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."
And terrorists use the science of chemistry to manufacture explosives to kill civilians. What's the point here?
Whether or not people misuse scientific knowledge has nothing to do with whether or not it is true. Not only that, but any evolutionary biologist will tell you that eugenics was based on the misunderstanding of evolution - all the more reason to make sure it is taught accurately.
So Darwin believed apes and Negroes were closely related? Is that what he said?
See my previous post to realize that my first post was correct as written. You are wrong, but will be forgiven if you humbly admit your error and promise to amend your ways.
If you're tired of repeating yourself, why bother?
Look it up for yourself.
I can pretty much guarantee that won't happen, at least with Dimensio! LOL
ID is an issue that easily makes conservatives look like fools. So organizations such as the ACLU, which is primarily a leftist political organization, not necessarily an atheist organization, goes after ID.
It's no different that when the left went after guns a decade ago. ID is simply a handy attack point. And it wouldn't be if you people would figure out that evolution isn't an atheist dogma and go on to some other subject.
No, but if it's forced into the classroom, science will point out that there's no evidence for such events as a global flood. I really don't think creationists or ID advocates are really prepared for the way this would be taught.
You obviously don't know much about the ACLU or you are being intentionally dishonest. You don't think they are an atheist organization? Seriously? Come on, you know better than that. But don't be ashamed - I'm sure the ACLU does a lot of good in American! SARCASM
Interesting thoughts, narby...I can't refute the lawsuit and public school comment, but I do stipulate that says more about the lunacy of government sponsored education than about the foibles of ID.
Your comment about liberals I find fascinating, albeit utterly puzzling...are you advancing a theory that if we conservatives stand shoulder to shoulder with them on an issue they will see the error of their ways and embrace us with the greatest of celerity? That they will then love us and whisper sweet nothings of agreement with conservative thought in our ears? That if we were to firmly reject any argument that, however meek in its assertions, dares at all to impinge upon the holy writ of evolution, that liberals will respond in kind and admit to the virtue of the war on terror?
As I say, interesting theory...
Christ didn't die for any particular race of people, even though he was from a 'peculiar' race of people himself. Not everyone is treated equally - in this life - in the Bible, that is for sure. I believe that everyone will, in the end, have equal justice applied to their lives.
What didn't you understand about my post? Be specific, nothing in there very complicated. Quote it back to me and explain what you didn't get.
We always have hope.
I never claimed that human origins were set in stone -- that we had an exact uncontroversial picture. That said, everyone -- the entire scientific community -- accepts that the species I listed are transitional between non-human apes and humans. Their exact place on the tree is debatable, but their presence on it is not.
Hitler apparently had leanings toward Paganism, that much is true. He even claimed to admire Christ - not because of His teachings, but because He still had followers almost 2000 years after His appearance on Earth.
Something about 20 million species and 8 people. Not sure where you are going with that.
I'm sure there are those who would argue that apes and humans are not the same and never were. But this is all becoming tiresome as I have been at it all day. I guess we just have to agree to disagree until we have proof, which we probably never will in our lifetimes. I imagine when we die we'll know if we were right or wrong.
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