Professor Defends 'Intelligent Design'

[Max]

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A biology professor who supports classroom discussion of "intelligent design" testified Friday that major peer-reviewed scientific journals shun articles on the concept because it is a minority view.


"To endorse intelligent design comes with risk because it's a position against the consensus. Science is not a democratic process," University of Idaho microbiology professor Scott Minnich said under cross-examination.

Minnich testified on behalf of the Dover Area School Board, which is defending an October 2004 decision to require students to hear a statement about intelligent design before ninth-grade biology lessons on evolution. Teachers opposed the statement, which says Charles Darwin's theory is "not a fact" and has inexplicable "gaps," and refers students to the textbook "Of Pandas and People" for more information.

Eight families are suing to end the practice, saying it violates the constitutional separation of church and state because it essentially promotes the Bible's view of creation.

Intelligent design supporters argue that natural selection, an element of evolutionary theory, cannot fully explain the origin of life or the emergence of highly complex life forms.

Minnich testified that intelligent design is based on science and doesn't require adherence to any religious belief. He also praised the prescribed statement to students.

Like some other advocates of intelligent design, Minnich acknowledged that he believes the designer is God, but he stressed that is a personal belief, not one based on science.

The trial, which began Sept. 26, is being heard without a jury and was expected to conclude with closing arguments Friday afternoon. The judge was not expected to rule immediately.

The plaintiffs are represented by a team put together by the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The school district is represented by the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Thomas More Law Center, which says its mission is to defend the religious freedom of Christians.

link

[LMSx]

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A biology professor who supports classroom discussion of "intelligent design" testified Friday that major peer-reviewed scientific journals shun articles on the concept because it is a minority view.

I wonder if astrologers will start complaining that astronomy journals are shunning them.....

[Kamakazie Sith]

Gee I wonder if that could be because they've tired of hearing the same thing over and over.

By the way, is there a resource online that you can view peer-review journals?

[Admiral Valdemar]

Minnich is a pushover, but he's also the only one, I believe, who has actually been debating ID's case competently somewhat.

[SpacedTeddyBear]

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A biology professor who supports classroom discussion of "intelligent design" testified Friday that major peer-reviewed scientific journals shun articles on the concept because it is a minority view.

Do university science professors who support ID somehow forget that one must propose a testable hypothesis if they're gonna attempt to pass ID off as a "science"? Or is it quite possible that they all ditched school the same day that their instructors taught them the scientific method?

[Guardsman Bass]

"To endorse intelligent design comes with risk because it's a position against the consensus. Science is not a democratic process," University of Idaho microbiology professor Scott Minnich said under cross-examination.

I hope he gets shredded for this neat little contradiction. Let's see professor, science is not a 'democratic process,' yet Intelligent Design isn't endorsed because it isn't a 'majority position?'

[FedRebel]

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A biology professor who supports classroom discussion of "intelligent design" testified Friday that major peer-reviewed scientific journals shun articles on the concept because it is a minority view.

...which is made up out of thin air.

"To endorse intelligent design comes with risk because it's a position against the consensus. Science is not a democratic process," University of Idaho microbiology professor Scott Minnich said under cross-examination.

Well if ID had anything to back it up rather than just reluctent christian's just making it up to reconcile evolution with their book of tall tales, there wouldn't be much trouble.

Teachers opposed the statement, which says Charles Darwin's theory is "not a fact" and has inexplicable "gaps," and refers students to the textbook "Of Pandas and People" for more information.

Ladies and gentlemen of the world, I present to you the American education system, full circle.

Idiot teachers fill student's heads with crackpot ideas, students become teachers and fill their pupils with crackpot ideas, rinse and repeat.

Eight families are suing to end the practice, saying it violates the constitutional separation of church and state because it essentially promotes the Bible's view of creation.

Right move

Anywho kids can get the church's view in Sunday School.

Intelligent design supporters argue that natural selection, an element of evolutionary theory, cannot fully explain the origin of life or the emergence of highly complex life forms.

How so?

And what evidence do they have to support this view?

None?, Really?, Gee who would've guessed?

Minnich testified that intelligent design is based on science and doesn't require adherence to any religious belief. He also praised the prescribed statement to students.

ID is the theory of evolution with a dash of religon thrown in, its core principle, that God is ultimately responsible for creation has absolutely no scientific backing

Like some other advocates of intelligent design, Minnich acknowledged that he believes the designer is God, but he stressed that is a personal belief, not one based on science.

Hence the flaw in ID

Personal beliefs tend to contaminate science, that's why scientists try to prove sttuff wrong inorder to prove it right.

...and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Where do I sign up to join?

The school district is represented by the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Thomas More Law Center, which says its mission is to defend the religious freedom of Christians.

Last I checked they already have that, as well as every other religon, even scientology for Christ sakes.

To all the Bible thumpers out there; Take your kids to Sunday School, CCD or whatever other brainwashing sessions your brand of christianity has. That's where they can get the religious side of things, not at goverment controlled education centers.

PS: Christianity isn't the only religous demoniation out there.

[General Zod]

Maybe it's just me but all these articles with people supporting Intelligent Design are starting to blur together. It's like they're all repeating the same stuff without bothering to say anything new. Much like creationists.

[Surlethe]

Maybe it's just me but all these articles with people supporting Intelligent Design are starting to blur together. It's like they're all repeating the same stuff without bothering to say anything new.

It's not just you; I see something once, I've seen it a zillion times, and after a while it just gets boring.

Much like creationists.

The similarity doesn't end with their methods and tactics ...

[wolveraptor]

The school district is represented by the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Thomas More Law Center, which says its mission is to defend the religious freedom of Christians.

Oh for fuck's sake, defend from whom? The big, evil non-Christians, who outnumber you by negative 180,000,000 people?

[Darth Raptor]

Oh for fuck's sake, defend from whom? The big, evil non-Christians, who outnumber you by negative 180,000,000 people?

It takes some effort to understand the logic of their persecution complex, but once you do, you'll find that it's deliciously self-serving. They're being oppressed by being forced to live in a world that tolerates overt sin and inhibits their efforts to bring about the Millenium. No, I didn't just say they're being oppress because they can't oppress others, this... this is different somehow.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Maybe they should ask the Jews what oppression feels like, or better yet, actually find someone to truly teach them what being oppressed means. Maybe they'll get a clue after they've showered with Cyclon-B, put up with forced segregation and secondary citizen status rather than being the major players in the world they are (and have been for two millenia) now.

[wolveraptor]

No, I didn't just say they're being oppress because they can't oppress others, this... this is different somehow.

Yeah, that was basically the rationalization at Protest Warrior on gay marriage. "It breaks my marriage contract if I can't oppress others!"

[Wyrm]

No, I didn't just say they're being oppress because they can't oppress others, this... this is different somehow.

Yeah, that was basically the rationalization at Protest Warrior on gay marriage. "It breaks my marriage contract if I can't oppress others!"

What happened to "Love thy Neighbor"? Of course, these people think that loving thy neighbor when thy neighbor is gay means thee has to accept his vital fluids!