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Students Learn Intelligent Design
Phillyburbs.com ^ | January 18, 2005 | Martha Raffaele

Posted on 01/19/2005 8:52:24 AM PST by FeeinTennessee

Pa. Students Learn 'Intelligent Design' By MARTHA RAFFAELE The Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. - High school students heard about "intelligent design" for the first time Tuesday in a school district that attracted national attention by requiring students to be made aware of it as an alternative to the theory of evolution.

Administrators in the Dover Area School District read a statement to three biology classes Tuesday and were expected to read it to other classes on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., which was speaking on the district's behalf.

The district is believed to be the only one in the nation to require students to hear about intelligent design - a concept that holds that the universe is so complex, it had to be created by an unspecified guiding force.

"The revolution in evolution has begun," said Richard Thompson, the law center's president and chief counsel. "This is the first step in which students will be given an honest scientific evaluation of the theory of evolution and its problems."

The case represents the newest chapter in a history of evolution lawsuits dating back to the Scopes Monkey Trial in Tennessee nearly 80 years ago. In Georgia, a suburban Atlanta school district plans to challenge a federal judge's order to remove stickers in science textbooks that call evolution "a theory, not a fact."

The law center is defending the Dover district against a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of eight families by two civil-liberties groups that alleged intelligent design is merely a secular variation of creationism, the biblical-based view that regards God as the creator of life. They maintain that the Dover district's curriculum mandate may violate the constitutional separation of church and state.

"Students who sat in the classroom were taught material which is religious in content, not scientific, and I think it's unfortunate that has occurred," said Eric Rothschild, a Philadelphia attorney representing the plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit.

Biology teacher Jennifer Miller said although she was able to make a smooth transition to her evolution lesson after the statement was read, some students were upset that administrators would not entertain any questions about intelligent design.

"They were told that if you have any questions, to take it home," Miller said.

The district allowed students whose parents objected to the policy to be excused from hearing the statement at the beginning of class and science teachers who opposed the requirement to be exempted from reading the statement. About 15 of 170 ninth-graders asked to be excused from class, Thompson said.

A federal judge has scheduled a trial in the lawsuit for Sept. 26.

---

Dover Area School District: http://www.dover.k12.pa.us

Thomas More Law Center: http://www.thomasmore.org

January 18, 2005 6:44 PM


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: crevolist
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To: FeeinTennessee
Someone should propose an atheistic ID theory -- aliens seeded the earth or humans will discover time travel and will go back to start life.

Just to see heads explode on both sides of the debate. 8>)
41 posted on 01/19/2005 9:41:48 AM PST by Celtjew Libertarian (Shake Hands with the Serpent: Poetry by Charles Lipsig aka Celtjew http://books.lulu.com/lipsig)
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To: Savagemom
I don't think evolution is doing the job anymore

You have been suckered, just as the greenies have been. By junk science, this time used by some folks who make their living taking money from religious believers.

42 posted on 01/19/2005 9:43:14 AM PST by narby (If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.)
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To: FeeinTennessee
About 15 of 170 ninth-graders asked to be excused from class, Thompson said.

This is the truly shocking statement in this article. In my high school, if there was ever a reason to leave class, even for a few minutes, you took it! What's wrong with these kids today?

43 posted on 01/19/2005 9:43:25 AM PST by munchtipq
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To: narby
I'm just amazed that Christians actually want government schools to teach their children about religion.

Government schools have been teaching children about religion for a long time. It's called secular humanism. And, yes, according to the Supreme Court, that is a religion.

44 posted on 01/19/2005 9:46:00 AM PST by Pete
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To: Ignatius J Reilly
From the formless mists emerged Ymir, The frost giant. He was suckled by the cow Audhumble. God Odin slew Ymir and made the world from his corpse. Odin then formed an ash tree into the first man Aske, and an elm tree into a woman Embla and gave them lives and souls.

If you don't believe me it's all written in the Eddas for all to see.

Exactly

The fundamentalists are bigger fools than I took them for. All this does is open the door for competing moonbat religious belief to muscle its way in.

45 posted on 01/19/2005 9:46:24 AM PST by NJ Neocon (Democracy is tyranny of the masses. It is three wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner)
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To: nmh
defending their unsupported theories.

"unsupported"?

You're delusional.

46 posted on 01/19/2005 9:46:36 AM PST by narby (If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.)
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To: Savagemom

What was your specific statistical problem with evolutionary theory?


47 posted on 01/19/2005 9:46:40 AM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: NJ Neocon
All this does is open the door for competing moonbat religious belief to muscle its way in.

Turtles all the way down?

48 posted on 01/19/2005 9:48:30 AM PST by Celtjew Libertarian (Shake Hands with the Serpent: Poetry by Charles Lipsig aka Celtjew http://books.lulu.com/lipsig)
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To: freepertoo
I have a suggestion: How about people who disagree with creationists at least understand that many of us believe it and stop being so insulting. Thank you.

No one want crub yopur beliefs. Discussion of them is also welcom in a theology or philosophy class

Attempting to undermine sound science with lies and misdirections and offering a religious viewpoint as a scientific one in a public school is what we are against.

49 posted on 01/19/2005 9:48:51 AM PST by NJ Neocon (Democracy is tyranny of the masses. It is three wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner)
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To: FeeinTennessee
So they were "read a statement" informing them of the concept of/belief in intelligent design? That's idiotic.

the universe is so complex, it had to be created by an unspecified guiding force.

A Bronze Age person would have thought that of my computer, so what does that mean?
50 posted on 01/19/2005 9:49:13 AM PST by visualops ("The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost" (Rom., v, 5))
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To: Celtjew Libertarian
aliens seeded the earth

That's already been proposed. The only problem is, where did the aliens come from, if it was impossible for evolution to occur anywhere?

51 posted on 01/19/2005 9:49:19 AM PST by narby (If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.)
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To: narby

On the contrary, I think the majority of the population has been "suckered" into buying a theory of origins that originated before the invention of the microscope - before we could actually SEE the infinite complexity of a single cell - until evolutionary theory can account for this level of complexity, I cannot in good conscience teach it as absolute truth. One theory of many, sure, but not the truth. How do we know that God didn't put us here? Or that He directed evolution to happen in His own way? Or that it really was aliens? The TRUTH is, we just don't know, and it is arrogant of us to pretend we have all the answers in this one flawed theory.


52 posted on 01/19/2005 9:50:45 AM PST by Savagemom (Homeschooling mom to 3 boys)
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To: Savagemom
it is taught to children as absolute fact

Any decent teacher will teach it as what it is, theory (which was how I was taught). As a Catholic you should know the Church does not have a problem with the theory of evolution; the search for truth is always worthwhile.
53 posted on 01/19/2005 9:52:24 AM PST by visualops ("The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost" (Rom., v, 5))
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To: FeeinTennessee
I am open to anyone who can tell me how you get something from nothing. The fact that fossils exist proves some length of history can be confirmed. Religion bases its theory on faith of what is written in a book that has also endured a length of time. Sean Hannity tried to talk about this the other day on his show but ended up not wanting to talk about it only saying that if it cannot be explained then there has to be a superior presence in some form to achieve this task. We are just specks upon a speck in the total picture so why would we ever have the ability to solve this mystery? It makes me hate life and cherish it at the same time.
54 posted on 01/19/2005 9:53:37 AM PST by TheForceOfOne
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To: narby
The only problem is, where did the aliens come from, if it was impossible for evolution to occur anywhere?

Which is why an atheistic ID argument would most likely be bootstrapping.

55 posted on 01/19/2005 9:54:28 AM PST by Celtjew Libertarian (Shake Hands with the Serpent: Poetry by Charles Lipsig aka Celtjew http://books.lulu.com/lipsig)
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To: Savagemom

The problem is that ID is not a scientific theory, it's simply a belief.


56 posted on 01/19/2005 9:54:55 AM PST by visualops ("The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost" (Rom., v, 5))
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To: nmh
Kids being exposed to something other than atheism?

Satan can't allow that. Watch the evilutionists come crawling out defending their unsupported theories.

More insulting, innacurate drivel from nmh.

Have of Chrisendom and 75% of Jews believ in evolution and see no conflict between it and creation by God. It is not just Athiests and in no Satanic plot.

57 posted on 01/19/2005 9:55:08 AM PST by NJ Neocon (Democracy is tyranny of the masses. It is three wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner)
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To: Savagemom

Teach both and the third if it arises and can hold a half cup of water.


58 posted on 01/19/2005 9:56:10 AM PST by TheForceOfOne
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To: Savagemom

Darwin on Trial (by a non-religionist)is also an outstanding read.


59 posted on 01/19/2005 9:57:35 AM PST by freepertoo
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To: NJ Neocon
Wow...

Take a deep breath...

Relax...

Spell check...

Man, typing too fast.

60 posted on 01/19/2005 9:59:52 AM PST by NJ Neocon (Democracy is tyranny of the masses. It is three wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner)
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