[Konacoast]

It has been my experience as both a scientist (registered professional geologist with over 20 years experience) and a part-time high school science teacher that the real threats to science in education are MTV, video games, drugs, parent apathy, a culture of ignorance, the NEA, blatant liberal bias in textbooks, and student disinterest. Beyond that, bureaucrats with liberal agendas in agencies like EPA, NOAA, and Fish and Wildlife are doing incalculable harm to science daily by forcing real scientists to reach, or at least espouse, conclusions that are based on philosophy and not scientific endeavor.

By contrast, I've never seen any threat to the science of geology caused by ID OR creationism, however misguided any of their efforts have been.

It strikes me as very odd that real threats to science, and there many more than I've listed, aren't raising near the furor that ID is. Why not spend your time and effort tackling the far more serious threats? Your assertion that "education is under attack", presumably by proponents of ID, ignores the far more serious ways that education has been rendered almost useless by a know-nothing, incompetent generation of bureaucrats.

Finally, since we find religious practice is and has been nearly ubiquitous in human cultures throughout history, it is obviously a product of the evolutionary process. Have you considered the ramifications of manipulating evolution in such a way that this aspect of it is put at risk? Doesn't that mean that you're "playing god"?

[CarolinaGuitarman]

"It has been my experience as both a scientist (registered professional geologist with over 20 years experience) and a part-time high school science teacher that the real threats to science in education are MTV, video games, drugs, parent apathy, a culture of ignorance, the NEA, blatant liberal bias in textbooks, and student disinterest."

Those things are all valid concerns; I don't see why people should sit by and let yet another attack on science go unchallenged because it's not the only attack. The problem is important for the Republican party as well, as it does them no good to be seen as the party of anti-science Luddites. ID/creationism is a loser at the polls. The more the Republican's become associated with it, the easier it will be for the Dims to get elected.

"By contrast, I've never seen any threat to the science of geology caused by ID OR creationism, however misguided any of their efforts have been."

It teaches students that evidence is not needed and that supernatural explanations are as valid as empirical data. Science is the greatest methodology that humans have for gaining knowledge about the physical world. ID weakens that and promotes sloppy reasoning.

"Finally, since we find religious practice is and has been nearly ubiquitous in human cultures throughout history, it is obviously a product of the evolutionary process."

Maybe yes, maybe no.

"Have you considered the ramifications of manipulating evolution in such a way that this aspect of it is put at risk? "

Evolution isn't atheistic, so what ramifications are you talking about? Not teaching ID/creationism is not an attack on religion.

"Doesn't that mean that you're "playing god"?"

No.

[Coyoteman]

I've never seen any threat to the science of geology caused by ID OR creationism, however misguided any of their efforts have been.

You have a better union?

It has been my experience as both a scientist (registered professional geologist with over 20 years experience)

It has been my experience as ... a scientist (registered professional archaeologist with over 35 years experience) that those of us who follow the evidence and support the theory of evolution are under attack by a small but vociferous group whose religious belief runs counter to scientific findings.

Finally, since we find religious practice is and has been nearly ubiquitous in human cultures throughout history, it is obviously a product of the evolutionary process. Have you considered the ramifications of manipulating evolution in such a way that this aspect of it is put at risk? Doesn't that mean that you're "playing god"?

Who is "manipulating evolution"? Scientists are following where the data leads. Religious believers have the answers already, and are trying to manipulate science so that it conforms to their beliefs.

Are you comfortable with that? I am not.