We need more people like Dr. Robert Pennock (debunking Intelligent Design)

[Sandpiper]

HARRISBURG, Pa. - 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 exposed to public school students in science class.

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."

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9516769/



Most scientists don't want to sully themselves by entering the ID debate. They feel that since the facts are on their side, what's there to debate.

We can't afford to keep that attitude. There's a full frontal assault on intellectualism going on in this country. We need people like Dr. Pennock taking the gloves off and socking it to the Creationists.

[Turbineguy]

1. You look around at the earth

and there's a certain seduction to "Intelligent Design". Then you look at the people who promote it.

I'd rather rather eat from the tree of knowledge than graze in the pasture of bullshit.

[PurityOfEssence]

2. Science is democratic; religion is anti-democratic

Science depends upon peer-reviewed findings and experiments that are observable and repeatable. Religion claims an aristocratic superiority that needs to brook no dissent. Science in its proper form has no preconceived bigotries; religion is nothing but assumptions that are above reproach.

This is why religion is held at arms length: it needs no proof, and anyone not believing it is inferior by definition.

[dretceterini]

3. As a Theoretical Physicist and professor

I've tried for years to get people to discuss why both science and spirituality (NOT religion) are needed in an attempt to come up with a grand unified theory, but the agendas on both sides of the question have made it virtually impossible to actually present something like this in a university setting.

[AllegroRondo]

4. ID is faith, Science is skepticism

ID asks you to NOT ask questions, and simply assume "god did it"

Science asks you to constantly test ideas, and reject those that do not pass.