Posted on 10/17/2005 8:46:30 AM PDT by Junior
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Evolutionary theory should be taught to science students, but it alone cannot explain complex biological phenomenon, said a biochemistry professor who is a leading advocate of "intelligent design."
Lehigh University Professor Michael Behe was the first witness called by a school board that is requiring students to hear a statement about the intelligent design concept in biology class. Lawyers for the Dover Area School Board began presenting their case Monday in the landmark federal trial, which could decide whether it can be mentioned in public school science classes as an alternative to the theory of evolution.
Behe, whose work includes a 1996 best-seller called "Darwin's Black Box," said students should be taught evolution because it's widely used in science and that "any well-educated student should understand it."
Behe, however, argues that evolution cannot fully explain the biological complexities of life, suggesting the work of an intelligent force.
The school board is defending its decision a year ago to require students to hear a statement on intelligent design before ninth-grade biology lessons on evolution. The statement says Charles Darwin's theory is "not a fact," has inexplicable "gaps," and refers students to a textbook, "Of Pandas and People," for more information.
Behe contributed to the 1993 edition of "Of Pandas and People," writing a section about blood-clotting. He told a federal judge Monday that in the book, he made a scientific argument that blood-clotting "is poorly explained by Darwinian processes but well explained by design."
Eight families sued to have intelligent design removed from the biology curriculum, contending the policy essentially promotes the Bible's view of creation and therefore violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
Mainstream scientists have rejected intelligent design as scientifically untested and contend that its supporters focus on attacking evolutionary theory rather than providing evidence for design.
Lehigh's biology department sought to distance itself from Behe in August, posting a statement on its Web site that says the faculty "are unequivocal in their support of evolutionary theory." He earned tenure at Lehigh before becoming a proponent, which lets him express his views without the threat of losing his job.
The trial began Sept. 26 and is expected to last up to five weeks.
The plaintiffs are represented by a team put together by the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The school district is being represented by the Thomas More Law Center, a public-interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Mich., that says its mission is to defend the religious freedom of Christians.
Blood clotting is also a major cause of sudden death. If the clot moves to the lungs it is a pulmonary embolism, if to the heart it is a heart attack, if to the brain it is a stroke. Very common. Seems the design has some features one wouldn't expect if the purpose is to save life.
Again, with your mind-reading.
You're welcome. Wanna cracker-jacks medal?
The next day when he found out that Damare had sneaked away to attend a Christian church in the village he became determined to punish this boy.
The master found a large board, several rusty spikes and a hammer and dragged Damare out to the edge of his compound. He forced Damare’s legs over the board and drove the long nails through his knees and feet. Then he turned and walked away, leaving the boy laying in the field screaming from pain.
So, Darwinian process made the heart but it's the Flying Spaghetti Monster who causes the blood to clot? Is that what these wackos want to insert into biology class?
Well, sure, take credit for poor Africans in the Sudan, if you want. Martyrdom, is after all, a scarce commodity, and needs to be exploited whereever it can be discovered.
I know not what course others may take but as for me, no response to trolls, retards, or lunatics!
"Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny."
Hey, guy, I don't use your tactics, I'm not taking credit. I showed real suffering, not some imagined suffering in putting one's professorship in jeopardy.
I bet he makes more than you do. Selling charlatan books to fools is smart business.
Like Nikolai Vavilov.
Depends on your estimate of the designer's motives. Perhaps those who advocate design would like to speak to that.
When you look for human artifacts you do so with the knowledge of what you have seen humans make, and with the knowledge of how humans live and what they need to survive.
When you see a bit of chipped flint, you compare the shape to things you know to have been made by humans.
Well, exactly.
That is, indeed, a horrible story. One wonders, however, what it might have to do with either evolution, ID, or creationism.
Further, how does it relate to this court case, or anything else happening in the United States of America?
I like the sound of that.
Yes.
This is the part that tickles me: the essence of the case is not "science" at all, but rather a collective of usual suspects who apparently couldn't find any Christmas carols to file suit about....
Somebody should address that. Maybe there is a greater purpose in people dropping dead in the prime of life.
Were they irreducibly complex intelligently designed rusty spikes? I don't understand what your comments have to do with the subject of the news article.
It is in response to this.
Science has been off the leash long enough. time to rein it in and show it the instruments.
See post 58
Thanks for the ping!
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