Intelligent Design: Part Snake Oil, Part Jews for Jesus
Ok, the thing is we have Science classes in public schoolrooms. Not Faith classes. Discussing Faith is for you and your own family to discuss at church, temple, synagogue or what have you on the weekend. So trying to market faith-based Creationism as some sort of science with the name of Intelligent Design is not mere annoyance.
It's fraud.
That there are holes in Evolution or any other scientific concept -- that's part of the process of Science. Scientists research, test, revise, replacing "wrong" views with "better" ones. Our understanding of scientific principles changes as experiments are conducted, as new data is discovered. There's no blanket acceptance.
Hunches, myths, ancient texts, superstitions. None of these are science because a) they tend not to be repeatable b) you cannot conduct experiments...
That Science cannot explain everything does not give any myth or religion the same right to be included in scientific education, or in public zoos, or in any United States of American state-run institution unless it's framed as culture. Separation of Church & State.
That Religion is a part of Americas foundation is beside the point. It STILL does not mean it should be labeled science and included in science class. Sure, include in philosophy classes, or studies on man's explanations for the creation of the universe.
The terrible part is, the folks pushing Intelligent Design outside its accepted realms know all this and are conning people.
Ignorance is not bliss anymore. It's downright dangerous:
Think economically. You can't develop advanced technology if you're restricted by limiting beliefs. While studying evolution is useful in developing computer software, robots, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, Intelligent Design is USELESS. So what if God made the universe? How can you develop products without UNDERSTANDING how organic systems work? Intelligent Design/Creationism offers no concept of "How". In contrast, much existing simulation work on artificial life demonstrates the power of evolution, including these artificial schooling fish on a multi-user virtual reality game called Second Life.
Persuading children to ignore science in the science classroom could affect their ability to think logically, rationally, and complexly. We need MORE intelligence in our country, not less. We need MORE critical-thinking, not less. Our country falls way, way behind others in test scores. Those aren't religioun tests they're acing. Those other kids are the ones who will make new innovation, bringing in the money... Yes, there are plenty of idiots running corporations. But the innovation comes from smart people, which will be overseas unless we educate children here.
Then there's the whole dark side of Creationism -- that women are to blame for Sin. That rubbish has caused strife and bigotry for centuries. Does that really belong in a science class?
Our schools have enough problems to deal with -- funding without too much commercialism, violence, and producing smart children capable of handling the challenges of this world.
It's fraud.
That there are holes in Evolution or any other scientific concept -- that's part of the process of Science. Scientists research, test, revise, replacing "wrong" views with "better" ones. Our understanding of scientific principles changes as experiments are conducted, as new data is discovered. There's no blanket acceptance.
Hunches, myths, ancient texts, superstitions. None of these are science because a) they tend not to be repeatable b) you cannot conduct experiments...
That Science cannot explain everything does not give any myth or religion the same right to be included in scientific education, or in public zoos, or in any United States of American state-run institution unless it's framed as culture. Separation of Church & State.
That Religion is a part of Americas foundation is beside the point. It STILL does not mean it should be labeled science and included in science class. Sure, include in philosophy classes, or studies on man's explanations for the creation of the universe.
The terrible part is, the folks pushing Intelligent Design outside its accepted realms know all this and are conning people.
Ignorance is not bliss anymore. It's downright dangerous:
Think economically. You can't develop advanced technology if you're restricted by limiting beliefs. While studying evolution is useful in developing computer software, robots, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, Intelligent Design is USELESS. So what if God made the universe? How can you develop products without UNDERSTANDING how organic systems work? Intelligent Design/Creationism offers no concept of "How". In contrast, much existing simulation work on artificial life demonstrates the power of evolution, including these artificial schooling fish on a multi-user virtual reality game called Second Life.
Persuading children to ignore science in the science classroom could affect their ability to think logically, rationally, and complexly. We need MORE intelligence in our country, not less. We need MORE critical-thinking, not less. Our country falls way, way behind others in test scores. Those aren't religioun tests they're acing. Those other kids are the ones who will make new innovation, bringing in the money... Yes, there are plenty of idiots running corporations. But the innovation comes from smart people, which will be overseas unless we educate children here.
Then there's the whole dark side of Creationism -- that women are to blame for Sin. That rubbish has caused strife and bigotry for centuries. Does that really belong in a science class?
Our schools have enough problems to deal with -- funding without too much commercialism, violence, and producing smart children capable of handling the challenges of this world.
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