Intelligent Debate
A quick lunch hour post on an article I just read...
Intelligent design. The scientific theory/idea that the intense complexities of the universe and the way all the pieces work together imply that a higher power designed the universe. Basically the idea that evidence in the structure of the universe points to the existence of God or a similar being. Critics have called it "biblical creationism in disguise," which isn't totally inaccurate, though the way the phrase it gives it a deceptive connotation. Intelligent design is the scientific investigation of the Biblical idea of creationism, but it is scientific.
Evolution. The scientific theory originated by Darwin that life happened by accident out of non-life and that life has gotten steadily more complex through the years (millions of them). It is the investigation of the development of life and whether it is possible that one species can evolve into another different species. It is a theory, not scientific fact as many of its proponents would have you believe. Its critics have said that it has many holes and cannot explain life.
The debate. Several school districts over the country are currently battling at how to teach these two theories. In some places people want intelligent design taught alongside evolution. In other places people simply want teachers to read disclaimers before teaching evolution that states it is only a theory, not fact, and that it is a comparatively incomplete theory. Right now several of the school districts that teach intelligent design are being sued to remove that topic from the curriculum by those who think it isn't science and who think that it is a violation of the separation of church and state. Here's what confuses me, for those who claim it isn't science, what is science about? Isn't it about the search for truth, isn't it about investigating different claims to see if they are true or false, isn't it about keeping an open mind and not letting a personal opinion cloud results? If that is so then what are they so scared about? Even if they think intelligent design is wrong what is the harm in having it be taught as a theory along with evolution, it will help teach the kids to have open minds, to be able to consider an idea without accepting it and then to make their own determination. And to those who think it is a violation of the separation of church and state, let me remind you that those words do not appear anywhere in the Constitution, and that it is only the responsibility of the government to not establish or endorse any one religion. There is no way that teaching intelligent design as a theory is an attempt by the government to set up a national religion or even endorse one. These people are only trying to present an idea for consideration, not shove ideology down anyone's throat. It would be nice if we could have an intelligent debate about this topic, but that doesn't seem likely.
Intelligent design. The scientific theory/idea that the intense complexities of the universe and the way all the pieces work together imply that a higher power designed the universe. Basically the idea that evidence in the structure of the universe points to the existence of God or a similar being. Critics have called it "biblical creationism in disguise," which isn't totally inaccurate, though the way the phrase it gives it a deceptive connotation. Intelligent design is the scientific investigation of the Biblical idea of creationism, but it is scientific.
Evolution. The scientific theory originated by Darwin that life happened by accident out of non-life and that life has gotten steadily more complex through the years (millions of them). It is the investigation of the development of life and whether it is possible that one species can evolve into another different species. It is a theory, not scientific fact as many of its proponents would have you believe. Its critics have said that it has many holes and cannot explain life.
The debate. Several school districts over the country are currently battling at how to teach these two theories. In some places people want intelligent design taught alongside evolution. In other places people simply want teachers to read disclaimers before teaching evolution that states it is only a theory, not fact, and that it is a comparatively incomplete theory. Right now several of the school districts that teach intelligent design are being sued to remove that topic from the curriculum by those who think it isn't science and who think that it is a violation of the separation of church and state. Here's what confuses me, for those who claim it isn't science, what is science about? Isn't it about the search for truth, isn't it about investigating different claims to see if they are true or false, isn't it about keeping an open mind and not letting a personal opinion cloud results? If that is so then what are they so scared about? Even if they think intelligent design is wrong what is the harm in having it be taught as a theory along with evolution, it will help teach the kids to have open minds, to be able to consider an idea without accepting it and then to make their own determination. And to those who think it is a violation of the separation of church and state, let me remind you that those words do not appear anywhere in the Constitution, and that it is only the responsibility of the government to not establish or endorse any one religion. There is no way that teaching intelligent design as a theory is an attempt by the government to set up a national religion or even endorse one. These people are only trying to present an idea for consideration, not shove ideology down anyone's throat. It would be nice if we could have an intelligent debate about this topic, but that doesn't seem likely.
posted by Radioactive Crow at 12:51 PM
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