‘Intelligent design’ not for PA
p2p news / p2pnet: US federal judge John E. Jones III has struck down a Pennsylvania school board’s decision to teach intelligent design in public school science classes, calling it ”breathtaking inanity,” says the Boston Globe.
US president George W. Bush apparently likes the idea of Creationism and in 2004, a school board in the Dover, Pennsylvania , ruled that ‘’students will be made aware of gaps/problems in Darwin’s theory” and offered students the intelligent design treatise ”Of Pandas and People” as a supplemental reference book for further examination,” says the editorial. “Intelligent design argues that life is so complex that it must have been designed by an intelligent being, presumably God.”
Now, “Compelling biology teachers to present intelligent design as an alternative explanation to evolution violates the Constitution, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, saying the concept is ‘an interesting theological argument, but … not science’,” says the Seattle Times, going on:
“Statements by the board members that they had only secular purposes in mind – to improve science teaching and foster open debate -were a ’sham’ and a ‘pretext for the board’s real purpose, which was to promote religion in the public school classroom,” Jones wrote.
“Jones, anticipating attacks by the religious right over his ruling, answered that question in his opinion. ‘Those who disagree with our holding will likely mark it as the product of an activist judge,’ he wrote. ‘If so they have erred as this is manifestly not an activist court’.”
Also See:
intelligent design – Intelligent Design?, September 25, 2005
Boston Globe – Intelligent decision, December 21, 2005
Seattle Times – Judge’s stinging decision against intelligent design may have broad impact, December 21, 2005
December 21st, 2005 at 2:22 pm
At last, an honest judge (or the Internet got to him).
We now know that any judicial decision will be forever in the Internet, where fools look like fools and the corrupt look like the corrupt.
December 21st, 2005 at 2:33 pm
“US president George W. Bush apparently likes the idea of Creationism”
Bush does not necessarily like the idea. Its the votes tha come with the idea! Ideas are too abstract for a pea sized brain.
He also wants to create a democracy in Iraq, but not in the country of his pals, saudi Arabia.
His administration also wants to create downloading thiefs.
He also wants to create terrorists where there are none. Remeber the switching of arguments with alleged terrorist Padilla.
He also wants to create enemies (Castro) in exhange of the Florida Cuaban vote.
He also wants to create a new country in Afghanistan, populated by American (soldiers).
He also wants to create of people that dissent from his views of the world.
Iam tires, so I will stop here.
December 21st, 2005 at 9:29 pm
This guy is one of the smartest, non political judges I have seen in a long time. Why can’t he be nominated for the supreme court? A few very interesting quotes from the article I think need to be pointed out.
“Jones, a churchgoing conservative jurist appointed to the federal bench by President Bush”
“Statements by the board members that they had only secular purposes in mind — to improve science teaching and foster open debate — were a “sham” and a “pretext for the board’s real purpose, which was to promote religion in the public school classroom,” he wrote.”
“Those who disagree with our holding will likely mark it as the product of an activist judge,” he wrote. “If so they have erred as this is manifestly not an activist court.”
and most importantly
“Intelligent-design arguments “may be true, a proposition on which this court takes no position,” he wrote, but it “is not science.”
“The centuries-old ground rules of science” make clear that a scientific theory must rely solely on natural explanations that can be tested, he wrote.”
There is nothing wrong with having a theology course in todays schools, religion is such an influental force in todays society that to completely ban it from schools does nothing to help kids. However, religion should NOT be taught in science class. Its not science!
December 22nd, 2005 at 4:43 pm
I agree, there’s a time and a place for religion – its called R.E. over here in the UK (Religious Education).
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:16 pm
There cannot be religious education.
Only indoctrination. Believe by faith. Makes you dumb.