The Case Against Intelligent Design. The Faith That Dare Not Speak Its Name.

The New Republic ^ | 8/11/05 | Jerry Coyne

[hc87]

Exactly eighty years after the Scopes "monkey trial" in Dayton, Tennessee, history is about to repeat itself. In a courtroom in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in late September, scientists and creationists will square off about whether and how high school students in Dover, Pennsylvania will learn about biological evolution. One would have assumed that these battles were over, but that is to underestimate the fury (and the ingenuity) of creationists scorned.

The Scopes trial of our day--Kitzmiller, et al v. Dover Area School District et al--began innocuously...

[hc87]

For what it's worth, the article was originally linked by John Derbyshire from National Review's The Corner. He's not exactly a raving left-winger.

[tallhappy]

This is not a left vs. right issue.

I guess you can point out all the articles in right leaning media criticizing "Intelligent Design".

[narby]

I am not the result of random interactions between matter and energy over time. Evolution is stupid.

A very enlightening post.

[tallhappy]

President Bush's comments a few weeks ago also made the subject more newsworthy.

Yes. Good point. I had forgotten about that.

The observation reinforces my point. It is seen as a way to further belittle and demean Bush and by implications conservatives.

[wallcrawlr]

ping

Revelation 4:11
See my profile for info

[malakhi]

I guess you can point out all the articles in right leaning media criticizing "Intelligent Design".

Let's Have No More Monkey Trials - To teach faith as science is to undermine both -- Charles Krauthammer

And, of course, there are plenty of conservatives right here on FR who are critical of ID.

[tallhappy]

Krauthammer, while not being a total liberal or leftist, and often providing very insightful articles and commentary, is no right wing conservative and is very hostile to Christianity.

[narby]

Why is criticism of "Intelligent Design" considered important to furthering the Democrats success and the move left of this country?

Because they can win this fight.

When conservatives bash socialism, we have the facts. Socialism officially sucks.

When conservatives promote moral issues, the facts are on our side. Gays die sooner. Two parent families are statistically more successful. People who stay married and faithful live longer and are happier.

These are factual things where conservatives win.

The left is dying for something, anything, any argument they can win. And they can win this one, because they've got the facts.

Conservatives are ignorant about science in general, and willfully blind about evolution. The left is all excited about this, because they're going to win it, and win big, making conservatives look like ignoramuses.

Those of us on FR who have been arguing this issue for months and years have been trying to prevent this fight from escalating, because we can see the inevitable outcome. We may have reduced the eventual damage a bit, but there will be damage to the conservative cause over this issue.

[malakhi]

It is seen as a way to further belittle and demean Bush and by implications conservatives.

Conservatives are not immune to criticism. And we shouldn't go out of our way to make it easy for the other side to "belittle and demean" us.

[malakhi]

Krauthammer, while not being a total liberal or leftist, and often providing very insightful articles and commentary, is no right wing conservative and is very hostile to Christianity.

Your earlier post asked for "right-leaning", and Krauthammer is certainly that.

So I provided what you asked for, and you promptly moved the goalposts.

Is it your position that "no true conservative" believes in evolution?

[narby]

Krauthammer, while not being a total liberal or leftist, and often providing very insightful articles and commentary, is no right wing conservative and is very hostile to Christianity.

Krauthammer is a medical doctor who is probably more versed on evolution theory than the generic conservative.

And I should point out that Genesis is a part of the Jewish faith as well, yet Krauthammer still objects to ID.

[Antonello]

I am not the result of random interactions between matter and energy over time. Evolution is stupid.

I am not the result of a global ant farm set up for the amusement of some supremely advanced mysterious being. ID is ignorance.

[malakhi]

The left is dying for something, anything, any argument they can win. And they can win this one, because they've got the facts. Conservatives are ignorant about science in general, and willfully blind about evolution. The left is all excited about this, because they're going to win it, and win big, making conservatives look like ignoramuses. Those of us on FR who have been arguing this issue for months and years have been trying to prevent this fight from escalating, because we can see the inevitable outcome. We may have reduced the eventual damage a bit, but there will be damage to the conservative cause over this issue.

Yep.

[msf92497]

I don't feel like an ant.

[tallhappy]

Your earlier post asked for "right-leaning", and Krauthammer is certainly that.

Not really, but OK.

Fair enough.

Any others?

[tallhappy]

The left is dying for something, anything, any argument they can win. And they can win this one, because they've got the facts.

Good point. I agree with you concerning their motivation.

But, as usuall, they greatly misappraise the importance or significance of "the fight."

It's two bald men fighting over a comb.

[tallhappy]

And I should point out that Genesis is a part of the Jewish faith as well, yet Krauthammer still objects to ID.

The issue is not objecting to ID or not.

Has nothing to do with it whether or not ID is true or untrue or evoluton is true or untrue.

This is a social political religious controversy with nada to do with science.

[PatrickHenry]

Here's another conservative on the subject of ID: A Debate That Does Not End, by George F. Will.

[Stultis]

Interesting that a political magazine supporting Democrats and a leftist domestic agenda would choose this topic to highlight.

Yeah, I bet the also support gravity, heliocentrism and photosynthesis. Damn heathens.

BTW it's not like TNR is The Nation or Mother Jones. They even had Michael Kelly as editor for a short time (although they fired him). Sure TNR is tedious, pompous and boring, but it's liberal rather than hard left.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

Evolution is stupid

Well something is certainly stupid.