Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Dispute over evolution goes on trial in U.S. court
Baltimore Sun ^ | September 26, 2005 | Arthur Hirsch

Posted on 09/26/2005 1:53:21 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

A Pennsylvania school district's use of "intelligent design" in its high school biology curriculum goes on trial in federal court today in the nation's first legal challenge to the idea, which contends that evolutionary theory alone does not explain how life on Earth took shape.

The lawsuit, brought by 11 parents in the Dover Area School District, attacks as unconstitutional the year-old policy of telling ninth-grade biology students that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution "is not a fact. Gaps in the Theory exist for which there is no evidence." School officials also recommend a book on intelligent design, or ID.

The plaintiffs, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, argue that the policy -- which does not require students to study intelligent design -- serves religious, not secular ends, violating the First Amendment.

ID proponents say scientists can look at life forms and identify the work of a controlling "intelligence," although ID advocates are not specific about the nature of that force. While they do not reject all evolutionary theory, ID proponents argue that it incorrectly insists life took shape purely through a mindless process.

(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: allcrevoallthetime; anothercrevothread; crevolist; crevorepublic; education; enoughalready; evolution; id; lawsuit; religion; scienceeducation
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 401-404 next last
To: Thatcherite
Why do you care what my daughters believe?

The only reason I care is because someone introduced them into the debate. Now who was that?.... Oh Yes! it was you.

141 posted on 09/26/2005 10:00:49 AM PDT by Thatcherite (Conservative and Biblical Literalist are not synonymous)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]

To: newguy357
Whether or not you believe ID should be taught, do you actually believe the ACLU is right in saying that this is UNCONSTITUTIONAL?

Yes.

Now my turn to ask a question: Do you believe it is Christian to use deception to masquerade religion as science?

142 posted on 09/26/2005 10:01:38 AM PDT by Antonello
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852

I don't accept anything anyone tells me without proof.

GW is a theory in flux because there is only little data in support of it and just as much against it. It will probably die in a few years, scientifically. Politically it may never go away.

Evolution has 150 years of hard detailed scientific research to support it, and no data that contradict it. So I accept it as the explanation for the origin of species, until some other theory comes along and offers a better explanation for all the data.

No scientific theory is carved in stone like the 10 Commandments. They are always pliable and flexible. When they become inflexible because their explanations are too twisted, then it is ripe for replacement. The history of science is full of examples. "Goddidit" is not a scientific explanation for anything, but it is a statement of faith.


143 posted on 09/26/2005 10:02:23 AM PDT by furball4paws (One of the last Evil Geniuses, or the first of their return.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852
I don't believe humans are apes.

But they are, even if you believe they are designed or specially created, and whether or not you believe that the human soul is different in quality from the animal soul.

18 I also thought, As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.

19 Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless.

20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.

21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?


144 posted on 09/26/2005 10:03:09 AM PDT by js1138 (Great is the power of steady misrepresentation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 129 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852
You want me to call my daughters and ask them what their answers were on tests? LOL

You don't need to call them now, you could ask them about the retroviral evidence next time you see them. I'll wait.

The scientific evidence for evolution is obviously an issue that has come up between you and you daughters before because you know how they feel about it. I'm interested in how they address the retroviral evidence. You brought them into it, not me.

145 posted on 09/26/2005 10:03:16 AM PDT by Thatcherite (Conservative and Biblical Literalist are not synonymous)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 140 | View Replies]

To: furball4paws

Just don't try to define "theory" out of the dictionary. You'll get flamed for that. Scientists, I have been repeatedly told, have their own special version of the definition. (so as to accuse creationists of semantics.)


146 posted on 09/26/2005 10:04:03 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 137 | View Replies]

To: DesertSapper
Though not a direct reflection on the "science" of the case, does it not bother you that your "side" of this issue is headed by "the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State"?

Personally, I cannot imagine too many other groups I would want on my side less.

Scientism is an Amoral religion. Motives mean nothing (embryonic stem cells, morning after pill is only birth control, viewing pornography doesn't perpetuate the destruction of young ladies and their future children's lives, the Drug Wars are a joke...). Why else would they willingly associate with these groups despite the science not being definitive.

Materialistic Relativism (There is no standard for morals so you believe whatever you want to believe) and Secular Humanism (a non-religiously based philosophy promoting humanity as the measure of all things) are two sides of the same coin.

147 posted on 09/26/2005 10:04:40 AM PDT by bondserv (God governs our universe and has seen fit to offer us a pardon. †)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: metmom
Just don't try to define "theory" out of the dictionary. You'll get flamed for that. Scientists, I have been repeatedly told, have their own special version of the definition. (so as to accuse creationists of semantics.)

Most substantial dictionaries include the scientific definition amongst the other less rigorous definitions.

148 posted on 09/26/2005 10:07:09 AM PDT by Thatcherite (Conservative and Biblical Literalist are not synonymous)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: furball4paws
Global warming is a theory with some, but little data to support it. The issue is in doubt. I personally am unconvinced. The only good "Greenie" point is that if GW is real...

Gasp!

G.

W.

BUSH!

For some, that would be evidence enough to prove a conspiracy. ;o)

149 posted on 09/26/2005 10:07:18 AM PDT by malakhi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 134 | View Replies]

To: furball4paws

Fossils show that something was once alive and now is dead. Placing them in a certain order to support your point of view is man's idea. Talk about making the data fit your theory.


150 posted on 09/26/2005 10:08:36 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852

So, you would redefine "ape" to not include humans because you don't like it?

Why don't you make your own dictionary?


151 posted on 09/26/2005 10:08:38 AM PDT by furball4paws (One of the last Evil Geniuses, or the first of their return.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 138 | View Replies]

To: furball4paws

Evolution is a greater statement of faith than the Bible.


152 posted on 09/26/2005 10:10:01 AM PDT by mlc9852
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: Thatcherite

Get a life.


153 posted on 09/26/2005 10:10:40 AM PDT by mlc9852
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies]

To: metmom

You have the whole thing ass backwards.

The data come first, then the theory is promulgated to explain the data. The data don't explain the theory. Try a science class.


154 posted on 09/26/2005 10:10:50 AM PDT by furball4paws (One of the last Evil Geniuses, or the first of their return.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 150 | View Replies]

To: furball4paws

ape Audio pronunciation of "ape" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (p)
n.

1.
1. Any of various large, tailless Old World primates of the family Pongidae, including the chimpanzee, gorilla, gibbon, and orangutan.
2. A monkey.
2. A mimic or imitator.
3. Informal. A clumsy or boorish person.


So you consider yourself an ape - would that be "a clumsy or boorish person"?


155 posted on 09/26/2005 10:13:06 AM PDT by mlc9852
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852

Along with post 153, that completes the checklist unless you want to add "atheist", "nazi" and "baby killer".

So now I will let you out of my jar.


156 posted on 09/26/2005 10:13:41 AM PDT by furball4paws (One of the last Evil Geniuses, or the first of their return.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852
If you want to consider yourself an ape, that is fine with me. I however am human.
I suppose you're not even a mammal either?
157 posted on 09/26/2005 10:15:11 AM PDT by anguish (while science catches up.... mysticism!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 138 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852

Try a Biology Text.

You are showing signs of frustration - might I suggest lunch?


158 posted on 09/26/2005 10:15:18 AM PDT by furball4paws (One of the last Evil Geniuses, or the first of their return.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies]

To: furball4paws
So, I guess you've never heard of Renew-a-Virgin? Just dip them in it and they're as good as new!

Doris Day used it for years. Kept her career going for a couple decades. But now look how worn-out she looks!

159 posted on 09/26/2005 10:16:50 AM PDT by VadeRetro (Liberalism is a cancer on society. Creationism is a cancer on conservatism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: VadeRetro

Is she still alive?


160 posted on 09/26/2005 10:18:01 AM PDT by furball4paws (One of the last Evil Geniuses, or the first of their return.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 159 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 401-404 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson