Professor Testifies in Evolution Debate

[psaturn]

Professor Testifies in Evolution Debate

'Intelligent Design' Is Form of Creationism and Is Not Based on Science, Professor Testifies

By MARTHA RAFFAELE



The Associated Press



Sep. 28, 2005 - The concept of "intelligent design" is a form of creationism and is not based on scientific method, a professor testified Wednesday in a trial over whether the idea should be taught in public schools.

Robert T. Pennock, a professor of science and philosophy at Michigan State University, testified on behalf of families who sued the Dover Area School District. He said supporters of intelligent design don't offer evidence to support their idea.



"As scientists go about their business, they follow a method," Pennock said. "Intelligent design wants to reject that and so it doesn't really fall within the purview of science."



Pennock said intelligent design does not belong in a science class, but added that it could possibly be addressed in other types of courses.



In October 2004, the Dover school board voted 6-3 to require teachers to read a brief statement about intelligent design to students before classes on evolution. The statement says Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection is "not a fact" and has inexplicable "gaps," and refers students to an intelligent-design textbook for more information.



Proponents of intelligent design argue that life on Earth was the product of an unidentified intelligent force, and that natural selection cannot fully explain the origin of life or the emergence of highly complex life forms.



Eight families are trying to have intelligent design removed from the curriculum, arguing that it violates the constitutional separation of church and state. They say it promotes the Bible's view of creation.



Meanwhile, a lawyer for two newspaper reporters said Wednesday the presiding judge has agreed to limit questioning of the reporters, averting a legal (!@#$%^&*) over having them testify in the case.



Both reporters wrote stories that said board members mentioned creationism as they discussed the intelligent design issue. Board members have denied that.



U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III agreed that the reporters would only have to verify the content of their stories and not answer questions about unpublished material, possible bias or the use of any confidential sources.



"They're testifying only as to what they wrote," said Niles Benn, attorney for The York Dispatch and the York Daily Record/Sunday News, the papers that employed the two freelancers.



The reporters were subpoenaed but declined to give depositions Tuesday, citing their First Amendment rights. A lawyer for the school board had said he planned to seek contempt citations against the two.



The judge's order clears the way for the reporters to provide depositions and testify Oct. 6.






Copyright 2005*The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures

[spyderman_88]

[ QUOTE ]

Robert T. Pennock, a professor of science and philosophy at Michigan State University, testified on behalf of families who sued the Dover Area School District. He said supporters of intelligent design don't offer evidence to support their idea.


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That's fairly ignorant considering how little evidence *if any* evolutionists have.

[William Ustav]

LOL, I don't get it [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] What's the point of having trials? We all know that the evolutionists will say intelligent design is not science, and creationists say that it is. What do people expect???

I mean, WOW - an evolutionist professor doesn't want creationism to be taught in school! That's new! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

If they only knew...

[saviour]

good job by the professor
all the brainwashing should be kept outside the school.. its illegal to influence tender minds in a biased fashion

the world runs and prospers on scientific discoveries and not with help of supernatural powers

[saviour]

lol........ [img]/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] very conveniently twisted my statement.
thats the problem with "preachings" ... they are designed to captivate/arrest a human brain into thinking in a certain way

but science is all about observing,exploring and discovering facts of the nature through an unbiased frame of mind.

[given_to_fly]

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but science is all about observing,exploring and discovering facts of the nature through an unbiased frame of mind.

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How do you observe, explore and discover the origin of the earth my friend? Were you there to observe or test?

Scientists have pieces of evidence (note that creationists and evolutionists have the same evidence) and they have to devise theories about what best explains the evidence. I used to be a proponent of evolution, as did Joe, until I actually studied it in depth and realized it is a very weak theory. And that is being generous.

[Armor for Sleep]

[ QUOTE ]

You're right, but tell me, how can we "observe" evolution? Even the most famous evolutionists assert that evolution research simply cannot follow the scientific method because it is not directly observeable and it is not testable. If it doesn't follow the scientific method, it is not science. Origins science (evolution) is not science.

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how often i have to repeat this to everyone i talk to. i really wish professors would teach the scientific method (Popper's definition of it) and ask the class - "knowing this, is evolution a science?" i think that would really make people think. but it seems teachers just skim past the subject and everyone (understandably) assumes evolution is a science since its an integral part of every science textbook. a little fire just burned in me right now, i think im gonna be a professor of science and teach these kids what science is!

[given_to_fly]

[ QUOTE ]
a little fire just burned in me right now, i think im gonna be a professor of science and teach these kids what science is!

[/ QUOTE ]

please do!!!!!