One Small Step

Chalk one up for the good guys! A decision came down today in Pennsylvania in the Kitzmiller vs. Dover School Board case, and the court ruled that "Intelligent Design" really IS nothing but old-time creationism in a white lab coat. Kudos to Judge John Jones for getting it right.

Moreover, his opinion on the case is really worth the read. It provides not only a fine summary of the arguments presented, but also clearly lays out how science differs from religion, and why ID is in fact a religious philosophy rather than a scientific theory. Even better, the judge addresses the duplicity of the ID proponents and the extents to which they go to cover up their religious affiliations and motivations.

Conservative talk radio is misrepresenting this verdict, and most news outlets are oversimplifying it beyond belief. Yet this remains an issue that should be of great importance to anyone who values learning and education. Science and faith can be compatible for some people, but they are not interchangeable.

Most importantly, science allows the evidence to determine the conclusions reached - with peer-reviewed critical review and the need to replicate a result on multiple occasions. ID, and all other forms of creationism, begin with their conclusions (i.e. God exists, the Bible is fact, etc.) - then construct convoluted arguments to make these conclusions seem "scientific". ID would be an interesting thing to cover in a theology class, or a social studies class, or a political science class. But it is not science, and to teach kids that it is only contributes further to the woeful scientific ignorance that pervades this nation.