'Intelligent design' ruling may have ripples

[Moloch]

Backers of "intelligent design" have been advising school boards to avoid lawsuits by encouraging criticism of evolution rather than mandating that students learn about intelligent design. But a judge's ruling this week has given ammunition to those fighting challenges to evolution in three states.

Intelligent design, or ID, is the idea that some forms of life are so complex, they show the distinct hand of a designer. Federal Judge John Jones ruled this week that intelligent design is creationism with a new label and can't be taught in public school science classes.

William Dembski, an ID proponent who teaches science and theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, says evolution supporters lost the Scopes trial of 1925 and turned it into a rallying cry. He suggested backers of intelligent design may do the same with the Jones opinion: "There are cultural voices in play that can render that verdict obsolete."

Although the ruling against the Dover, Pa., school board is not binding outside Jones' Pennsylvania district, opponents of intelligent design hope it influences curricula in Kansas, Ohio and Cobb County, Ga. School boards in all three places have adopted policies that encourage skepticism about evolution.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20051223/pl_usatoday/intelligentdesignrulingmayhaveripples

[waiting for hope]

1. When will it ever end?

:tinfoilhat:

[MaineYooper]

4. there are none so blind as those who refuse to see.

No, unfortunately, it won't end.

We will be fighting this battle for some time to come.

[Loonman]

2. William Dembski

Guy's a fraud.

[Demeter]

3. It Had Better Be A Tidal Wave!

There's too much wacko garbage floating through this country. I hope that this full discrediting of ID starts clearing the drugs out of the American system so people can see reality and learn to deal with it.

[C_U_L8R]

5. Why don't these fundies start by....

teaching better Religion !!! Like reading the Bible for once
instead of mascarading their voodoo junk religion as science!
Good God !!!!!

It is increasingly apparent that these fundies
are ignorant about the teachings of Jesus...
so why don't they spend a little more time doing
some homework on their OWN SHIT and getting their
own house in order before they go about messing with
othet people and trying to take over the world.

For Christ's Sake !

[Submariner]

6. Ignorant Design has peaked

We will probably hear blurbs about it for awhile, but the 2006 Dem takeover of congress will probably put it into the barbarian history lock-box where it belongs with all the gone by the wayside gods.

[Avalux]

7. Skepticism about evolution?

These people make my head spin.....evolution has been around 150 years for a reason; it's the best explanation we have for life on this planet given the evidence. There is no other scientific theory that can challenge it. Intelligent Design is not a scientific theory and it does NOT belong in science class in public schools. Teach it in an elective theology class, teach it in church, parents - teach it to your kids; fine by me.

Personally, I believe in a god and I support evolution. I do not understand the argument that it's either one or the other.

[chelsea0011]

8. It already had ripples. Most the Dover board were removed from office.

[rd_kent]

9. Skepticism yes, Ignorance NO!!!

Science THRIVES on skepticism. Thats part of the scientific process, the ability or inability of other people to recreate the tests and prove or disprove the results. People SHOULD be skeptical of evolution. That will only make it stronger.
I have yet to understand how ID can even be considered by anyone with an IQ above a chimp(pun intended) and an understanding of the scientific process. The only way I could EVER support ID is if it is accompnied by the argument that the "designer" is unknown and could be god, aliens or even the flying spagehetti monster.

[architect359]

10. I've said it once, I'll keep saying it...

People who advocate for "Intelligent Design" are ignorant fools. I cannot, just cannot, believe that these people were born and raised in this country where we have pioneered and championed science and technology - where is the wonder or curiousity to understand what we don't know? I swear, sometimes I think that our country is regressing intellectually into the Dark Ages. No, not quite. In the Dark Ages, most people were just ignorant. In this day and age, in freaking 2005, we should know better. Are we *that* lazy mentally? Do we need that "easy" button to press? Can't figure it out? Must be sprinkled with megapixels.

[yellowcanine]

11. Dembski is trying to polish a turd. There is no way this ruling will

benefit the creationists. And he has the Scopes trial a little bit wrong. Yes the evolution side lost as the teacher was convicted. But they won a clear moral victory because the creationists led by Jennings Bryan were made to look foolish during the trial, just as the creationists were made to look foolish in the Dover trial. The judge actually called the creationists liars. How do you construct a moral victory out of that? And unlike the Dover trial, the judge in the Scopes trial made no bones about showing that he heart was really with the losing side - he imposed the smallest sentence possible, a $100 fine.

[davhill]

12. Science is Method

We need to teach it as such. The popularity of "Intelligent design" is the result the Ripleys' Believe it or Not view of science as a collection of odd facts. Unfortunately this view has become prevalent in our culture. There is no appreciation for the discipline of science. We have all sorts of things calling themselves science, from new age pyramid power to various food fads and miracle health supplements.

[Lilith Velkor]

13. Oh. I thought it said "nipples"

Could be an easier sell that way, y'know...

[mark11727]

14. I dunno ... does Intelligent Design actually EXPLAIN "nipples"?

Just askin'.