Intelligent Design Theory: Science or Religion?

real life wrote:

cicerone imposter wrote:

(The Bible) has so many..... omissions.......

Really?

How many things are omitted?

Somewhere between 1 and a number greater than the number of canon entries.

Why does the exact number matter? Are you ready to argue that the roman church has not edited the bible?

T
K
O

Race could tilt state Board of Education in social conservatives' favor
(By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News, February 27, 2008)

Social conservatives are moving to secure their first majority on the politically divided State Board of Education, backing an avowed creation-science supporter against a veteran Republican board member in a closely watched Fort Worth-area race.

Board member Pat Hardy, R-Fort Worth, is being challenged in the GOP primary by Cleburne urologist Barney Maddox, a critic of the theory of evolution who calls it a "myth" on a creation science Web site and who once testified that Texas schoolchildren are "brainwashed" into believing in evolution.

Ms. Hardy, a former high school social studies teacher and now a curriculum adviser in the Weatherford school district, is known for being a swing vote on the 15-member board and for leading an effort to require that all high school students take four years of science. She is in her sixth year on the state board.

There is no Democratic opponent in the general election, so if Dr. Maddox won the primary, it would hand social and religious conservatives a majority on the board and potentially trigger an ideological shift affecting textbook selection and the curriculum taught in public schools.

"There is already a seven-member bloc from the far right on the board, and their ability to grow that margin by one could hasten the trend we are already seeing of political ideology taking precedence over needs of our children and their future," said Kathy Miller of the Texas Freedom Network.

Those aligned with social conservatives contend it is their turn to shape education policy in Texas.

"The way it breaks down on almost every issue is 8 to 7, with the other side in charge," said Donna Garner, a former teacher and frequent critic of the board majority.

"If we could get rid of Pat Hardy and elect Dr. Barney Maddox, then the votes would be 8 to 7 in favor of our side. Dr. Maddox has pledged to vote with our side whenever possible," she wrote in a commentary distributed over the Internet.

Dr. Maddox declined to be interviewed.

Ms. Hardy, who touted her own conservative background, said she draws a line when it comes to education in Texas.

"It is about what is best for kids, not what is best politically. I have been in education for 38 years and am extremely knowledgeable in the field," she said.

"My opponent knows nothing about education, except that he got one. That's not a reflection on his person, but he has no experience [in education], and his main interest is in evolution and how to oust it [from schools]. He wants to insert creationism into our classrooms, but the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that you cannot bring religion into public schools."

Campaign finance reports filed this week indicated that Mr. Maddox has a decided financial edge, with expenditures of $61,203 in the last month and $70,000 in loans to his campaign - including $55,000 of his own money. Ms. Hardy's report, on the other hand, indicated expenditures of just $4,017 and $5,850 in campaign contributions.

There's no maps of Argentina in the Bible. It's omitted. hmmmmmmmmm maybe the Bible isn't accurate because of this glaring omission...........

Campaign finance reports filed this week indicated that Mr. Maddox has a decided financial edge, with expenditures of $61,203 in the last month and $70,000 in loans to his campaign - including $55,000 of his own money. Ms. Hardy's report, on the other hand, indicated expenditures of just $4,017 and $5,850 in campaign contributions.

Well blow me down with a feather. I never thought of that.

Urology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with urological disorders; they may hold either a Medical Degree (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy degree (DO). The organs covered by urology include the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, and the male reproductive organs (testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate and penis).

Race could tilt state Board of Education in social conservatives' favor
(By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News, February 27, 2008)

Those aligned with social conservatives contend it is their turn to shape education policy in Texas.

Diest TKO wrote:

real life wrote:

cicerone imposter wrote:

(The Bible) has so many..... omissions.......

Really?

How many things are omitted?

Somewhere between 1 and a number greater than the number of canon entries.

Why does the exact number matter? Are you ready to argue that the roman church has not edited the bible?

T
K
O

It's an interesting discussion when someone argues that they don't agree with what is IN the Bible.

It's hysterically funny when someone argues about what ISN'T in the Bible.

There's no maps of Argentina in the Bible. It's omitted. hmmmmmmmmm maybe the Bible isn't accurate because of this glaring omission...........

State Board of Education race evolves into key vote for science
(Steve Blow, Dallas Morning News Opinion, February 28, 2008)

We're all mesmerized with the presidential race right now. But an obscure race in a few neighboring counties may have a huge impact on Texas.

Especially on Texas schoolchildren.

Let's forget Obama and Clinton, McCain and Huckabee for a moment and talk instead about Barney Maddox and Pat Hardy.

I'm guessing those names don't ring many bells.

They are the candidates in the Republican primary for District 11 on the State Board of Education.

And I'll bet I've really got your pulse pounding now, huh? District 11! State Board of Education!

Yeah, political excitement just doesn't get any better than that.

This time, however, that humble race really matters. If Dr. Maddox, a Cleburne urologist, succeeds in unseating Ms. Hardy, a Weatherford educator, the whole political balance of the state board could shift.

And that's when God shows up in the science books.

Dr. Maddox is on record as referring to the theory of evolution as "a myth" and "a fairy tale."

That will come as news to the vast majority of scientists, who tend to use words like "foundational principle" and "overwhelming evidence" when discussing evolution.

Nevertheless, seven members of the 15-member State Board of Education have sought to muddy the water by introducing creationism into science classrooms in Texas. A victory by Dr. Maddox would give them a majority.

Let me stop a moment and make clear that Ms. Hardy is no free-thinking liberal. She's a rock-solid Republican and dyed-in-the-wool Southern Baptist who firmly believes God is behind all of creation.

She just thinks science ought to be taught in science class and religion in church - or synagogue or mosque or home or wherever a family chooses.

"Every religious group has different beliefs," Ms. Hardy said. "We have to be a respecter of all the different kinds of people who are in our public schools today."

But Dr. Maddox seems less concerned about all that. According to press reports, he strongly supports displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools.

I would love to tell you more of what Dr. Maddox believes, but he doesn't do interviews. Several reporters covering the race have tried, but Dr. Maddox did not return phone calls.

When I called his office yesterday, an assistant said he does not take nonmedical calls there.

"He seems to be running a stealth campaign," Ms. Hardy said. And she's a little unnerved by that.

"I really am worried," she said. "I don't know what to expect."

Campaign finance reports give her cause for worry. My colleague Terry Stutz reported this week that Dr. Maddox has spent $61,203 in the last month and has $70,000 in loans to his campaign. Ms. Hardy has spent only $4,017 from $5,850 in contributions.

Ms. Hardy has seen a campaign flier that Dr. Maddox distributed. She said it leads her to believe he has been badly misled about Texas schools.

"I think he's a nice guy. I just think he has been given bad information," she said.

For example, the campaign flier says: "Barney Maddox believes social studies textbooks should devote more space to American presidents than Marilyn Monroe and that the vicious attack of 9-11 should be portrayed as an aggressive act by terrorists, not an American conspiracy."

Ms. Hardy said she's floored by something so preposterous. She said she doesn't know of a single textbook giving Marilyn Monroe more play than the presidents or even hinting that the 9-11 attacks were an American conspiracy.

"There's not a teacher around who wouldn't be appalled if Marilyn Monroe and 9-11 were portrayed in such a way," she said.

Of course, in politics, innuendo is sometimes more powerful than truth.

District 11 includes most of Tarrant County and all of Ellis, Johnson and Parker counties. Let's hope Republican voters there are looking beyond the top of the ballot.

Academic Freedom Act
is designed to protect public school teachers who may wish to present legitimate science not included in their textbooks (for example, pros and cons on Darwin's theory of evolution) and to protect students who may believe differently from their teachers.

It does not require teachers or administrators to include or exclude any content. It therefore does not override any curriculum authority or a state's Course of Study. It does not give students permission to evade any materials required by their teachers, nor does it diminish a teacher's right to direct class discussion. It simply allows a teacher, if they wish, to encourage learning and critical thinking about controversial issues; and protects students who respectfully already do.

Versions of the Academic Freedom Act have been proposed in the legislatures of several states since 2003. For the sake of the advancement of science, it must eventually become law.

xingu, Good point; without the earth's spinning, gravity would be lost, and everything would be flying off the planet.