Intelligent design being taught in schools

[Baltar]

This thread is about the recent overturn of inteligent design being taught in public schools.

What are everyones thoughts on it?

Intelligent design

[uniform_motion]

Zappa:

You can't run a country

By a book of religion

Not by a heap

Or a lump or a smidgeon

Of foolish rules

Of ancient date

Designed to make

You all feel great

While you fold, spindle

And mutilate

Those unbelievers

From a neighboring state

TO ARMS! TO ARMS!

Hooray! That's great

Two legs ain't bad

Unless there's a crate

They ship the parts

To mama in

For souvenirs: two ears (Get Down!)

Not his, not hers (but what the hey?)

The Good Book says:

"It gotta be that way!"

But their book says:

"REVENGE THE CRUSADES . . .

With whips 'n chains

'N hand grenades . . . "

TWO ARMS? TWO ARMS?

Have another and another

Our God says:

"There ain't no other!"

Our God says

"It's all okay!"

Our God says

"This is the way!"

[margot]

It doesn't have any place in a science classroom. There's no scientific evidence to prove it, so why would it be taught there? I don't think there's anything wrong with an optional elective sort of course to learn about religion/creationism if the students/parents are so keen on learning it (why not just go to a private religious school, though?) but to say it's science is incorrect.

Edited December 20, 2005 by Lindsay

[darkon]

They can either cover all theories of creationism or none.

And all theories would take far too long.

[Venom112]

I agree with the teaching of intelligent design, but only if the fictional story elements of the creation of humans from various fantasy and science fiction novels are also included in the teaching. Also, the instructor is required to stop and do a roaring belly laugh every now and again while explaining how intelligent design is supposed to work and how it could be included in a scientific course.

And now for some quotes!

"In other news, the state of Georgia has ruled that intelligent design be taught in schools. Additionally, dinosaurs are from here on to be referred to as 'Jesus horses.'" - SNL news

"People claim I rip on the Christian community all the time... Look people, evolution is supported by every credible scientist currently... yyyep, that big bang sure has a ton of evidence behind it, that's all I'm saying." - Seth MacFarlane

[Kreutz]

They can either cover all theories of creationism or none.

And all theories would take far too long.

[Belial]

Intelligent Design is a piss poor attempt for the American Right to disguise Creationalism as science. Any half way intellegent person can see that, and surely no reputable court will uphold it.

[Gundampilotspaz]

One more victory for the good guys.

[Samurai Drifter]

It should be taught in school, considering it's one of the most important philosophies in human history, but definitely not in a science classroom.

[Baltar]

Love the Gif

Intelligent Design is the biggest smoke screen of religious, mainly Christian (who love to convert the heathens in there spare time) propaganda around.

I agree if it is to be taught it should be in a lit, and or philosophy class. It still with all our advances in the world we are no better at trying to be coy with education and history as we were in the Middle Ages. Being from a small town myself I live with fairly close-minded people. As an example, Harry potter comes out and my town flipped because it involved the ohh so terrible idea of witchcraft (mind you Wheel of time Lord of the rings red wall, Chronicles of Narnia, and countless other books were out at the time). Point being Beliefs are generally trying to be forced down your throat, and while I may believe in intelligent design to an extent, I would never consider teaching it in a science class, which is just absurd.

[uniform_motion]

"If it turns out that there is a God, I don't think that he's evil. But the worst that you can say about him is that basically he's an underachiever."

-- Woody Allen

[darkon]

As an example, Harry potter comes out and my town flipped because it involved the ohh so terrible idea of witchcraft

What backwards town do YOU live in?

[Baltar]

What backwards town do YOU live in?

A small rural town in MI, with a population of 6,000 in the township (36 Square miles), with about 1,000 of those in the village. A good example of the small population is the one element school and the one Jr. High + high school. Which has a graduating class of generally 40 or less. It is a very conservative type town, with grandeur of red neck delusions. However my town does have it good qualities of small towns like friendliness, only if it is in good Christian faith though. Our current State senator had as part of his last re-election platform as removing the Wickens from our district, he lost his endorsement from a major news paper shortly after that comment was made.

[Arcane]

As an example, Harry potter comes out and my town flipped because it involved the ohh so terrible idea of witchcraft (mind you Wheel of time Lord of the rings red wall, Chronicles of Narnia, and countless other books were out at the time).

People didn't flip out because the books came out... they flipped out because the school board was considering using the books in some of the younger grade's reading curriculum.

Still really stupid though.

[Belial]

What backwards town do YOU live in?

Anywhere, USA.

Seriously, I'm pretty sure the majority of rural communities would have no problem putting intellegent design into textbooks.

[Pamuya]

it should be covered in like history class or something.

you know when you learn all the world religions n shit.

[rockerluke]

It should be taught in school, considering it's one of the most important philosophies in human history, but definitely not in a science classroom.

I totally agree with this. Though I'm a Christian, I don't think creationism should be considered as science.

I remember there were some guys who have done seminar in our school and claimed that the world was just created in around 6000 BC and that the earth was created in literally 7 days. I think that as stupid.

Edited December 22, 2005 by Circle of Time

[darkon]

I totally agree with this. Though I'm a Christian, I don't think creationism should be considered as science.

I remember there were some guys who have done seminar in our school and claimed that the world was just created in around 600 BC and that the earth was created in literally 7 days. I think that as stupid.

My Church History teacher last year completely believed the "accepted" theory that the Earth is about 5,700 years old or something. There was a Jewish girl in my class (Well, the two Jewish kids were in my class but she completely didn't take note that the guy was Jewish) and she asked her to find out what year it was. The Jewish calendar is apparently authority on how old our world is.

And everyone, let me add, I live in the most Catholic city in America. It isn't even a question of debate here, with the exception of some suburbs (one of which I live in) and then the rural communities far away from Baltimore nobody wants ID taught in science class.

Edited December 22, 2005 by Marcus Aurelius

[Belial]

In my experience Catholics are much more accepting of evolutionary theory then the majority of protestant faiths here in America. I'm pretty sure the Vatican released a statement saying Catholicism could live side by side with Darwinism.

Oh, and for crazy Christians doing questionable stuff in public schools, a couple teachers at my high school started a group called F.R.O.G.s or Friends Relying On God, and were passing out pocket Bibles in the hallways between classes. One of those teachers taught my European Civilizations class and managed to turn the text's paragraph on Jesus into a weeklong lesson, but conveniently skipped over the page on Darwin and his "Origin of Species".

You people know nothing of religious enduced ignorance.

[HappyLittleBoozer]

I believe in unintelligent design.

Some coked up alien crashed on earth and contaminated it with single-celled organisms.

[Galkar]

In my experience Catholics are much more accepting of evolutionary theory then the majority of protestant faiths here in America. I'm pretty sure the Vatican released a statement saying Catholicism could live side by side with Darwinism.

Oh, and for crazy Christians doing questionable stuff in public schools, a couple teachers at my high school started a group called F.R.O.G.s or Friends Relying On God, and were passing out pocket Bibles in the hallways between classes. One of those teachers taught my European Civilizations class and managed to turn the text's paragraph on Jesus into a weeklong lesson, but conveniently skipped over the page on Darwin and his "Origin of Species".

You people know nothing of religious enduced ignorance.

Did you do anything about it? Cause I'm pretty sure (though I don't actually know) that that's illegal.

EDIT: At least the bible part.

Edited December 24, 2005 by Taekwondeal

[Siendra]

It serves no place in a classroom. Evolution should be taught, but students should be told outright that it is not concrete. If they so choose, they can take an optional course to teach religion, creationism, and intelligent design.

[Baltar]

Did you do anything about it? Cause I'm pretty sure (though I don't actually know) that that's illegal.

EDIT: At least the bible part.

The vice-principal put a stop to it for that reason.

[Ceraziefish]

It's not like intelligent design is a complex theory. It's JUST creationism. The only difference that has ever been made between creationism and ID is that with ID the creator "might not" be God.

What a crock of shit.

[Belial]

The vice-principal put a stop to it for that reason.

Actually we got a new principal who told the teacher leading all of it to stop. Then that principal left and the guy went right back to it. I mean, I had this man for a teacher and on the first day of class he says that he doesn't know what Separation of Church and State means, but he's also got tenure, so there isn't much they can do without pissing off the entire teachers union in the district.