propulsion_labor.html#more