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Frist backs 'intelligent design' teaching
AP ^ | 8/19/5 | ROSE FRENCH

Posted on 08/19/2005 1:02:07 PM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 109th; anothercrevothread; crevolist; enoughalready; frist; intelligentdesign; notagain; panderingtoignorance; scienceeducation; senatorfrist
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To: taxesareforever

It doesn't matter if someone has an agenda. They are either right or worng, and IRC is just wrong.


201 posted on 08/19/2005 5:22:12 PM PDT by js1138 (Science has it all: the fun of being still, paying attention, writing down numbers...)
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To: Petrosius
If being a trained biologists [sic] is a requirement to discuss evolution then let all non-biologists who support evolution please refrain from commenting on this list.

We'd lose 1/2 of the list right there!
202 posted on 08/19/2005 5:23:52 PM PDT by Das Outsider (Islam is a religion of peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.)
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To: SmithL
Looks like Frist has managed to PO both the science and faith camps. Quite a political achievement.
203 posted on 08/19/2005 5:30:32 PM PDT by colorado tanker (The People Have Spoken)
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To: syriacus

I wonder if these studies mention to whom the subjects are praying. If one of them prayed to their cat, does that support the theory that their cat is God?


204 posted on 08/19/2005 5:37:36 PM PDT by Natty Boh III
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To: Once-Ler

You think THAT's bad, you should see the nifty combination of religion and government.


205 posted on 08/19/2005 5:43:33 PM PDT by Mylo ("Those without a sword should sell their cloak and buy one" Jesus of Nazareth)
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To: 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.

Amen. But I'm all for seeing Darwinism getting kicked no matter what the motivation. As an ex-evolutionist who finally saw the light.

206 posted on 08/19/2005 5:46:03 PM PDT by Jorge
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To: Das Outsider
Not me.

Still no takers?

Come on...

Two simple questions....

1) How successful have supernatural explanations been in observing and predicting the universe and settling issues of factual disagreement?

2) How many scientific theories are dependent upon an unquantifiable and unknowable power that is impossible to observe or predict?

Two very simple questions. Nobody has an answer?
207 posted on 08/19/2005 5:46:40 PM PDT by Mylo ("Those without a sword should sell their cloak and buy one" Jesus of Nazareth)
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To: SmithL

YEC SPOTREP


208 posted on 08/19/2005 5:54:54 PM PDT by LiteKeeper (The radical secularization of America is happening)
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To: Once-Ler

"Federal Mastodon Tusk Study--Taxpayer Funded"

Sorry. Any, and I mean ANY taxpayer funded research into mammoths and mastodons is money well spent. Matter of fact, there is nothing our money could be better spent on. National defense is a close second, but mammoths will always be #1.




209 posted on 08/19/2005 6:00:04 PM PDT by daysailor (Yeah, I like mammoths)
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To: Borges

Never said they should! Unless it's history of science re astrology.


210 posted on 08/19/2005 6:16:29 PM PDT by JohnnyZ ("I believe abortion should be safe and legal in this country." -- Mitt Romney)
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To: Jorge
Amen. But I'm all for seeing Darwinism getting kicked no matter what the motivation. As an ex-evolutionist who finally saw the light.

What was it? Brain injury, or early Alzheimers?

211 posted on 08/19/2005 6:18:46 PM PDT by Right Wing Professor (Intelligent Design is not a scientific theory - John Marburger, science advisor to George W. Bush)
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To: Right Wing Professor
"What was it? Brain injury, or early Alzheimers?"

You know, I am not certain if there is a creator or not, I have an intrest in it, but the condescending attitude and christian bashing I see here is no different than I would see on DU or other lefty sites. When I see that kind of bullying, I cant believe this is a FR posting. Besides, you can relax, the ACLU, DemoRat party and moonbat protesters will never allow ID in the school.

212 posted on 08/19/2005 6:33:26 PM PDT by GregoTX (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: Borges
As long as they are taught in the appropriate classes. Faith in Bible Study, Science in Science class.

Of course that would be illegal, except for the science part.

I would, almost, support holding science class hostage for teaching - somewhere in some class - that truth exists beyond what science can know.

213 posted on 08/19/2005 6:38:36 PM PDT by D-fendr
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To: GregoTX
I'm sorry, but you enjoy seeing evolution "kicked" (not refuted or replaced by a better theory, but kicked) and you accuse others of bullying.

What do you think for these posts from a self-professed Christian?

To: **********

Stuff it homo...

496 posted on 08/17/2005 2:11:59 AM EDT by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)

As far as *********** is concerned, he is just a Marxist troll, f--k him... I don't know why he brought you into it except, since he is so weak, maybe he thought he might get some support...
519 posted on 08/17/2005 10:06:57 AM EDT by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)

Just because somebody is an atheist does not mean I will refrain from challenging them. There is no such thing as an ecumenical atheist. So unless you are just looking for a pissing contest like that jerk-off Marxist, I welcome the discussion. Otherwise, you know the drill, lieutenant...
682 posted on 08/17/2005 10:29:08 PM EDT by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)


214 posted on 08/19/2005 6:39:15 PM PDT by js1138 (Science has it all: the fun of being still, paying attention, writing down numbers...)
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To: Mylo
You think THAT's bad, you should see the nifty combination of religion and government.

Perhaps we can find some common ground with "Both theocracy and secular government have been used to exploit men." IMO the church has lost most of the power it had over our lives since the time of Tomas de Torquemada 600 years ago. I have read about governments religious persecution of religion through Stalin communism, Hitler's final solution, and the thought reform of China's CCP just 50 years ago.

Over the last 50 years I have seen US legislation and policy infringe on the freedom of religion to an unhealthy extent. Today too many people believe the the 1st ammendment means freedom from religion.

"When fearful martyrdom came to our people in the decade of Nazi terror the voice of the Pope was raised for the victims." - Golda Meir

215 posted on 08/19/2005 6:41:10 PM PDT by Once-Ler (16 months til Byrd is ousted from office, and Kennedy ain't getin younger)
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To: keithtoo
Yup, the Raelians believed in something that noone had ever observed, just like Darwinists.

It depends on what you mean by "observed". Have dinosaurs been "observed" ? In your sense, no. Yet by observing their remains we can infer their habits of life, their epochs of existence, ... and their evolution.

216 posted on 08/19/2005 6:42:45 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: SmithL

What a disgrace.


217 posted on 08/19/2005 6:44:35 PM PDT by aculeus (Ceci n'est pas une tag line.)
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To: js1138

point taken.... I spoke to soon, I didnt see those. If there is one thing I have learn from Rush, is that no one wins over other peoples opinions with insults. I just feel overly cranky today.


218 posted on 08/19/2005 6:45:54 PM PDT by GregoTX (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: Mylo
1) How successful have supernatural explanations been in observing and predicting the universe and settling issues of factual disagreement?

Not very, wouldn't be "super" natural by definition if they were.

How successful have scientific explanations been in settling issues of value and worth and what our purpose should be as human beings?

2) How many scientific theories are dependent upon an unquantifiable and unknowable power that is impossible to observe or predict?

None, by definition. Science can only deal with that aspect of reality that can be detected by the senses (or their extensions) and has a quantity and location.

The rest of reality is invisible to pure science. I don't know anyone who would like to live in a reality limited by only that which science knows. Do you?

219 posted on 08/19/2005 6:46:38 PM PDT by D-fendr
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To: GregoTX

There is MUCH more atheist bashing than Christian bashing. You can see people in these crevo threads that really would not be complaining if Christianity was instituted as a national religion, and everyone was forced to convert. Suppose it would be good for the "moral fibre". I don't think most people are like this, but these people exist and are vying for power in America. And they start by forcing creationism in the classrooms.


220 posted on 08/19/2005 6:48:02 PM PDT by Vive ut Vivas
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