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'Intelligent design' theory threatens science classrooms
Seattle Post Intelligencer ^ | 11/22/2002 | ALAN I. LESHNER

Posted on 06/22/2003 5:29:39 PM PDT by Aric2000

In Cobb County, Ga., controversy erupted this spring when school board officials decided to affix "disclaimer stickers" to science textbooks, alerting students that "evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things."

The stickers were the Cobb County District School Board's response to intelligent design theory, which holds that the complexity of DNA and the diversity of life forms on our planet and beyond can be explained only by an extra-natural intelligent agent. The ID movement -- reminiscent of creationism but more nuanced and harder to label -- has been quietly gaining momentum in a number of states for several years, especially Georgia and Ohio.

Stickers on textbooks are only the latest evidence of the ID movement's successes to date, though Cobb County officials did soften their position somewhat in September following a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia. In a subsequent policy statement, officials said the biological theory of evolution is a "disputed view" that must be "balanced" in the classroom, taking into account other, religious teachings.

Surely, few would begrudge ID advocates their views or the right to discuss the concept as part of religious studies. At issue, rather, is whether ID theory, so far unproven by scientific facts, should be served to students on the same platter with the well-supported theory of evolution.

How the Cobb County episode will affect science students remains uncertain since, as the National Center for Science Education noted, the amended policy statement included "mixed signals."

But it's clear that the ID movement is quickly emerging as one of the more significant threats to U.S. science education, fueled by a sophisticated marketing campaign based on a three-pronged penetration of the scientific community, educators and the general public.

In Ohio, the state's education board on Oct. 14 passed a unanimous though preliminary vote to keep ID theory out of the state's science classrooms. But the board's ruling left the door open for local school districts to present ID theory together with science and suggested that scientists should "continue to investigate and critically analyze aspects of evolutionary theory."

In fact, even while the state-level debate continued, the Patrick Henry Local School District, based in Columbus, passed a motion this June to support "the idea of intelligent design being included as appropriate in classroom discussions in addition to other scientific theories."

Undaunted by tens of thousands of e-mails it has already received on the topic, the state's education board is now gamely inviting further public comment through November. In December, Ohio's Board of Education will vote to conclusively determine whether alternatives to evolution should be included in new guidelines that spell out what students need to know about science at different grade levels.

Meanwhile, ID theorists reportedly have been active in Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, New Jersey and other states as well as Ohio and Georgia.

What do scientists think of all this? We have great problems with the claim that ID is a scientific theory or a science-based alternative to evolutionary theory. We don't question its religious or philosophical underpinnings. That's not our business. But there is no scientific evidence underlying ID theory.

No relevant research has been done; no papers have been published in scientific journals. Because it has no science base, we believe that ID theory should be excluded from science curricula in schools.

In fact, the Board of Directors of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the largest general scientific society in the world, passed a resolution this month urging policy-makers to keep intelligent design theory out of U.S. science classrooms.

Noting that the United States has promised to "leave no child behind," the AAAS Board found that intelligent design theory -- if presented within science courses as factually based -- is likely to confuse American schoolchildren and undermine the integrity of U.S. science education. At a time when standards-based learning and performance assessments are paramount, children would be better served by keeping scientific information separate from religious concepts.

Certainly, American society supports and encourages a broad range of viewpoints and the scientific community is no exception. While this diversity enriches the educational experience for students, science and conceptual belief systems should not be co-mingled, as ID proponents have repeatedly proposed.

The ID argument that random mutations in nature and natural selection, for example, are too complex for scientific explanation is an interesting -- and for some, highly compelling -- philosophical or theological concept. Unfortunately, it's being put forth as a scientifically based alternative to the theory of biological evolution, and it isn't based on science. In sum, there's no data to back it up, and no way of scientifically testing the validity of the ideas proposed by ID advocates.

The quality of U.S. science education is at stake here. We live in an era when science and technology are central to every issue facing our society -- individual and national security, health care, economic prosperity, employment opportunities.

Children who lack an appropriate grounding in science and mathematics, and who can't discriminate what is and isn't evidence, are doomed to lag behind their well-educated counterparts. America's science classrooms are certainly no place to mix church and state.

Alan I. Leshner is CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and executive publisher of the journal Science; www.aaas.org


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: crevolist
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To: gore3000
Evotards themselves aren't unified...
321 posted on 06/22/2003 9:05:47 PM PDT by ApesForEvolution ("The only way evil triumphs is if good men do nothing" E. Burke)
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To: gore3000
Intriguing. I don't suppose you would have a link to any article that discusses this particular objection? I would appreciate an opportunity to review any such source. Short of that, perhaps you could direct me toward a relevant text. Thanks either way!
322 posted on 06/22/2003 9:05:50 PM PDT by AntiGuv (™)
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To: Rudder
I agree, science and my faith in the bible and taking it literaly are in complete harmony. It's the evolution fairy tale I have problems with.
323 posted on 06/22/2003 9:06:47 PM PDT by goodseedhomeschool
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To: Aric2000
You're flagellum as irreducibly complex has been disproven already

We have discussed this enough times on these threads in which YOU participated for me to properly call it a LIE. Let's see the proof that the flagellum is not irreducibly complex. Let's see the evidence for it having developed gradually. You made the statement, let's see you back up something that you have said for a change instead of just spouting lies and denials about everything.

324 posted on 06/22/2003 9:07:14 PM PDT by gore3000 (Intelligent people do not believe in evolution.)
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To: Aric2000
"Why do you not at least state your faith once and for all."



Yeah, what's the scoop?
325 posted on 06/22/2003 9:07:19 PM PDT by ALS (http://designeduniverse.conservababes.com)
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To: Aric2000
Since so many people on the Creation side openly state where they are coming from (believing based on historical examples that evolution is a staple in Human Secularism and adhered to by most if not all new age believers), why is it so bad for someone to try and understand where you are coming from? Are you ashamed of your faith? If you are, then surely you would want to keep it to yourself.
326 posted on 06/22/2003 9:09:05 PM PDT by ApesForEvolution ("The only way evil triumphs is if good men do nothing" E. Burke)
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To: Aric2000
Yeah
327 posted on 06/22/2003 9:09:57 PM PDT by ALS (http://designeduniverse.conservababes.com)
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To: goodseedhomeschool
I don't hate you, I don't HATE anyone, it's not worth the energy, and it's bad for my health.

My faith, is NONE of your or anyone elses business, PERIOD.

My faith si not at concern here, we are discussing a scientific theory, compared to a religious dogma(at this time). Because if ID can be proven, I will be one of the first to jump up and down and say hurray.

It would be great if my FAITH were confirmed by science.

But ID is NOT scientific YET, and until it passes the tests that Evolution has, it will NOT be.

But again, my faith is No ones business but my own.
328 posted on 06/22/2003 9:10:37 PM PDT by Aric2000 (If the history of science shows us anything, it is that we get nowhere by labeling our ignorance god)
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To: goodseedhomeschool
To me, the evolution fairy tale is reality and it summarizes the data for what we scientists know about God's creation of the universe.
329 posted on 06/22/2003 9:11:29 PM PDT by Rudder
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To: Derrald
NO ONE EVER SAID THAT THE LIZARDS SPROUTED WINGS!

Evolutionists constantly say that dinosaurs sprouted wings and according to evolutionists dinosaurs are only big lizards and descendants of them so the statement is not unfair at all. In fact, considering the size of dinosaurs, the large bones they used (which would be very bad for a flying animal) it would have been less ridiculous for evolutionists to claim that birds descended from lizards. But then, evolution is just intellectual LSD for the masses so it really does not matter what nonsense it says.

330 posted on 06/22/2003 9:11:37 PM PDT by gore3000 (Intelligent people do not believe in evolution.)
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To: Aric2000
Well, what's the name of your god then?

We'll just guess the rest.

name is?
331 posted on 06/22/2003 9:11:51 PM PDT by ALS (http://designeduniverse.conservababes.com)
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To: Aric2000
"But ID is NOT scientific YET, and until it passes the tests that Evolution has, it will NOT be."

More absurdity. What tests has the evolie passed?????? The 'most illogical and void hypothesis ever presented' test? I mean, come on, if you aren't claiming that your 'science' requires 'faith', then you are so ignorant that you simply should no longer post on the topic, or, you are absolutely intellectually dishonest.
332 posted on 06/22/2003 9:13:31 PM PDT by ApesForEvolution ("The only way evil triumphs is if good men do nothing" E. Burke)
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To: goodseedhomeschool
You rely upon the Bible, I believe. The Bible comes right out states--very clearly--what God is.

What is God, according to the Bible?

333 posted on 06/22/2003 9:13:33 PM PDT by Rudder
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To: Aric2000
You are an AMORAL creature when it comes to protecting your literalist beliefs.

Interesting thing about the word amoral. It was invented by an evolutionist to take away the sting that evolution promoted immorality. Seems that you an evolutionist should not use such words at those who disagree with you.

334 posted on 06/22/2003 9:14:24 PM PDT by gore3000 (Intelligent people do not believe in evolution.)
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To: ApesForEvolution
I'll take

D. All the above, for $400
335 posted on 06/22/2003 9:15:09 PM PDT by ALS (http://designeduniverse.conservababes.com)
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To: gore3000
"But then, evolution is just intellectual LSD for the masses so it really does not matter what nonsense it says."

Perfect summation of this thread and the whole evolie concoction BTTT
336 posted on 06/22/2003 9:15:47 PM PDT by ApesForEvolution ("The only way evil triumphs is if good men do nothing" E. Burke)
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To: Aric2000
That is the same answer you always give. I think you like being a mystery. That's fine. It is just very rare when someone is so ashamed of thier faith that they won't tell you no matter how much they are asked. I will give you all my stats. feel free to use it against me anytime. I am sort of a fundamental, temperamental independent baptist. But, more than that really I am just a plain old Bible believing Christian. I am opinionated as they come but I do love mankind. I am not superior to anyone and I am not even close to being a genius. I only know that Jesus loves me and you too and everyone.
337 posted on 06/22/2003 9:15:57 PM PDT by goodseedhomeschool
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To: Aric2000
Yeah, repent. You'll feel better in no time.
338 posted on 06/22/2003 9:17:40 PM PDT by ALS (http://designeduniverse.conservababes.com)
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To: goodseedhomeschool
nice picture, which one are you?
339 posted on 06/22/2003 9:18:04 PM PDT by JesseShurun (The Hazzardous Duke)
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To: ALS
Daily Double anyone?
340 posted on 06/22/2003 9:18:15 PM PDT by ApesForEvolution ("The only way evil triumphs is if good men do nothing" E. Burke)
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