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April 15th, 2009 Archives

Intelligent design brigade suffers another defeat

Opinion

By Sean Illing

The best point brought up within all of these comments is the fact that if you are born in another country where another religion is...
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The Texas State Board of Education signed off last week on a new science curriculum for public schools which ensures that only the theory of evolution will be taught in biology class. This decision is important not just for Texas but for the country in general, as it is yet another defeat for the flat-worlders who insist on imposing ignorance on American schoolchildren.

The controversial decision was reached after several weeks of heated debate in which both sides exhausted all resources and attracted national media attention. It was, however, a somewhat muddled verdict, with 7 of the 15 board members lobbying for what they called the "strengths and weaknesses" standard, according to which teachers are to encourage students to question the soundness of specific aspects of evolutionary theory - explaining the complexity that exists at the molecular level, for example.

This approach is, of course, the latest gimmick of the intelligent design movement, which has shown itself adept at inventing new ways of peddling pseudoscientific drivel. The three-pronged strategy is by now familiar: 1) find the existing gaps in evolutionary theory; 2) grossly exaggerate them in order to throw doubt upon the whole enterprise; and 3) insert into said gaps the latest permutation of the creationist argument.

Oddly enough, it is only concerning questions of the origins of life that conservative politicians fancy themselves as freelance scientists. They do not, for instance, argue that alchemy is superior to chemistry or that astrology offers a better explanation of the movements of celestial bodies than astronomy. The reason for this is clear: advocates of intelligent design and creationism are simply religious enthusiasts masquerading as disinterested scientists.

Already one Texas Republican, Rep. Wayne Christian, is introducing a bill to overrule the decision. In an unintentionally amusing statement, the state representative said that "we should discuss all theories and have it open with no threat to teachers or threat to students."

Well then, Mr. Christian, perhaps we should, in the interest of fairness, give equal time to teaching the stork theory of reproduction or, better yet, the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, both of which offer potential explanations as to the origins of life and the cosmos.

As yet, evolution through natural selection is the best account we have of the diversity of life on earth; in fact, the entire science of biology is organized around this theory. The notion that Adam and Eve are our only precursors in the natural world is perfectly inconsistent with a mountain of evidence accumulated over the last century or so of scientific inquiry.

Among developed nations, it is only in America that such widespread ignorance still flourishes; this is a national embarrassment, and it goes a long way in explaining why the United States ranks 29th among industrial nations in science literacy, lagging behind such bastions of freethinking as Croatia and Liechtenstein - no offense to any potential Croatian or Liechtensteinian readers. Unless this trend is reversed, America's tenure as the world's leader in science and technology will be short-lived.

Originally Published: April 15, 2009

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Comments

  1. Great article, man!

    Donnie | 2009-04-15 - 02:49:27 PM (CDT)

  2. Please, my fellow Louisianians, before you start convulsing with rage after reading this, actually think about it. On this issue, Louisiana is really no different from Texas. In fact, somebody forward this to that idiot Jindall’s office!

    Anne | 2009-04-15 - 04:36:15 PM (CDT)

  3. Just to clarify, there have been a few stories from Canada and England showing massive ignorance on evolution and proposing ID. It seems like it’s only the US that suffers from this, but the Creationists are world-wide.

    Dave | 2009-04-15 - 06:34:26 PM (CDT)

  4. Just another eloquent rant by an atheist who denies the truth of scripture.

    Wake Up | 2009-04-15 - 07:16:37 PM (CDT)

  5. The big gimmick in play is censorship of opposing scientific questions inconvenient truths to dogma of evillusionism.
    Think on
    DNA--a writing of instructions to make one of us from a single cell. Evol people say DNA just happens every now and then. Writing requires a conscious mind to pick and place characters in the proper place acording to coding rules for the language in use. Intelligent Design wins if it is allowed at the table. Gagging opposition is the only way to prop up the rotting corpse of evolism. But what part of science is censorship?

    D Bunker Monquis | 2009-04-15 - 09:27:31 PM (CDT)

  6. "Evillusionism"....Ha! That’s cute.

    lol | 2009-04-15 - 11:44:10 PM (CDT)

  7. Good one, Sean - intelligent design creationism is indeed pseudoscientific drivel, defended almost solely by the scientifically illiterate.

    And "Bunker" - censorship is not the correct word to describe how science works. One proposes a hypothesis and tests it - if it works, you publish; if it doesn’t work, you don’t publish. Nobody in their right mind would call that censorship.

    But intelligent design creationism doesn’t even have a hypothesis to test - no theory - no observation of its invisible anonymous supernatural "designer." Just obfuscation and lies and distortions.

    And thanks for proving once again that essentially all anti-evolutionists are religious. It’s almost trite, but it’s an easily observed fact. In fact, that’s a hypothesis, and you just verified it.

    Paul Burnett | 2009-04-15 - 01:15:10 AM (CDT)

  8. Evolution is trash science and quite pathetic. Where does nature and adaptation get this infinite wisdom? Adaptation is an idiot that’s renamed "natural selection".

    You can disagree all you want. If you wanna call mutation and natural selection THE source of all living things, it’s your problem! Don’t call it rational, or scientific. If you wanna brainwash children to think they are animals, you will be responsible for the consequences.

    Wayne Hollyoak

    Wayne Hollyoak | 2009-04-16 - 11:38:21 AM (CDT)

  9. Everyone is entitled to his own thoughts whether right or wrong, and we in this country do have freedom of speech. Trust your conscience and your soul to teach children. They are the future and can change the future and we all are to blame for the outcome. When all else is lost, the future still remains.

    opensky | 2009-04-16 - 03:12:29 PM (CDT)

  10. "Everyone is entitled to his own thoughts whether right or wrong, and we in this country do have freedom of speech. Trust your conscience and your soul to teach children. They are the future and can change the future and we all are to blame for the outcome. When all else is lost, the future still remains"

    True, but we have an obligation to prepare our children for success in the global marketplace. Teaching them pseudoscience fails in this respect.

    Anne | 2009-04-16 - 07:13:15 PM (CDT)

  11. "Evolution is trash science and quite pathetic", unfortunately for you Wayne, evolution is fact and creationism / ID is a ’quite pathetic’ way to prop up nonsensical religions left to us by people who were delusional. Eventually christianity will disappear just like every other religion and people will start to accept that we can live in harmony without having to invent gods.

    FSM | 2009-04-16 - 09:38:08 PM (CDT)

  12. Hey, creationists/IDers. Put your money where your mouth is. If you think there is validity in the science from a 4000-year-old book, start your own biotech company. You’ll competing with those wrong-headed fools who hire only biologists trained in evolution. If your science prevails, you’ll be rich, and you’ll make your point. It’s time to show the courage of your convictions. Anything less that your life savings in your biotech/Bible investment will show lack of faith and conviction.

    We’re waiting anxiously for you to show us we are wrong.

    infidel57 | 2009-04-17 - 10:26:56 AM (CDT)

  13. I can’t believe we’re even having this debate still; that’s truly unbelievable. Great article. Keep it up

    PL | 2009-04-17 - 12:17:07 PM (CDT)

  14. Hey Wayne Hollyoak, I’m curious. Where do you suppose humans came to have different "races?"

    Also, since you seem to know a lot about the falsity of evolution, I suppose you have given a lot of objective study to the issue. So, tell me, what happened to, what were the Australopithecines, and why wouldn’t A. afarensis be a transitional species? Please make your anatomical arguments specific.

    Hobbes | 2009-04-17 - 05:29:18 PM (CDT)

  15. pseudoscience only fails if we don’t clearly state in our teachings that it is in theory only on the data we have so far. Most people have an elated feeling at one point in their life as they face extreme situations that they can’t quite explain,but yet in their soul know as some heavenly being, God, spirit or whatever you want to call it as being near and changing their life forever.It can’t be seen,but it can definitely be felt.Many an atheist in the hour of their death have been heard praying and there is always the forgiven.There are always two sides to every story, in other words.

    H .S. | 2009-04-17 - 06:54:06 PM (CDT)

  16. H. S., "Many an atheist in the hour of their death have been heard praying and there is always the forgiven."

    Please give reference to the source of this information. Is there a data base of such confessions?

    Believers seem to have a very hard time with the fact that some people simply don’t believe. It seems that the more people there are who believe, the more one is convinced there is something to the belief. This is a logical fallacy called “Appeal to popularity.” Marketers know it very well. “More people buy (fill in the product) than anyone else.” Even it the statement is true, the implication that it is the best product may very well be false. The high volume of sales may only be a result of slick marketing.

    I suppose that somehow it makes believers feel better to think that, deep down, the atheist REALLY believes. However, it is only a sign of insecurity when someone makes such a statement.

    It is undeniable that what you believe to be true in matters of religion is more a function of geography than it is a function of truth. What you believe is mostly dependent upon where your were born, what your parents believe, and what the predominate religion is in the society into which you were born.

    Had you been born in India, you would most likely have been a Hindu or a Sikh, in Iran, a Muslim, in Japan, a Shinto, in Southeast Asia, a Buddhist, etc. And, in any one of these, you would be just as strong a believer as you are now.

    What all this tells me, is that nobody knows, and the evidence strongly suggests at least it certainly isn’t Yahweh, or Jesus. That evidence is right there in your Bible.

    Hobbes | 2009-04-18 - 01:19:38 AM (CDT)

  17. No data base or scientific evidence necessary. I’ve been through many religions and seen no religion evident in someways. Seen many take their last breath. Don’t don’t if the atheist ended up believing or not, just stating what I saw. To each his own Bible.

    H.S. | 2009-04-19 - 12:31:23 AM (CDT)

  18. H.S.,

    I’m not sure what any of that is supposed to mean. You are, I’m afraid to say, an idiot.

    Confused | 2009-04-20 - 02:51:45 PM (CDT)

  19. Dear confused, I was just responding to Hobbes that you can’t explain the religious experiences that happen most of the time with scientific evidence. You either believe in evolution or not, Adam and Eve or not; in other words, to each his own. That’s the way it should be and always will be.

    H.S. | 2009-04-22 - 01:14:28 PM (CDT)

  20. Dammit, Sean...you’re so freaking hot.

    Chela | 2009-04-22 - 05:07:11 PM (CDT)

  21. I have to say this whole argument is rather feeble. Infidel57 pretty much hit the nail on the head. Science is a form of study that has put laptops in your house, smashed protons at near the speed of light, flew you across the world in a hunk of metal and yet what has organized religion brought you physically? Now I’m not saying that there is not a god out there because this universe is too grand in scale and there is just no way to prove one way or the other at the current state in time. Evolution just simply provides a more realistic approach with supporting evidence than creationism does.

    Kyle | 2009-04-22 - 05:27:36 PM (CDT)

  22. Comparing evolution to creationism is like comparing Einstein to Santa Claus.

    FSM | 2009-04-22 - 08:17:30 PM (CDT)

  23. As evolutionary literate modern day scientists wanting to keep "open minds" and closed dialog to prove your theories, I suggest a scientific experiment on each of YOUR parts as a means to evolve into a superior race... try receiving a blood transfusion of any other primate of your choice to share with us your results.
    Mean while I will place all my bets on the God and CREATOR of the universe not allowing any "advancements" to take place... and I also will dare say each of you will speed up the undeniable reality that one day you each will stand before that Creator to be judged. Either the Bible is absolutely true and man is created in God’s image, or we’re all just a freak accident of trillions and jillions of ions of gooze that exploded without plan or purpose into all the strangley precise and balanced organisms we are. Your life and its science is pretty useless anyway, right?

    kyle c | 2009-04-23 - 03:30:02 AM (CDT)

  24. "undeniable reality that one day you each will stand before that Creator to be judged". The flaw in your argument is the ’undeniable reality’ part. As soon as you accept unproven myth as reality you cannot have a rational argument. I’d prefer to look at something we don’t understand and think ’I would like to investigate so that one day I might understand’ rather than throw my hands in the air and say ’I can’t comprehend why it is; so I’ll just say it must be the work of my imaginary god’.

    FSM | 2009-04-23 - 08:34:04 PM (CDT)

  25. "Well then, Mr. Christian, perhaps we should, in the interest of fairness, give equal time to teaching the stork theory of reproduction or, better yet, the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, both of which offer potential explanations as to the origins of life and the cosmos. "

    Really? honestly this article is insulting to anyone who doesn’t believe in evolution. It could have been an informative article talking about the curriculum in Texas but instead its some guy ranting about how he hates all Christians because of their ignorance.
    I was in a Catholic catechism class the other day and when the teacher was talking about creation he said that if we believe, despite the technical aspects, all living things were created by a higher power aka God, then that is all we need.
    It seems to me the writer doesn’t even know what Christians believe because he is to busy telling people what they should believe.
    Also despite anything else we need to realize that evolution is a theory and if we are going to teach biology in a classroom it should be well rounded and teach all aspects of science. Children aren’t robots that have to be programed. We should inform them of all current scientific research and then let them decide what they want to believe and when they grow up they can prove or disprove any theory they want.

    Lauren Hardy | 2009-04-23 - 09:20:17 PM (CDT)

  26. "We should inform them of all current scientific research and then let them decide what they want to believe and when they grow up they can prove or disprove any theory they want." Way to go,Lauren!

    H.S. | 2009-04-24 - 12:07:50 PM (CDT)

  27. Lauren,

    People like you are exactly the problem. You have no idea what you’re talking about, and you don’t understand the meaning of the term theory. Evolution is a theory in the sense that gravity is merely a theory. If you doubt the truth of the theory of gravity, may I invite you to walk off the top floor of tall building and see for yourself. Teach all aspects of biology? Biology is rooted in evolution, without it the entire science would be unrecognizable. What the hell are you talking about, you freaking moron?

    Come on | 2009-04-24 - 03:36:07 PM (CDT)

  28. Thank you for calling me a moron. Now I realize that you are very intelligent and how I must change my opinion learning from you to believe whatever you tell me.

    oh wait just kidding that just what they do in Texas.

    Lauren Hardy | 2009-04-24 - 04:26:48 PM (CDT)

  29. Notice you failed to respond to any of the points I made

    Come on! | 2009-04-24 - 06:00:34 PM (CDT)

  30. "Children aren’t robots that have to be programed. " Then why has the church been doing it for thousands of years? Just as you have been ’programed’ (read brainwashed) into believing such nonsense about flying sky daddies. If it were possible for people such as yourself to switch off religion for 5 minutes you would realise what an absolute farce you are all so worked up about. If only you could admit it and we could all just get on with living our lives without the BS.

    FSM | 2009-04-25 - 02:11:38 AM (CDT)

  31. For everyone that believes in Evolution & Natural Selection that must mean that having a God is utterly pointless because nature would do it in God’s place. God would be useless! And if you believe that God doesn’t exist, where is your proof? Darwin admitted that there was no way he could prove that God didn’t exist. Christians take the bible as their proof. In many near death experiences and sometimes before a person dies, they have reported seeing Jesus come to them or going up to heaven before coming back to their bodies down on Earth. I was about to mention something else but for the time being it has slipped my mind.

    Paul Burnett,

    What about Antony Flew who was once a prominent atheist figure changed his mind and now believes in a God even though he is not a Christian.

    Albert Einstein even stated that evolution was impossible! "defended almost solely by the scientifically illiterate"?? That’s makes no sense at all. Do some research before putting your ideas forward.

    Anonymous | 2009-04-26 - 09:13:58 PM (CDT)

  32. Anonymous,

    I’m not even sure to begin. At first, I assumed you were joking. You are asking someone to prove god doesn’t exist? How, exactly, does one prove a negative? The burden of proof is on those who posit god’s existence in the first place.The rest of your post makes absolutely no sense, so I’ll leave it be.

    What an idiot | 2009-04-26 - 09:26:19 PM (CDT)

  33. ’defended almost solely by the scientifically illiterate’ please state exactly where you are quoting Einstein from and the context. It seems to me to be just another case of twisting the facts for your own petty argument. Don’t offer the bible as proof until (a) you’ve read it, and (b) you research where it came from. Once you do both you would have to be retarded to use it as a basis for believing in any god.

    FSM | 2009-04-26 - 11:53:24 PM (CDT)

  34. "To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous
    as to claim that Jesus was not born of a virgin."
    Cardinal Bellarmine, 1615, during the trial of Galileo

    Bzlbub | 2009-04-27 - 03:08:43 AM (CDT)

  35. "To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous
    as to claim that Jesus was not born of a virgin."

    That really says it all, doesn’t it?

    Perfect | 2009-04-27 - 12:38:22 PM (CDT)

  36. The Intelligent design brigade is about to post a victory... big time...
    http://www.atotalawareness.com

    djwray | 2009-05-03 - 05:43:08 AM (CDT)

  37. Anyone with an open mind should read the book "The Evolution of Creationist" by Dr. Jobe Martin - an atheist who sought to prove his evolutionary theory when "insulted" by two intelligent design students of his. AWESOME READ ... I DARE YOU TO READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    kyle c | 2009-05-12 - 12:46:35 AM (CDT)

  38. The best point brought up within all of these comments is the fact that if you are born in another country where another religion is popular, then that is what you will believe. Your entire perception of life would be completely different and you would be fighting on the other side!
    Look at how hostile everyone is getting over their "opinions" whether there is or isn’t a god you 100% cannot prove! You must just have faith. I personally am someone who is very spiritual; however the furthest from religious you could possibly be. Religion is made up by humans to interpret life/eternity/etc. Look how heated this is getting! This is why wars are fought. People are dying b/c someone believes "their god" is cooler than someone elses. If you believe in evolution it should not affect your belief in a god. The only reason to ever get defensive is if you doubt your actual beliefs, or if you know your their are faults in your belief.
    the comment that made me laugh the most!!
    "I was in a Catholic catechism class the other day and when the teacher was talking about creation he said that if we believe, despite the technical aspects, all living things were created by a higher power aka God, then that is all we need"
    hahahahhaha seriously??
    well we have a cute little lemming! so willing to follow anything even to its demise!

    open minded | 2009-06-12 - 01:50:28 AM (CDT)
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