Posted on 08/04/2005 12:43:01 PM PDT by Crackingham
A leading Republican senator allied with the religious right differed on Thursday with President Bush's support for teaching an alternative to the theory of evolution known as "intelligent design."
Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, a possible 2008 presidential contender who faces a tough re-election fight next year in Pennsylvania, said intelligent design, which is backed by many religious conservatives, lacked scientific credibility and should not be taught in science classes.
Bush told reporters from Texas on Monday that "both sides" in the debate over intelligent design and evolution should be taught in schools "so people can understand what the debate is about."
"I think I would probably tailor that a little more than what the president has suggested," Santorum, the third-ranking Republican member of the U.S. Senate, told National Public Radio. "I'm not comfortable with intelligent design being taught in the science classroom."
Evangelical Christians have launched campaigns in at least 18 states to make public schools teach intelligent design alongside Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Proponents of intelligent design argue that nature is so complex that it could not have occurred by random natural selection, as held by Darwin's 1859 theory of evolution, and so must be the work of an unnamed "intelligent cause."
Santorum is the third-ranking member of the U.S. Senate and has championed causes of the religious right including opposition to gay marriage and abortion. He is expected to face a stiff challenge from Democrat Bob Casey in his quest for re-election next year in Pennsylvania, a major battleground state in recent presidential elections.
SNIP
"What we should be teaching are the problems and holes -- and I think there are legitimate problems and holes -- in the theory of evolution. What we need to do is to present those fairly, from a scientific point of view," he said in the interview.
"As far as intelligent design is concerned, I really don't believe it has risen to the level of a scientific theory at this point that we would want to teach it alongside of evolution."
So your idea of biology class is that it should be a venue for discussing whether the Bible has to be read as literally true?
You said elsewhere that thhere is no conflict between the time scale of evolution and that of the Bible. So how else does evolution contradict your religious beliefs?
I just meant he might adjust his style of saying it.
I want the school to stop contradicting my kids or my religious beliefs with some theory (evolution) that can't proven with science or anything else. If the schools insist on this, then they should allow debate on another unproven theory. (creationism)
I'm sorry, but you either fail to understand the meaning of the word "theory" when used in a scientific context (hint: it does not connote "shaky" as in common parlance), or you are deliberately ignoring the distinction to cloud the issue.
Evolution is not some "unproven theory." It is a valid scientific theory that has been tested and tested and tested. It has been found as valid as any other scientific theory.
In contrast, and despite two hundred years of trying, anti-Darwinists haven't been able to come up with a single notion addressing the evidence that even begins to fulfil the criteria for "theory." Wonder why that is?
"Neither intelligent design nor evolution should be taught in public schools. Neither are essential to a good education. I'm 47 and haven't used my highschool studies in evolution once since highschool, except in these posts. They aren't teaching the basics. Why are they taking on divisive subject matter like this which is not basic?"
"So the plan is what? Quit teaching science after 5th grade?"
Brilliant's point is right.
Evolution is *not* that important for science.
Did you learn Quantum Mechanics in 5th grade ? In *any* grade?
... yet it is more important to your daily life than evolution.
Evolution is taught because you can make whacked and phony analogies ... but you dont need tough math.
QM is far more important, but the math needed is college-level. So IMHO, we teach evolution to youngsters because it is EASY not because it is IMPORTANT.
Probably be better off getting into molecular cell biology than evolution. DNA etc.
How many kids actually know how a transistor, a laser or a radio works?
Every single day you interact with them.
I've yet to interact with a Dinosaur (jokes aside).
Sorry, that should be "denote." Not "connote."
Long day.
Yet until teachers stop teaching kids that there is no plan or design to life and the universe, I will have a problem.
Stick to science, check your atheism at the door.
I propose a compromise. Let's not teach ID, but instead let's teach that other ID...industrial design. This way we'll get better looking cars and toasters. They're not looking too good lately.
Spend a lot of time over there, do you?
There is at least some statistical evidence that storks bring babies. That puts it ahead of creationism.
Unnecessary and insulting advice. I don't discuss my religious beliefs or lack of them in a professional context. If only others would act the same.
We all choose what we will believe.
Other than the people living on that island with King Kong, I know of no "monkey-worshippers."
Have you met some?
It is something you would probably hear in the Biology Department of every uiversity on the planet except half a dozen or so at kook fundamentalist colleges.
SO9
There is no evidence of a global flood, for one.
If you don't teach atheism in class then it doesn't apply to you.
You should be joining me in condemning those who do, those who teach that evolution disproves Christian belief, those who teach that God did not create life and the universe.
There is almost as much scientific proof that there is no plan or design as there is proof that there IS plan and design.
You won't get that plan from the science class, they don't have one, nor can one be shown in nature. Your local planning and code commission will do that. That's what nature provides.
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