Standing Up For Intellectual Freedom

There's an old adage that says, "In a time of war, truth is the first casualty." Well, there's an intellectual war raging right now in Ohio about how science should be taught, and the truth has been badly wounded. Yet thanks to some courageous scientists and a wise proposal for a reasonable truce, intellectual freedom and truth may yet carry the day.

Chances are, what you've heard from the mainstream press about the intelligent design controversy in Ohio is wrong. They've said that the religious right is trying to take over Ohio science education and force the teaching of intelligent design on science teachers and students-not so. In fact, what has been proposed is quite simple-so simple and straightforward, in fact, that the media distortions become all the more puzzling.

Supporters of intelligent design are asking that the theory of evolution-like any other theory-be taught accurately, and by "accurately" they mean teaching everything we know about the theory. In other words, let students and teachers discuss the evidence for and against Darwinian evolution. In addition they propose that the curriculum ought to include the theory of intelligent design, another theory and an alternative to Darwin's theory, with evidence for and against.

That's all that's been proposed in Ohio. If that surprises you, I can certainly understand it, because the truth has been severely battered by alarmist polemics of the national Darwinian lobby. Yet despite their distortions and their threats to shame Ohio if the state tries to open up science teaching, over fifty prominent Ohio scientists have courageously endorsed the intelligent design proposal.

I say "courageously," because challenging the prevailing orthodoxy of naturalistic Darwinism can be risky to one's career in science. Their public statement is inspiring. "A quality science education," they say, "should prepare students to distinguish the data and testable theories of science from religious or philosophical claims that are made in the name of science." They added that "a science curriculum should encourage critical thinking and informed participation in public discussions about biological origins," and that "censorship of scientific views that may challenge current theories of origins" is wrong.

The scientists who endorsed this statement include biologists from Ohio State and Case Western Reserve, top universities in Ohio. These scientists think there is a genuine scientific controversy here, one worth teaching about. It's a controversy that students and teachers should be free to discuss without intimidation and the threat of lawsuits. That's only fair.

Let's be honest: All that these proponents of openness in science teaching are asking for is what scientists everywhere take for granted-namely, the freedom to consider all the evidence and all the possible explanations for that evidence. We call this academic freedom.

If you care about intellectual freedom and about giving teachers and students the chance to seek the truth, you still have an opportunity to express your views on this controversy. Call us here at BreakPoint (1-800-995-8777), or visit our website (www.breakpoint.org) for more details on how you can help encourage the Ohio State Board of Education to stand up for intellectual freedom.

You can contact the Ohio State Board of Education at 614-466-4838, or toll-free at 877-644-6338. Encourage them to stand up for intellectual freedom.

The only hope the atheistic left has is to deny students the right to look at the scientific facts objectively, because they all point to 'Intelligent Design.' Evolution is the most preposterously impossible 'theory' and UNscientific faith ever to come down the pike. Even some of its proponants admit its fallacy, yet cling tenaciously to it because the alternative (ie, belief in a Creator) is to them, unthinkable.

I firmly believe that Satan has used the theory of Evolution to try to shake the foundation of Christianity, and that the belief that life is meaningless because we are all descended from slimy algae is what has led to the dual plagues of abortion and crime. The evil one will do everything in his power to stop this movement back to truth in Ohio schools, and we need to pray fervently that he be bound.

Thanks for the ping. Breakpoint is fabulous!

Ugh. Another frustrating go around with obsessives determined to get their fairy stories into a science class.

You know, I've long been frustrated with theories of light transmission. The "theory" is that electromagnetic radiation just emanates from a source with no purpose or destination. Yet, light from millions of light years away reaches us, and gives us information about the universe! Clearly we need an alternative. We need to discuss with school kids the possibility that some invisible person directs the light from the source to our eyes. That's just being scientifically objective, after all.

Well, on second thought maybe the "intelligent direction" theory of the propagation of light would be silly. But, tell me, how is it that any serious person thinks it worthwhile to have kids speculate in a science class whether a process as mundane as the alteration of species over time is directed not by genetic variability and differential survival but by an invisible supernatural being?

"A quality science education," they say, "should prepare students to distinguish the data and testable theories of science from religious or philosophical claims that are made in the name of science."

They refer to evolution theory, I presume?

It's just astounding to me that religious people have this obsession with trying to "prove" God scientifically.

Face it people, if you're going to believe in God, you have to do it on faith alone. Science will not help you. And God, who certianly should be able to prove His existence beyond a shadow of a doubt if He wanted to, does not appear to want to give you definitive proof either. I think perhaps He WANTS you to believe on faith rather than science.

And besides, how do you know that God didn't create the rules of physics and chemistry, with foreknowledge that it would lead to life and evolution, and then sit back and watch his handiwork grow? To me, that is a much more powerful God, that can create a functioning system that will grow and change, rather than a God that must activly create every detail of every creature, every time.

You know what I find so appalling about the theory of evolution being taught in public (or any) schools as fact? It is a theory! And more to the point, Darwin recanted it before he died, if what I have read is true. Of course evolution is taking place and has taken place; species mutate. But where did the evolving species come from in the beginning? Not from Darwin's imagination, but from God's.

I will pray for Ohio on this critical issue. Thanks for the ping.

Oy vey! Not this only-a-theory thing again. When will people ever learn that a theory in science is not what it has become in the vernacular (i.e. guess, hunch, a mere hypothesis). Theories never become facts, they're two different animals but I suggest you read what Gould had to say on this topic.

That Lady Hope story about Darwins death bed recantation is a myth which has been debunked over and over again. Here is a good article on this.
Oh, wait, maybe you think that is freethought propaganda but let's see what Answers in Genesis has to say about this.

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