Wow! Has this discussion expanded since I first saw it last night. I'd like to make a point or two if I may. I have detected some heat from both sides of this and I just had to comment. Those of us that do believe in God won't easily be convinced that He didn't create the universe and everything in it, including man. Those that don't believe in a supreme being can't have the same opinion since they don't believe in God to begin with. That is their right. It has been my observation in the last 47yrs on this rock that most (not all) conservatives (this is supposed to be a conservative place isn't it?) are usually gracious, diplomatic and courteous. Most liberals (not all) are not. The fact remains that neither side can prove that they are right for a solid fact. The God fearing are going by what is in our most precious book, the Bible. Our book has been corroborated by many archaeological digs in many respects, but anything that hasn't been proven is still just speculation. On the other hand, the Darwinists have the same problem in that they can't prove that they are right and their beliefs are also just speculation. None of us know our thoughts to be pure fact! In that light, should any of this really be taught in our schools science classes if it is just speculation and not proven fact? And if it is, why not discuss both sides of the topic? I would think that it belongs more in a class of philosophy and even then, both sides should be observed. This reeks of the modern liberal programming that most students must endure in our schools. Most of the kids that I see coming out of school can't even spell or use basic math skills without the aid of a machine, but they sure can spew liberal rhetoric! Since both sides are so solid in their convictions, it really boils down to, like Mr. Liddy always says: “We'll just have to agree to disagree”.
I have not read this whole thread, but I think your post is based on the most intelligent, ahem, design.
We are talking about what should be taught in schools. Obviously Biblical origins of life or the universe have no place in science class, even if you are the staunchest of believers.
Neither should Darwinism be applied to human evolution as FACT. Fine, talk about where Darwinism has worked in the animal kingdom, and point to clues about how our skeleton has changed by using fossil findings. Talk about theories. The Big Bang was always called a theory. I understood even as a kid that it might not have happened like that.
So the whole argument is like one cook saying “I do NOT want oregano in that soup!” And another cook arguing, “I do NOT want thyme in that soup!” Fine, so leave them both OUT of the soup. There are an awful lot of things our kids could be spending more time on learning in public schools, anyway.
And lastly, I am angry that Ben Stein, if he really believes the Torah, would open his movie on the Jewish Sabbath, with the following nights being Passover. Maybe it sounds petty, and maybe he begged them not to open then, but it cheapens his aspirations to the holy, for me.