Intelligent Design Theory: Science or Religion?

SMU profs upset about upcoming intelligent design conference

"This is propaganda," said Dr. John Ubelaker, former chairman of the chemistry department. "Using the campus for propaganda does not fit into anybody's scheme of intellectual discussion."

Science, for the most part, has been divided into so many sub specialties that no worker in one area is conversant with a colleague in another. Science degrees, especially advanced degrees are mere :certification" programs no different than plumbing or medicine. There is some misguided premise that scientists be conferred false authority in fields they are not "certified " in. Thats how the Creationist/IDers poke at science. They parade a PHd nutritionist or 70 year old physician as an expert in evolution and its components. I dont know how many "lectures" in church halls that I sat in on listening to some "Saved" Orthodontist talk about how "There are no transition fossils" in the fossil record.

Doctors to speak on creation science
(By Mary Garrigan, The Rapid City Journal, March 27, 2007)

Dr. Randy Guliuzza has a medical degree from the University of Minnesota, an engineering degree from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and a deep belief in the Book of Genesis as scientific fact.

"Even if I did believe that the earth was 4.6 billion years old, time alone is not a magic wand that can do the impossible, biologically," Guliuzza said of his belief in supernatural creation exactly as it is found in the Bible.
Guliuzza is an Air Force physician from Ellsworth Air Force Base who will speak at the Answers in Genesis conference Friday and Saturday, March 30-31, along with two nationally known creation science experts, Carl Kerby and Dr. David Menton.

The conference, at Calvary Baptist Church, 4601 Mount Rushmore Road, has sessions geared specifically to elementary and high school age students. Those seminars are designed to give young people the confidence and the tools they need to question the theory of evolution as it is commonly taught in public schools, Guliuzza said.

In some areas of the country, biblical literalists have pushed to get creationism or intelligent design into public school science curriculums, generating lawsuits and textbook battles along the way.

Pat Peel, director of curriculum for the Rapid City School District, said curriculum issues involving evolution or intelligent design have never emerged as big local issues in Rapid City.

"We write our curriculum to teach the state standards," Peel said. The school district revised its science curriculum to meet new state teaching standards seven years ago. One year ago, it realigned the science curriculum for seventh and eighth grades. Neither change created much community concern or input on the subject of evolutionary science or creation science, Peel said.

"Nothing came to my attention that they were wrestling with that topic in the community," she said. "It has not emerged in the last seven years as a hot-button issue here."

Guliuzza wants to equip more students to question the teaching of evolution in the classroom, a scientific theory he calls "hocus pocus."

The Answers in Genesis Conference will help today's students question evolution because public school teachers can't, he said. "Teachers should be able to present criticism of evolution openly in the classroom and they should bring those arguments to the attention of students," he said.

The pomps and magnificence with which the Church is reproached are in truth the result and the proof of her incomparable exellence. From whence, let me ask, have come this power of hers and these excessive riches, except from the enchantment into which she threw all the world? Ravished with her beauty, millions of men from age to age kept loading her with gifts, bequests, cessions. She had the talent of making herself loved, and the talent of making men happy. It is that which wrought prodigies for her; it is from thence that she drew her power.

She had the talent of making herself feared

It is the subjection to irreligious spirits which alone is fatal, and, in the fullest sense of the word, depraving.

Veering from Evolution
(By Christopher Stollar / The Bend Oregon Bulletin/ March 25. 2007)

On Wednesday, March 14, eight days into a new job teaching biology at Sisters High School, Kris Helphinstine showed a class of freshman and sophomore students pictures of naked corpses, a Nazi swastika and Charles Darwin in a PowerPoint presentation.

"What do these pictures have in common?" the 27-year-old part-time teacher asked the 30 students.

They listened as Helphinstine gave a roughly hourlong presentation, explaining how the Third Reich perverted evolution and eugenics to slaughter Jews and Gypsies in death camps to protect the "superior race."

On the Monday and Tuesday before giving the PowerPoint presentation, Helphinstine had given the students supplemental material that included an essay promoting creationism and links to answersingenesis.org. That Web site is "dedicated to enabling Christians to defend their faith, and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively."

When parents found out, some quickly complained. As a result, Helphinstine was put on leave Friday, March 16, and the Sisters School Board voted to fire him last Monday. Only board member Steve Rudinsky opposed the measure, saying the teacher should have received a second chance.

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Technically, Helphinstine broke no laws, other than possibly violating a statute that says schools must not engage in religious activity, said Cheryl Kleckner, a science education specialist with the Education Department.

The department's official policy statement, released in 2005 by Superintendent Susan Castillo, states: "We have been getting a number of questions about the teaching of 'creationism' and 'intelligent design.' Here's the state's position: The Oregon Science Content Standards adopted in April of 2001 clearly requires the teaching of evolution. All content standards are adopted through the legislative process and are required in the public schools in Oregon."

Kleckner said only science should be taught in science classes. "Students get confused if you teach religion in a science class. Science is based on evidence. Religion is based on faith," she said.

While Helphinstine may not have broken any laws, board members said he deviated from Sisters' curriculum.

My previous post refers to the whole of Christendom with quotes from two men who history has designated to be worth remembering.

Why have you no comment to make on that?

Such things wande are mere details, as trifling as they are trite. They refer to minor incidents. What Kris takes it into his head to do, for whatever reason, in some school somewhere, is hardly of much importance.

My previous post refers to the whole of Christendom with quotes from two men who history has designated to be worth remembering.