Frist backs 'intelligent design' teaching

AP ^ | 8/19/5 | ROSE FRENCH

[SmithL]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Echoing similar comments from President Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said "intelligent design" should be taught in public schools alongside evolution.

Frist, R-Tenn., spoke to a Rotary Club meeting Friday and told reporters afterward that students need to be exposed to different ideas, including intelligent design.

"I think today a pluralistic society should have access to a broad range of fact, of science, including faith," Frist said.

Frist, a doctor who graduated from Harvard Medical School, said exposing children to both evolution and intelligent design "doesn't force any particular theory on anyone. I think in a pluralistic society that is the fairest way to go about education and training people for the future."

The theory of intelligent design says life on earth is too complex to have developed through evolution, implying that a higher power must have had a hand in creation. Nearly all scientists dismiss it as a scientific theory, and critics say it's nothing more than religion masquerading as science.

Bush recently told a group of Texas reporters that intelligent design and evolution should both be taught in schools "so people can understand what the debate is about."

That comment sparked criticism from opponents, including Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean, who called Bush "anti-science."

Frist, who is considering a presidential campaign in 2008, recently angered some conservatives by bucking Bush policy on embryonic stem cell research, voicing his support for expanded research on the subject.

Frist said his decision to endorse stem cell research was "a matter of science," but he said there was no conflict between his position on stem cell research and his position on intelligent design.

"To me, I see no disconnect between that and stem cell research," Frist said. "I base my beliefs on stem cell research both on science and my faith.

[Borges]

I think today a pluralistic society should have access to a broad range of fact, of science, including faith

As long as they are taught in the appropriate classes. Faith in Bible Study, Science in Science class.

[the invisib1e hand]

a generation and the future of a nation will be changed because the president had the courage to speak up. amazing. this man looks so far ahead...

[Physicist]

Either he doesn't know better (unlikely), or he's pandering. Either way, it reflects very badly on him.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Nearly all scientists dismiss it as a scientific theory . . .

If it is a scientific theory, then why would they want to dismiss it?

[keithtoo]

This issue isn't going away. You Evol-Doers will have to start defending your 'belief-system' with actual Science, instead of blind belief.

P.S. Science must be observable and repeatable. Have fun kiddies.

[NJ_gent]

"Echoing similar comments from President Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said "intelligent design" Scientology and Raelianism should be taught in public schools alongside evolution."

Beam me up; the aliens are coming to get us!

[RightWingAtheist]

It doesn't reflect well on the rest of the party either. What's really scary is that people are now going to start taking Dean's comments about Bush (and by implication, all other Republicans) being "anti-science" seriously, instead of being another of his moonbat ravings.

[keithtoo]

Yup, the Raelians believed in something that noone had ever observed, just like Darwinists.

[Junior]

"The madness spreads" ping.

[annalex]

It is always nice to see the Darwinist superstition getting kicked, but Frist is probably trying to regain his reputation after his support for embryonic stem cell research.

[NJ_gent]

"Either way, it reflects very badly on him."

Bill Frist is carrying a message from the creators. Hubbard/Rael in '08!

[Non-Sequitur]

Either he doesn't know better (unlikely), or he's pandering.

He could be doing both. He's running for president after all.

[Right Wing Professor]

He's pandering. He's trying to ingratiate himself with the RR after his stem-cell statement.

I've had it with the GOP. Megaspending, total cave in on racial preferences, inaction or worse on illegal immigration, pandering to fundamentalists...it's back to the Libertarian Party for me.

[NJ_gent]

"Yup, the Raelians believed in something that noone had ever observed, just like Darwinists."

Who told you that events predicted by the ToE have never been observed?

[Mylo]

They dismiss it AS a scientific theory, as in IT AINT ONE.

Also even if it was a scientific theory (presupposing supernatural intervention is not science it is theology); it would be dismissed along with any other scientific theory that the evidence doesn't tend to support.

The evidence doesn't support it.

It isn't a scientific theory.

Scientists reject it for both reasons.

[Iowegian]

Evolutions are on the same side as crazy Howard Dean (among many other antivalues flaming libs on your side). Very telling.

[Right Wing Professor]

Science must be observable and repeatabl

Good luck with ID on those. What are you going to do for repeatability; ask your god to remake the universe?

[My2Cents]

Good point. When has evolution ever conformed to the scientific method?

[My2Cents]

Why are you folks so threatened by a discussion of the possibility of intelligent design?