But should the possibility of God be banned from scientific discussion? This is where you and I likely have a disagreement that can't be bridged.
I'm not for turning science classes into theological discussion sessions. But I wouldn't completely ban the possibility of God from the realm of science any more than I would ban science from religious discourse.
I have no idea if there are intelligent beings on other planets in the universe. None have ever been observed. Is it possible that someday we may receive a signal or visit from them? Sure. But until then there's no reason for science to take a firm position either way on the issue. It would be absurd for science to be structured in such a way that denies the possibility that such life exists (or conversely that insists on it).
Given that we can't at this time scientifically determine whether such life exists, I wouldn't spend any significant time in science class on this issue. But I wouldn't judicially shut down such discussion, or have judges sit in judgment on the motive someone had in placing a paragraph in an Astronomy textbook suggesting that maybe there's life out there in space.
If a kid came home and told me they spent a whole semester of science discussing possible alien lifeforms, invasions, contacts, etc. I'd think they were wasting class time but if I learned they spent one day on that topic it wouldn't bother me in the least.
I'll readily grant you that science can't determine whether or not God exists, so that issue has no reference point for a scientific investigation, but I don't see any problem whatsoever if, for example, a single day was spent in science class discussing whether or not a deity or other intelligence authored the order we see in the universe, or created life here.
It's this hysterical obsession with driving any thought of God from science that seems so extreme to many of us.
"But should the possibility of God be banned from scientific discussion?"
It's not a scientific question. It's a theological/philosophical one.
"I'll readily grant you that science can't determine whether or not God exists, so that issue has no reference point for a scientific investigation, but I don't see any problem whatsoever if, for example, a single day was spent in science class discussing whether or not a deity or other intelligence authored the order we see in the universe, or created life here."
If, as you just said, the question of whether there is or isn't a God is not capable of being determined by science, why would you want it discussed in a science classroom?