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 ...
That was a pretty stupid remark, don't you think?
Why would I be frustrated? If you don't believe God created the heavens and the earth, why would that frustrate me? Seems you may be a little frustrated that so many don't believe evolution.
Damn! Forgive me GWB whereever you are.
Actually, if you look up theory in the dictionary you will find definitions for both the lay use and the scientific use. When discussing a scientific topic it is logical to use the scientific definition.
Unless, of course, the other definition would make a good weapon for your side, in which case a little deliberate misconstruing is forgivable since it is more important to win than to be truthful, right?
That was a pretty stupid remark, don't you think?Nope. After all, when you claim not to be a part of one group we use to classify species, I wouldn't be surprised to hear you denounce membership in a wider classification.
Science only requires faith if you don't take the time and effort to understand it. (It takes a lot of time and effort indeed...)
Actually, I know of no one who believes in Evolution.
I said frustrating since your posts seems to be getting "testier".
If you believe my posts are getting "testier", then you aren't familiar with my posts on this subject.
Oh, I am familiar. I was born noticing things - comes in handy being a scientist.
So, why do you insist you are not an ape?
The Discovery Institute, the chief proponent of ID, does not advocate teaching the concept in school,This is a recent change, incidentally. I think they changed their tack after the Ohio fiasco in 2002. Or maybe it was last year's Georgia sticker ruling that went completely against the IDC's. But I digress...
but it would revise the definition of science and nature.IOW, information is not a natural phenomenon; it must be supernatural. Another interesting passage..."How do we understand nature? Is it matter and energy? Or is it matter and energy and information?" said John G. West, the associate director of the institute's Center for Science and Culture. "We object to the distinction between naturalism and supernaturalism."
In its pretrial memorandum, the defense says it will argue that openness to a what might now be considered a "supernatural" explanation for creation does not place ID "beyond the bounds of 'science.'" Nor does this make ID "inherently religious," the memo says.It will be fascinating to see if the ACLU lawyer asks any ID witnesses how they expect a scientist to go about detecting or measuring a supernatural act that happened in the distant past.
You creationists: How would you expect a scientist to distinguish between a supernatural act that happened in the distant past vs. a natural occurrence that we just don't understand yet?
You are the one who claims to be an ape - I just provided the definition to help in your identity crisis.
Imagine if you had asked if she was a Homo. ;o)
Human Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primata Family: Hominidae Genus Homo Species: Sapiens
Order is restored to the universe.
Thanks PH!
Over and over and over.... Even here on this thread.
I suppose you consider yourself clever.
What a bunch of flapdoodle!
BTW, chimpanzees are in the Hominidae Family, and some argue that they should be classified in the same genus, Homo, as humans.
Some argue? It isn't unanimous? Some scientists disagree? Is that what you are saying?
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