It is interesting to compare SETI, which has produced arrays of useful technologies, with Intelligent Design, which has promised to produce a mathematical filter to detect design, but which has no commercial or military users. If Dembski’s explanatory filter actually worked, it would be worth billions of dollars in the field of signal processing and have vast implication for cryptography.
I think your first paragraph is answered by your next one.
Creationists/IDers are ragging on SETI because they think they can get some mileage out of the "intelligent design" analogy. And because it is mentioned in the creationist text Of Pandas and People.
Here is a review that may be of interest:
Creationists/IDers are ragging on SETI because they think they can get some mileage out of the “intelligent design” analogy.
***I don’t know why others are ragging on SETI, I’ve stated my reasons. If the evo crowd are such good scientists, then they’ll chase down some good science. But in the last few days I have been called “psychotic” for relying on the historicity of the best attested event in history. That ain’t good science. Here’s another area where I see some bad science.