Message to Dover, PA
If there was any doubt that you did the right thing by rejecting an "Intelligent Design" school board, let me dispel those doubts with this.
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson warned residents of a rural Pennsylvania town Thursday that disaster may strike there because they "voted God out of your city" by ousting school board members who favored teaching intelligent design.All eight Dover, Pa., school board members up for re-election were defeated Tuesday after trying to introduce "intelligent design" - the belief that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power - as an alternative to the theory of evolution.
"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God. You just rejected him from your city," Robertson said on the Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club."
Uh huh.
Now listen. Whether or not the universe contains complexity of such a nature that cannot be explained via conventionally accepted mechanisms is a valid, scientific inquiry. My belief is that no outside intelligence is necessary to explain the observable universe, but I'm certainly not opposed to exploring the question. If we do, in fact, find aspects of reality that can't be explained by our current models of evolution, we need to know about that. Such a discovery could usher in a new and greater scientific understanding of the world we live in, much like the exploration of black body radiation anomalies led to the discovery of quantum mechanics.
But here's the problem. The ID movement has become hijacked, for obvious reasons, by creationists. For every researcher out there asking valid, scientific and philosophical questions, there are umpteen religious conservatives who are simply using the movement as a stalking horse to legitimize their agenda of shoehorning religion into the teaching of science.
The people of Dover rejected that, and bravo for them. Let the legitimate ID researches continue to ask their questions and publish their findings in peer-reviewed research journals. In the meantime, however, let's keep the hucksters and charlatans out of our schools, the way they did in Pennsylvania.
Comments
Speaking as a Kansas resident: I'm moving to Pennsylvania.
Dammit.
Posted by: apotheosis | November 11, 2005 11:21 AM
Barry, you're absolutely right. ID A) shouldn't be hijacked by creationist fanatics, and B) should be explored as the viable scientific explanation that it is. Recently, a poll taken showed that a growing number of anthropologists are exploring the viability of ID, and I say good for them. Anyone trying to explain the universe purely by religion or science has a lot to learn.
Posted by: That Guy | November 11, 2005 01:17 PM
You said:
If we do, in fact, find aspects of reality that can't be explained by our current models of evolution, we need to know about that.
Shouldn't we try to find NEW models of SOMETHING using SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY, rather than just throwing up our hands, giving up, and saying "I don't understand it...it must be MAGIC" (TMMarc Maron)?
That's the problem with ID -- it calls for just giving up when you bump up against the limits of the existing model. It may be an explanation, but it sure as hell isn't science.
Posted by: Jill | November 11, 2005 03:56 PM
I am so ahead of you on this one.
This story was SO yesterday, Barry. Way to keep up with the times.
Posted by: Adam | November 12, 2005 01:23 AM
I don't know specifically what IS normally taught on this subject in schools, since i took astrolgy or something instead in high school, but all they need to say is that ALL aspects of evolution have, so far, not been provable, and that there is a debate, etc. There really needn't be any more than that.
I believe in God, but I strongly urge the public school system in the US NOT to mangle religion, cuz you know they will. While y'r at it, please don't ask/teach the kids about SEX, either (diseases OK, condoms NO). Can we just keep it on a scientific/health/education level here, people?
Why the need to 'convert' everyone else's kid with YOUR idealogy (oops, religion/worldview)? It is all about "social values manipulation" of children, and that ain't the correct function for a PUBLIC school teacher.
Posted by: ortho | November 12, 2005 11:35 AM
I don't know specifically what IS normally taught on this subject in schools, since i took astrolgy or something instead in high school, but all they need to say is that ALL aspects of evolution have, so far, not been provable, and that there is a debate, etc. There really needn't be any more than that.
I believe in God, but I strongly urge the public school system in the US NOT to mangle religion, cuz you know they will. While y'r at it, please don't ask/teach the kids about SEX, either (diseases OK, free condoms NO). Can we just keep it on a scientific/health/education level here, people?
Why the need to 'convert' everyone else's kid with YOUR idealogy (oops, religion/worldview)? It is all about "social values manipulation" of children, and that ain't the correct function for a PUBLIC school teacher.
Posted by: ortho | November 12, 2005 11:35 AM
I find myself in full agreement with ortho here. Also, I'm damn tired of people telling us to use condoms to prevent diseases if we're going to be promiscuous. You realize that the AIDS virus is very, very tiny. So are most bacteria...bacterias...whatever. COndoms do not work as often as they should. In fact, anything that doesn't work 100% at preventing AIDS shouldn't be given as an alternative. Abstinence should be emphasized, but not for religious reasoning, but for public health.
Posted by: That Guy | November 12, 2005 08:44 PM
I thought all you neocons wanted creationism, abortion banned, and slavery reinstated. Oh well, Bush is still managing to get you the slavery back through theh "Global Economy" in which your job can be shipped anywhere, but the government will protect you from buying goods from anywhere except American Big Business.
The next Great Depression will be in full swing before Bush is out of office.
Posted by: Bailey Hankins | November 13, 2005 02:04 PM
Sounds like somebody's already got a lil case of the "great depression"
Posted by: ortho | November 14, 2005 01:08 PM