Posted on 06/06/2005 2:49:58 PM PDT by CHARLITE
A new front has opened up in the debate over evolution and creationism in Utah, with a proposal to require the teaching of divine design in public schools.
State Senator Chris Buttars (R-West Jordan) has agreed to take the lead in pushing new legislation on the teaching of divine design, also known as intelligent design, in conjunction with evolution in schools.
Buttars is supported by a strong conservative lobby, headed by the Eagle Forum, which has previously sought the inclusion of divine design in the public school science curriculum.
School officials argue that any laws requiring the teaching of divine design could be found in violation of the separation of church and state under the First Amendment.
Supporters of the proposal contend, however, that divine design is not the same as creationism. Unlike creationism, divine design simply acknowledges that the world is so complex, its development must have been guided by some higher power. Proponents do not specify who that higher power is.
Currently, public schools in Utah are required to teach evolution, but not alternative theories. Some teachers have independently chosen to introduce the topics of creationism or divine design in their classrooms.
The issue of what to teach in schools regarding evolution has been an ongoing debate. Recent cases have gained nationwide attention.
In May, the Kansas Board of Education held hearings to decide on new science standards. A three-member committee heard arguments from proponents of intelligent design and evolution. Last week, written arguments from both sides were submitted to the Board. The Board is expected to decide on new standards by the end of the summer.
One of the most publicized cases last year concerned evolution disclaimer stickers that were placed on the cover of ninth grade science books in Atlanta, Georgia. The stickers said that “evolution is a theory, not a fact,” and warned students that “material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered.”
Six parents filed a suit against the Cobb County School District, charging that the stickers violated the separation of church and state. The school district argued that the stickers were meant to open up discussion on the topic of evolution and alternative theories of the origin of life.
In January, a federal judge ordered the stickers to be removed. The school district began removing stickers from over 30,000 books in May, although an appeal is pending on the judge’s ruling.
The new proposal in Utah is yet another iteration of the creation-evolution debate. The issue is expected to be brought up when the next legislative session begins in January.
Comments: susan@christianpost.com
Sounds good to me. The only problem is that there's no proof that God exists. So this isn't science, and shouldn't be taught as such.
It belongs in philosophy class.
What you don't want, is a teacher evangelizing a specific religion over the other. Intelligent design points out the complex patterns of the universe and the symmetry. Sort of like a Mysteries of the Universe class. And that's Scientific. This is not unconstitutional nor is it wrong.
And the creation itself is "proof" that God exists.
If this is true, so does tarot cards and crystal balls.
I like that. Where can I buy one! :-)
JosephSmithDidit ping
So were the signers of our Constitution creationists or darwinists?
Well, none of the signers of the Constitution believed in Relativity or Quantum Mechanics either.
ME: Intelligent design points out the complex patterns of the universe and the symmetry
YOU: If this is true, so does tarot cards and crystal balls.
How so? I don't see how studying nature's symmetry has anything to do with crystal balls.
Intelligent design says that a higher being made the universe. That's a nice, feel good thought. And I think it's true too. But there's simply no evidence of it. You have to believe in God by faith. Not because your science teacher said so.
The problem exists because science teachers are specifically stating, via their definition of evolution (pure natural process without any supernatural), that God was not the Creator..."But there's simply no evidence" that the universe and everything in it simply evolved by chance and pure natural processes. Evolutionists accept this belief by faith and they want students to do that as well just "because your science teacher said so".
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The reality is...that you have no evidence for vertical evolution in the fossil record nor in current day observation...for evolutionists that "reality bites".
And they think they can fool somebody with that?
awesome graphic!
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