Posted on 08/02/2005 4:16:26 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
President Bush waded into the debate over evolution and "intelligent design" Monday, saying schools should teach both theories on the creation and complexity of life.
In a wide-ranging question-and-answer session with a small group of reporters, Bush essentially endorsed efforts by Christian conservatives to give intelligent design equal standing with the theory of evolution in the nation's schools.
Bush declined to state his personal views on "intelligent design," the belief that life forms are so complex that their creation cannot be explained by Darwinian evolutionary theory alone, but rather points to intentional creation, presumably divine.
The theory of evolution, first articulated by British naturalist Charles Darwin in 1859, is based on the idea that life organisms developed over time through random mutations and factors in nature that favored certain traits that helped species survive.
Scientists concede that evolution does not answer every question about the creation of life, and most consider intelligent design an attempt to inject religion into science courses.
Bush compared the current debate to earlier disputes over "creationism," a related view that adheres more closely to biblical explanations. While he was governor of Texas, Bush said students should be exposed to both creationism and evolution.
On Monday, the president said he favors the same approach for intelligent design "so people can understand what the debate is about."
The Kansas Board of Education is considering changes to encourage the teaching of intelligent design in Kansas schools, and some are pushing for similar changes across the country.
"I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought," Bush said. "You're asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas. The answer is 'yes.'"
The National Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science both have concluded there is no scientific basis for intelligent design and oppose its inclusion in school science classes. [Note from PH: links relevant to those organizations and their positions on ID are added by me at the end of this article.]
Some scientists have declined to join the debate, fearing that amplifying the discussion only gives intelligent design more legitimacy.
Advocates of intelligent design also claim support from scientists. The Discovery Institute, a conservative think tank in Seattle that is the leading proponent for intelligent design, said it has compiled a list of more than 400 scientists, including 70 biologists, who are skeptical about evolution.
"The fact is that a significant number of scientists are extremely skeptical that Darwinian evolution can explain the origins of life," said John West, associate director of the organization's Center for Science and Culture.
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I don't believe it...Bush can't be that stupid, can he?
Well, that settles it.
I will call the printers and get the new biology textbooks started.
Evolution is no different than any religion
in that you have a bunch of facts you conclude
lead to evolution, but those facts don't prove
it.
Well, I guess if true it's better he's saying it now then back in Sept-Oct 2004. I'm actually (thankfully) shocked it took this long for the reporters to question him about it. If I were a Liberal reporter out to get Bush and/or any other Republican I would have asked questions like this a long time ago.
Bush essentially endorsed efforts by Christian conservatives to give intelligent design equal standing with the theory of evolution in the nation's schools.
Now what exactly does "Essentially Endorsed" mean???
Methinks Bush probably gave the standard Republican dodge and the press is exaggeraging if not outright falsefying his statements.
I've seen worse stabs at summarizing, but the editor could have adjusted this somewhat nonstandard turn of phrase.
i love how people are in such awe of nature yet fail to recognize how complex it really is. our small minds cannot comprehend how long the earth has been in existence let alone the age of our universe. sure, we may know the rough numbers but cannot comprehend how small an amount of time that, let's say, 10,000 years is. intelligent design IS nature.
Evolution continues to lose ground. Makes me very happy.
So the President doesn't believe in a total blackout to other theories, as some supporters of evolution do, and some people diminish his intelligence. Typical.
If evolution IS the Truth let it experience competition. Let the weaker theory fall. It works in economics. It works in the political sphere where conservative ideology is slowly becoming dominant.
And what created nature?
That's funny...that's exactly what the Clintons said about Heather Has Two Mommies.
ditto...
we just need to face the fact that we are less than a speck of dust in the whole scheme of things and when we die that is it. no more. nada. i think people use religion to, among other things, envision eternity for their soul because humans are selfish enough to actually think the universe would be less of a place without their input. we are here to have sex and pass on genetic material. that's it.
but i do enjoy a good prayer now and again. i believe it can be an enormous source of internal fortitude, reflection, and basically provides a blue print for decent living. but "faith" is something i lack in terms of believing in God.
Name a few of these contradictions. I bet they'll simply stem from a misunderstanding of what the science actually says.
In the words of the esteemed Mr. Reagan: "There you go again."
For the lurkers out there, Mr. Ro76 here has been shown time and again that his list of "discarded crap" is all a bunch of creationist canards. But, like your typical creationist, he comes back "dumb as a stump" on the very next thread and repeats the same lines over and over.
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