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."
Cambrian explosion????
I'll take that as an acknowledgment that you have no response to my argument that evolution is fact, and that conservatives who spend their time attacking it are wasting their time that could be spent on important issues.
You're filling up the double-wide at the museum of pig-ignorant posts.
I think you confuse evolution with adaptation.
I'm glad the lurkers are enjoying their time here at FR.
He was a man of his time, who had the viewpoint of men of his time. In fact he was more enlightened than most.
For example Darwin was a vehement opponent of negro slavery. Guess who he had enraged arguments about this subject with... Captain Fitzroy, the Christian Fundamentalist Captain of the Beagle, who justified slavery on Biblical authority (just as he rejected evolution on Biblical Authority). Their arguments on the subject were so furious that Darwin nearly left the Beagle in Argentina.
A fairly common error, them being the same and all.
Oh yes - they are now teaching the Fact of Evolution, aren't they? Just keep believing.
Oh, I like it fine. It's one of the most solid scientific theories we have.
Evolution is also a fact in that we have DNA evidence via ERV insertions that apes and humans have a common ancestor that evolved into multiple species.
Creationists aren't going away
Just like poverty. You guys will always be with us. Because you're Stuck On Stupid.
The name-calling reveals a lot about evolutionists. It always devolves into that, doesn't it? Maybe you are a product of devolution instead of evolution. You seem to be going the wrong direction in making your "intelligent" points.
I know you are but what am I? That's what you sound like - a spoiled child who is mad cause he isn't getting his way. Grow up and deal with it.
But anyway you said it yourself, speciation has never occurred, so all the 20,000,000 species on the earth must have been carried on the ark. Heck of a Job for Noah, and the wife and kids. Idiot.
That one was easy. My post was almost a word-for-word copy of my last refutation of that bit of filth, from back in January. These people are so predictable!
All creatures are related. They have the same creator which makes them related just as my children are related.
I've seen hundreds of FReepers defend "The Bell Curve," a recent book proclaiming some races to be intellectually superior to others. Would you care for me to to do a bit of research on this and publicly name your racist compatriots? Any guess as to whether they are primarily creationists?
I am privileged that you even respond to me since you are obviously way smarter than God. When people don't believe as you, you call them an idiot. Classy. But then after reading your posts, I'm not surprised. You fancy yourself brilliant, don't you? Well, putting down others who differ with you shows how truly intelligent you are I guess.
I guess you don't know as much as you think you do.
I hope that important lurkers like Limbaugh, Hannity, Medved, Coulter and others will notice that there is a considerable number of conservatives that will go at them if they continue to favorably mention discredited ideas like ID.
I read the Bell Curve and found it quite interesting. I don't see the correlation to evolution, though.
Oh, boo hoo - I sure don't want Rush mad at me. I forgot he is a respected scientist.
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