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."
Ah, the standard mantra of the creationist cult.
Anyone who doesn't believe in their narrow view of the bible is "godless."
Well, many of us scientists are also explicit, open Christians. We happen to believe that the study of God's magnificent creation is a form of worship itself. Indeed, He put it there before us and gave us a mind to explore it.
Moreover, the Jewish scholars in these threads have already pointed out that the litteral interpretation is incorrect, because it ignores the nuances of the original biblical language. I don't speak Hebrew or Aramaic, so I am willing to accept that perspective. I also know that something is always lost in translation.
It's amazing how much energy and money has been expended in this war over evolution and intelligent design.
Gee, that's funny, two-thirds of that list is comprised of people who died long before Darwin was even born, and there's no mention of Asa Gray, Robert Millikan, Arthur Compton, Edwin Hubble, Edmund Whitaker or Arthur Eddington, all great scientists and devout Christians who accepted evolution as a fact.
The Pope believes in God. I am attemting to demonstrate that the two concepts are not mutually exclusive.
The Pope believes in God. I am attempting to demonstrate that the two concepts are not mutually exclusive.
How typical.
No, I believe in God. I believe he reveals Himself in many ways. I believe in His magnificent creation, where He created man, with a soul in His own image and with a body that He created using the mechanism described by evolution.
You clearly must believe God is a deciever, since all of the information He has put in front of us that may contradict the Bible must be wrong.
Have you always believed that God is a deciever? I thought that was Satan's job.
I believe what he's saying is 'different ideas' are perfectly okay, as long as they are 'different ideas' he happens to agree with...
Saying 'I don't understand this therefore God did it' has a huge reach, covers pretty much everything!
And the less you understand, the more it covers. Yet another reason why it ain't science.
Actually I have no problem with science classes making a mention of ID. A few minutes discussion would suffice. Then leave it alone.
Obviously you did not get the point of my post, so I will explain it carefully for you. It was a post on CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS WHO BELIVED IN CREATION. It was not a post on Christian scientists who do not believe in creation.
What does the time of the scientists death have to do with Darwin? Evolution was not Darwin's idea. It was thought of and practiced long before he published it.
...I believe in His creation...using the mechanism described by evolution...
So, you're now saying evolution itself is ID...the same ID that you so haughtily refer to as a 'stupid idea'?
Evolution was not Darwin's idea. It was thought of and practiced long before he published it.
Then let's try being more precise. The theory that evolution occurs through natural selection among hereditary variations with different reproductive rates was indeed Darwin's idea (and also Alfred Russel Wallace's, though hardly "long before" Darwin). That's why it's important that some of the scientists on that list lived before Darwin published; 1859 was a watershed year in the history of science.
Another good reason to keep ID/creationism out of science classes. It is merely a theological fight between the various Christian sects and your side is attempting to claim the mantle of science to bolster it's claim of truthfulness.
Sorry, science doesn't cover theological disagreements.
And I accept the theory of evolution as the most reasonable, current explanation for biological diversity and still believe in God. Amazing, huh?
Doesn't matter. ID is here and it's not going away any time soon, just like evolution. I think the two can peacefully co-exist.
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