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

Skip to comments.

[Pennsylvania] Gov. Rendell backs evolution
York Daily Record [Penna] ^ | 30 September 2005 | NICOLE FREHSEE

Posted on 09/30/2005 7:45:00 AM PDT by PatrickHenry

The Campaign to Defend the Constitution, a group organized to promote the teaching of evolution, sent letters Thursday to all 50 governors, urging them to ensure that science classes teach material based on established science.

The letters were signed by more than 100 scientists and clergy of various faiths, the group said.

Although Gov. Ed Rendell had not received the letters as of Thursday afternoon, spokeswoman Kate Philips said he is committed to the idea of teaching evolution in science classes.

Rendell "believes that (intelligent design) is more than appropriate to be taught in religion classes, but has no room in science classes in public schools," Philips said. "But this is in the court's hands now, and other than his opinion, he has no influence."

But a spokeswoman for DefCon, the group's nickname for itself, said the group hopes that after governors receive the letter, they will make a public announcement opposing the teaching of intelligent design.

"It would be nice if (Rendell) took a stance and said, whether it's in the Dover district or any other Pennsylvania district, 'We need to protect the teaching of science in our science classrooms,'" Jessica Smith said.

The group named Dover its top "Island of Ignorance" in the country. It has targeted areas in the country where it says evolution is being challenged at the state level or in public school science classrooms. They include Cobb County, Ga.; Kansas; Blount County, Tenn.; Ohio; Grantsburg, Wisc.; Alabama; Utah; South Carolina; and Florida.

Advocates of intelligent design say life is so complex that it is likely the result of deliberate design by some unidentified creator, not random evolutionary mutation and adaptation.

Critics say it is essentially creationism and violates the separation of church and state when it becomes part of a public school curriculum.

"We can do better when we let science do its job, and ask religion to do its job," former ACLU executive director Ira Glasser said Thursday, "and if there's a need for conversation, please, let's not do it in the classrooms of our children."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; Philosophy; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: crevolist; dover; evolution; oviraptor
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 441-449 next last
Yesterday's thread: Witness: 'Intelligent Design' doesn't qualify as science [Day 4 of trial in Dover, PA].
1 posted on 09/30/2005 7:45:01 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: VadeRetro; Junior; longshadow; RadioAstronomer; Doctor Stochastic; js1138; Shryke; RightWhale; ...
EvolutionPing
A pro-evolution science list with over 300 names.
See the list's explanation at my freeper homepage.
Then FReepmail to be added or dropped.
See what's new in The List-O-Links.

2 posted on 09/30/2005 7:46:11 AM PDT by PatrickHenry (Disclaimer -- this information may be legally false in Kansas.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry
"Rendell "believes that (intelligent design) is more than appropriate to be taught in religion classes, but has no room in science classes in public schools," Philips said. "But this is in the court's hands now, and other than his opinion, he has no influence." "

LOL, and some claim there is no politics evolving around evolution. Make those evolutionists proud to be wearing a Rendell supports evolution Tee-shirts.
3 posted on 09/30/2005 7:47:58 AM PDT by Just mythoughts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry

"We can do better when we let science do its job, and ask religion to do its job," former ACLU executive director Ira Glasser said Thursday, "and if there's a need for conversation, please, let's not do it in the classrooms of our children."

We certainly shouldn't have conversations in classrooms! And just knowing the ACLU is on the case makes me feel so much better!


4 posted on 09/30/2005 7:48:18 AM PDT by mlc9852
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry
It shouldn't be about anything but what the preponderance of opinion in science is, but then, ID has already tried to end-run around that by appealing directly to yahoos in school boards around the country.
5 posted on 09/30/2005 7:49:06 AM PDT by VadeRetro (Liberalism is a cancer on society. Creationism is a cancer on conservatism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VadeRetro
The letter-writing group has a website: The Campaign to Defend the Constitution. The Campaign’s Advisory Board includes such notable leaders as:
Bruce Alberts, former President of the National Academy of Sciences
Francisco Ayala, former President and Chairman of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Ira Glasser, former Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union
Rev. James Lawson, former President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Harold Varmus, former Director of the National Institutes of Health
Erwin Chemerinsky, Professor of Constitutional Law, Duke School of Law

6 posted on 09/30/2005 7:52:56 AM PDT by PatrickHenry (Disclaimer -- this information may be legally false in Kansas.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry
So, Rendell endorses the "...Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life"?

Hmmmm....wonder what his non KKK constituents think of this.

7 posted on 09/30/2005 7:53:24 AM PDT by keithtoo (Howard Dean is a Rove plant, Rove is a NeoCon plant, NeoCons are Trilateralist plants....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VadeRetro

Name calling is all you have left? Yahoos? Just because people believe God created the universe and all that is in it? Sounds like what liberals resort to when they are losing.


8 posted on 09/30/2005 7:53:39 AM PDT by mlc9852
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852

"Name calling is all you have left? Yahoos? "

You don't think there are Yahoos on school boards? Perhaps we are thinking of two different sets of Yahoos.

Have you actually looked at the folks on your local school board? Have you ever attended a school board meeting. It's Yahoos from wall to wall, on one side or another.


9 posted on 09/30/2005 7:56:59 AM PDT by MineralMan (godless atheist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: VadeRetro

It's very amusing...watching the evolutionists running about screeching like scalded cats because someone dares to introduce (gasp) different ideas...everybody knows, after all, that theoretical evolution closes the door on all there is to ever discuss about origins...the utter nerve of those 'yahoos'...
Where is Clarence Darrow to fight for the rights of those who are so gauche as to question the 'preponderance of opinion'?


10 posted on 09/30/2005 7:58:28 AM PDT by IrishBrigade
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852; VadeRetro

11 posted on 09/30/2005 8:00:06 AM PDT by TheGhostOfTomPaine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: VadeRetro

Only the opinions of those who believe in the theory of evolution count.


12 posted on 09/30/2005 8:00:44 AM PDT by mlc9852
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry

Amazing how he's an expert on so many things.


13 posted on 09/30/2005 8:00:45 AM PDT by mikeus_maximus (From goo to you by accident? I don't think so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TheGhostOfTomPaine

I don't get it.


14 posted on 09/30/2005 8:01:43 AM PDT by mlc9852
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: IrishBrigade; keithtoo
It's very amusing...watching the evolutionists running about screeching like scalded cats because someone dares to introduce (gasp) different ideas...

Different ideas, yes. Let's put alchemy in chemistry class. The kids can figure it out for themselves. Phrenology can go somewhere. keithtoo has a nice Harun Yahyah muslim indoctrination site to sell you, while we're at it. Allahu Akhbar!

Scientific merit doesn't belong in there as a consideration at all, you're right.

15 posted on 09/30/2005 8:02:09 AM PDT by VadeRetro (Liberalism is a cancer on society. Creationism is a cancer on conservatism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: MineralMan
We wish to except, of course, the lovely and talented Kathy Martin of Kansas.
16 posted on 09/30/2005 8:03:10 AM PDT by VadeRetro (Liberalism is a cancer on society. Creationism is a cancer on conservatism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852

"I don't get it."




Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! And now Don Pardo will tell you about the wonderful prizes you have won.


17 posted on 09/30/2005 8:03:30 AM PDT by MineralMan (godless atheist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852
"We can do better when we let science do its job, and ask religion to do its job," former ACLU executive director Ira Glasser said Thursday, "and if there's a need for conversation, please, let's not do it in the classrooms of our children."

Regardless of how one feels specifically on the issue, This statement is moronic.

18 posted on 09/30/2005 8:04:11 AM PDT by Archon of the East ("universal executive power of the law of nature")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MineralMan

You at least haven't lost your incredible sense of humor, MineralMan. You can still make me laugh.


19 posted on 09/30/2005 8:04:36 AM PDT by mlc9852
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: mlc9852
Those in the dark want to put out the illuminating flame of science by hitting it with their Bible.
20 posted on 09/30/2005 8:04:41 AM PDT by BikerNYC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 441-449 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