| The case of Kitzmiller v. Dover (ruling made on Dec. | | | | based upon empirical evidence are not part of |
| 20, 2005) concerned whether Intelligent Design (ID) | | | | science." |
| could be mentioned as an alternative explanation to | | | | Judge Jones agreed with the plaintiffs that selecting a |
| evolution in a ninth-grade biology class. The school | | | | supernatural explanation is a "science-stopper," |
| board had directed that the following statement be | | | | because "once you attribute a cause to an untestable |
| read in the class: | | | | supernatural force, a proposition that cannot be |
| The Pennsylvania Academic Standards require | | | | disproven, there is no reason to continue seeking |
| students to learn about Darwin's Theory of Evolution | | | | natural explanations as we have our answer." |
| and eventually to take a standardized test of which | | | | No doubt this ruling will serve as precedent for future |
| evolution is a part. | | | | and pending creation vs. evolution cases throughout |
| Because Darwin's Theory is a theory, it continues to | | | | the country and will have a chilling effect on attempts |
| be tested as new evidence is discovered. The Theory | | | | by local school boards to introduce alternative |
| is not a fact. Gaps in the Theory exist for which there | | | | explanations to macroevolution and its underlying |
| is no evidence. A theory is defined as a well-tested | | | | religion, secular materialism (atheism relabeled). |
| explanation that unifies a broad range of observations. | | | | The truth is that as long ago as 1859, Louis Pasteur |
| Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of life | | | | irrefutably proved that spontaneous generation never |
| that differs from Darwin's view. The reference book, | | | | occurs. We stake our lives on this truth every time we |
| Of Pandas and People, is available for students who | | | | open a can of peas. To claim that life arose |
| might be interested in gaining an understanding of what | | | | spontaneously in the past when experiments in the |
| Intelligent Design actually involves. | | | | present demonstrate it is impossible is not science. It is |
| With respect to any theory, students are encouraged | | | | not testable; it is incapable of experimental |
| to keep an open mind. The school leaves the | | | | disconfirmation. |
| discussion of the Origins of Life to individual students | | | | Yet secular materialism continues, not only to be |
| and their families. As a Standards-driven district, class | | | | taught, but in the public school science classroom to |
| instruction focuses upon preparing students to achieve | | | | enjoy a monopoly sanctioned by court rulings such as |
| proficiency on Standards-based assessments. | | | | Kitzmiller. The religion of atheism, under another name, |
| District Court Judge John Jones, himself a regular | | | | is allowed free reign unchallenged while theism is |
| church-goer, ruled that ID is only Creationism relabeled, | | | | excluded because of the First Amendment's |
| and as such is definitely promoting a particular religious | | | | establishment clause. |
| view that includes belief in the God of Christianity. | | | | Of course, this will not muzzle discussions of Intelligent |
| Judge Jones noted that the testimony of expert | | | | Design. Several members of the Dover Area School |
| witnesses for the defendants (the Dover Area School | | | | Board who backed use of the above statement lost |
| Board) confirmed the religious mission of ID | | | | their reelection bids on Nov. 8, replaced by members |
| organizations. He further pointed out that the 1987 | | | | opposed to the policy. The president of the new board, |
| Supreme Court decision in Edwards v. Arkansas has | | | | Bernadette Reinking, has revealed that the board now |
| already declared the teaching of "scientific creationism" | | | | plans to remove ID from the science curriculum and |
| in public schools as unconstitutional. | | | | place it in an elective social studies class. |
| After Edwards, the editors of the ID textbook, Of | | | | Want to go deeper? |
| Pandas and People, merely changed the numerous | | | | To learn more about Intelligent Design and the ID |
| references to creation and creationism in prior editions | | | | movement, check out the writings of Phillip E. Johnson, |
| to Intelligent Design, with no other change of the | | | | the man regarded as the founder of ID: |
| content. His conclusion: since the teaching of "scientific | | | | - Darwin on Trial |
| creationism" in public schools is unconstitutional, and | | | | - Reason in the Balance: The Case Against Naturalism |
| since Intelligent Design is "scientific creationism" with a | | | | in Science, Law and Education |
| new label, teaching in public schools it is also | | | | - Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds |
| unconstitutional. | | | | - The Wedge of Truth: Splitting the Foundations of |
| Further, Judge Jones said that while ID "may be true, a | | | | Naturalism |
| proposition on which the court takes no position, ID is | | | | - Objections Sustained: Subversive Essays on |
| not science." This is because science by definition "is | | | | Evolution, Law, and Culture |
| limited to empirical, observable and ultimately testable | | | | - The Right Questions: Truth, Meaning & Public |
| data.... [Its] explanations are restricted to those that can | | | | Debate |
| be inferred from the confirmable data - the results | | | | - The Triumph of Design: And the Demise of Darwin |
| obtained through observations and experiments that | | | | (Video) |
| can be substantiated by other scientists. Anything that | | | | Also valuable is Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical |
| can be observed or measured is amenable to | | | | Challenge to Evolution by Michael Behe. |
| scientific investigation. Explanations that cannot be | | | | |