Originally posted by Jamuhn
I do think it is healthy though for accurate criticism of the evolutionary theory in the presense of alternative explanations for empirical evidence. In addition, I think intelligent design theory should be taught alongside evolution since it endeavors to provide experimentation, empirical evidence, and a mathematical analysis on data.

Like I've said in other threads, I'm not sure who you are speaking of when you say people want to exclude evolutionary theory from schools. I've tried looking, perhaps you could provide some links.

I'm specifically speaking about the Intelligent Design Network,

Teaching Resources
For Parents, Teachers and School Boards
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Would you like your school to change from Evolution Only to a more objective approach - an approach that promotes critical thinking, opens minds and permits teachers to explain the scientific controversies about our origins - Where we come from?

They are against teaching "evolution only," but they are also against teaching "evolution period." They seem to take what they can get, however. They describe their intended school policy thusly:

It encourages objectivity, critical thinking and discussion of the full range of scientific views regarding origins as contemplated by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. It discourages the use of "hidden agendas" by requiring an appropriate and candid discussion of material assumptions used and the inherently subjective nature of this historical science that seeks to explain singular events that occur in the distant past.

It discourages candid discussions of "material assumptions?" It discourages discussion about singular events occuring in the distant past? This isn't really so much about evolution as the discouragement of the Big Bang theory. That is not objective science.

The naturalistic hypothesis that phenomena just "occur" by chance via random and undirected natural processes withdraws that support and provides intellectual satisfaction to those who choose agnostic or atheistic beliefs. The atheistic and agnostic "outlook" of methodological naturalism was recently acknowledged by a member of the Ohio Science Advisory Committee, Dr. Mano Singham, who said:

"The scientific community has a better chance of keeping religious beliefs out of its structure if it concedes that science is fundamentally materialistic and atheistic in its outlook." [Mano Singham, Are Scientists Materialists? (submitted to Physics Today, Nov 4, 2001)]

Science is what we know. Church is for what people believe. In the education system, let's stick with what we know. In class, we must describe random phenomena as "random."

Zip

Originally posted by Zipdot
They are against teaching "evolution only," but they are also against teaching "evolution period."

And where do they say this?

It discourages candid discussions of "material assumptions?" It discourages discussion about singular events occuring in the distant past?

This is what ID is encouraging, not discouraging apparently. What's the problem?

This isn't really so much about evolution as the discouragement of the Big Bang theory.

How is this relevant? I'm sure you are missing something.

That is not objective science.

Objective science is allowing valid criticism of evolution and providing other possible explanations for already existing empirical data. How is it not objective?

Science is what we know. Church is for what people believe. In the education system, let's stick with what we know.

No #, but the problem is that evolutionary theory is not complete.

In class, we must describe random phenomena as "random."

The point is, it is not considered random by some, perhaps a chance of probability, or that evolution is directed by some force, even if it be natural.

[edit on 28-6-2005 by Jamuhn]

Originally posted by Jamuhn
Objective science is allowing valid criticism of evolution and providing other possible explanations for already existing empirical data. How is it not objective?

It's not objective when the "criticism" of science occurs in school board meetings. This is not a valid platform for the review of science and accepted theories.

If "intelligent design" advocates were honestly attempting to develop alternative explanations for the evidence that supports evolution, they would do it through valid scientific channels.

Again, science describes the "how", philosophy seeks to answer the "why". ID certainly fits within "why".

Originally posted by GoldEagle
Thanks for calling a key aspect of mine and many other religions a "bad movement". I could have taken something like "incorrect" or "not supported" but bad? Please.

A key part of your religion is a conspiracy to replace rational thought with unthinking religious dogma?

I firmly am implanted in the Intellegent Design concept (of the IDiocy as you call it, thanks again!)

Intelligent Design, according to the people that came up with it, is not a religion. So is it part of your religion or is it a science that you investigate?

If you evolutionists belive in evolution how can you explain the lack of it, in the respect of other beliefs?

I do no understand what you are saying.

Science and religion went very well together,

Science and religion go 'well' toghether so long as they respect each other's boundaries. Religion is not science and science is not religion. Creationism is a breaking of those boundaries. And if anything, Evolution is the culmination of the Rennaissance and the Age of Enlightenment, when church dogma and scriptural authority were pushed out of way to make room for rational, scientific, thought.

Funny how you only mention Christians as the "bad" ones,

In this case, its Christians who are doing something bad.

you forgot about the belifs of others, I have alot of Islamic friends that are creationists too, are they "bad" too because they belive in creation too?

I suggest you re-read the original statement. People who beleive in creationism aren't bad people, they are simply improperly educated. The bad people here are the ones who run the creationist conspiracy to remove science from science classes and enfore their unscientific, irrational, religious dogma upon everyone. Not the people who happen to beleive creationism.

Apparently you are against the teachings of Isalm and Christianity. What about Judaism? Last time I checked they belive in the same stuff too.

Check again. Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, all have a variety of people in them, some beleive in creationism, others reject it. All are muslims, chrisians, and jews.

Don't say that we are keeping you from an intelligent future

Why? A certain group of christians are. They are actively working to end rational thought in science and bring in, with the protection of the government's authority, their own little ideas on their religion. Why not call it what it is? And why do you keep translating 'creationists' as 'all christians'? Most evolutionists are christians.

but you must understand that you live with religious people on this planet and you must accept them.

No one has to 'accept' them by teaching their religion in public schools. No one has to accept any group in that way. Only science belongs in science classes, it doesn't matter how many people beleive in any particular religion.

That evidendtly seemed to be an attack on my belief system and others.

I fail to see why your personal beleif system should be free from 'attack', that is, free from criticism.

Evolution should be tought in schools, it's up to the youth to chose their own path

How is anyone going to be able to choose on their own if a coalition of churches is having their private dogma taught and tested on in public schools? Its like requireing sunday schools to teach darwinism.

jahmuhn
I'm not sure who you are speaking of when you say people want to exclude evolutionary theory from schools. I've tried looking, perhaps you could provide some links.

In the United States, several states made it illegal to teach science based evolution in schools. Teachers were prosecuted by the law for teaching science. Then, finally, the supreme court realized that science belongs in science classrooms. So now, the political movement that is creationism can't take that tack, it has to have a different approach, because its already lost that legal battle. So they tried to argue for 'equal time' for their religious beleifs in science classes, the courts again said 'science in science classes'. Now the attempt is to get control of local school boards and change the school standards to include pseudo-sciences like Intelligent Design. That too, inevitably, will fail.
So while there aren't many calling for the rejection of evolution from science classes,they are calling for inlcuding illogical, irrational, faith based beleifs to be taught in science classes. That is a destruction of rational science.

Objective science is allowing valid criticism of evolution and providing other possible explanations for already existing empirical data. How is it not objective?

Because the creationist movement does not critique evolution rationally and does not propose a rationalistic alternative, it merely states, as its answer to all scientific questions, one version or another of 'God did it". Thats clearly not even an attempt at objective rational logical consideration.

but the problem is that evolutionary theory is not complete

Why does that matter? Nothing is complete, and religious ideas are hardly 'complete' either, they say it starts and ends with god, thats not 'complete', thats a faith based statement.

How do you see evolution as 'incomplete' also?

The point is, it is not considered random by some, perhaps a chance of probability, or that evolution is directed by some force, even if it be natural.

The idea that life is directed by a 'force' used to be called 'vitalism', and it wasn't scientific and it was rejected a long time ago. Evolution is random, insofar as variation, in populations, is random and mostly caused by random mutations. Thats random.

Originally posted by Thomas Crowne
Christianity and science never had a problem until the last few decades when those who wanted to discount God entered the scientific scene. Christians have never had a problem with science

damn, you sure about that there? i guess your forgettin the whole "the earth isnt the centre of the universe" thing a few hunderd years back

you'd be surprised if you knew how many scientists you've learned about were Christian.

just like youd be suprised to find out how many old smoothy crooners were actually alchaholic wife bashers.....which made about as much difference to thier music (ie. none) as religious belief does to an ACTUAL scientist working from empirical data.....

The concept of removing God from the picture is also a relatively new idea, and it was the bad concept.

no it is not a bad concept, its brilliant. cause god and data dont mix in an experiment, the basis of science. as experiments are used to prove or disprove theories. data is measurable and verafiable over and over. god is not. god is a belief, data is not a belief, its a tool used to discern facts. the bible is not data, it is not a book of hard facts prized from a multitude of experiments, it is a STORY of how something may or may not have happened that without the ability to scrutinize it against empirical data, and will remain just that, a story. where is the confusion in this?.........if scientists in days gone by mixed these two as readily as you say they are mixable, i seriously doubt we would be sitting here discussing things on the internet, in a house powered by electricity on opposite sides of the planet, heck, my guess is we probably would still think the world was flat.....good science follows the data, not beliefs

everyone should keep in mind that lots of the posts in here have been moved from older discussions. Replying to them is aok, infact, its what peopel should be doing, but keep in mind that the OP's might not be tracking the converstation anymore.

Originally posted by Nygdan
So while there aren't many calling for the rejection of evolution from science classes,they are calling for inlcuding illogical, irrational, faith based beleifs to be taught in science classes.

Ok, so now you admit that there is noone trying to take evolution out of schools. That was the main bulk of the "conspiracy" proposed by Skeptic Overlord. I don't think Bible-based creationism should be taught in science class either, but that is not what I have been talking about.

Because the creationist movement does not critique evolution rationally and does not propose a rationalistic alternative, it merely states, as its answer to all scientific questions, one version or another of 'God did it". Thats clearly not even an attempt at objective rational logical consideration.

Once again, I have not been talking about the creationist movement. I am talking about research that is on the fringe of intelligent design that presents alternative scientific theories, and perhaps that evolution is guided, even if it be by natural forces.

Why does that matter? Nothing is complete, and religious ideas are hardly 'complete' either, they say it starts and ends with god, thats not 'complete', thats a faith based statement.

Once again, no mention of religion with me.

How do you see evolution as 'incomplete' also?

I'll name for you at least two controversies within evolution, phyletic gradualism vs. punctuated equilibrium, and in the evolution of homo sapiens, replacement model vs. regional continuity model. Want more?

The idea that life is directed by a 'force' used to be called 'vitalism', and it wasn't scientific and it was rejected a long time ago. Evolution is random, insofar as variation, in populations, is random and mostly caused by random mutations. Thats random.

If this theory you are talking about isn't scientific, then why would you think I am talking about that? Vitalism is not even what I've been talking about. I realize the holy Stephen Jay Gould thinks evolution isn't guided, but I am not here to replay someone else's opinions, but to propose the settlement of this matter once and for all by more research into topics such as Intelligent Design. Intelligent Designers even state that this directional force could be natural (not vitalism), but in all, they don't try to answer it, just to show that it is guided. There is no guarantee that if evolution is guided it is because of a supernatural force known as God. But I think everyone is scared of the proposition because of it what it might mean to theologians.

[edit on 29-6-2005 by Jamuhn]

I read through the first, oh....15 posts, and decided to write this. Sorry if anyone did this already. What people call Intelligent Designers can be put in MANY different ways, with many different 'gods'.

I myself like to believe in it, but more so as the intelligent designer being the Tao. The Tao is making it's way back. It makes M (or string) Theory look delicious. They both agree perfectly. On one hand, you have the science/mathamatics involved, on the other, you have the philosphy that describes it and how we should interperet the thoery in our lives. Perhaps the ancient Far Eastern Mystics knew more than we thought.

Now, the Tao wouldn't 'design' persay, but rather let design happen, freely, and let the opposing forces (yin-yang) tug back and forth creating a good balance of in-between. The same is done with M-theory's 'energy'. As most ancient Eastern philosophies (even European and American) point that all things are 'alive' with a 'breath of life' so does M Theory. All things a made up of small vibrating little strands of energy. This energy is the 'breath of life'. It all points to one thing. Either everything is dead, or everyting is alive. You choose the life you'd like to live. Mine is of peace, with everything alive playing off of one another. Be they rocks, people, goats, water, or hydrogen gas.

I myslef used to be a Christian. A blind neo-con at first (brought up that way by my parents), then I went to school and learn the history of Christianity. This had me very upset at everyting Christianity was from the early 300's AD and after. So I became a Gnostic (That's what REAL christianity is. After the Roman's got hold of it, they bastardized it and made it all crazy). The Gnostics (jews following Jesus' teachings as a sage, rather than a god, since he wasn't) shared a view VERY similar to those of the orient as well. Part of which is why I crossed over. I still believe Yeheshua existed (albiet with a more normal name), but his teachings are like that of Bhudda not 600 years before him. But that's a different thread.

Anyway, where was I...

Oh yes. Read the book 'The Tao of Physics' by Fritjof Capra. This guy wrote it in '75, when string theory (let alone m-theory) was in its infancy. And he saw that the coming theories of the physicists, being one himself, were really just seeing the universe, finally, as described by our ancient sages long ago (in all ancient 'religions' [if that's what you want to call them]). I urge anyone, even the layman, to read this book. Its is extraordinary!

- FallenOne

Edited for, well, the the actual topic of the post : CREATIONISM is what happens after 1700 of lies, deciet and treachery by the Roman Empire. It was done to keep Rome in charge of SOMETHING as it crumbled to the ground from Northern attacks. It should not be taught about forcibly, or even mentioned in a class of science. What should be taught is the history of all religions, and let the kids decide what they want to take in the next courses, be it science or creationsism. It should be up to the STUDENT.

[edit on 30/6/2005 by FallenOne]

Originally posted by FallenOne
I read through the first, oh....15 posts, and decided to write this. Sorry if anyone did this already. What people call Intelligent Designers can be put in MANY different ways, with many different 'gods'.

I myself like to believe in it, but more so as the intelligent designer being the Tao. The Tao is making it's way back. It makes M (or string) Theory look delicious. They both agree perfectly.

String Theory and Branes are mathematical concepts that have nothin to do with Taoism, they can't be said to be in agreement in a meaningful way.

On one hand, you have the science/mathamatics involved, on the other, you have the philosphy that describes it and how we should interperet the thoery in our lives. Perhaps the ancient Far Eastern Mystics knew more than we thought.

Doubtful. They apparently had absolutley no idea about atoms, let alone sub-atomic particles, branes, strings, or any of that. Taoism is a mystical philosophy, and as such it can be made to seem like its talking about practically anything. Thats why it seems to 'agree' with quantum physics. In reality its got nothing to do with it, nor does it claim to really.

The big difference between this and Intelligent Design, is that Intelligent Design says 'this is not philosophy, this is science.' Of course, its entirely wrong.