Friday, August 26, 2005

Intelligent Design vs. What, exactly?

One of my online friends was writing, somewhat negatively, about the idea of Intelligent Design. You know: the idea that biological- and physics-based systems are so complex that they HAVE to have been created by God, and that this idea should be taught in schools either alongside or in place of evolution. This is NOT a response to her… just a comment on the whole thing.

There are two separate issues, here. Let’s handle the easy one first:

Keep God out of the public schools. If you want to teach God-based education, either leave the country or go to private school. It’s constitutionally mandated to be this way, so drop the argument. Nobody has any right to use public funds to teach children about any group’s view on any form of God’s involvement in their lives. We have church for that. Or parents. Remember parents?

The land was made for you AND me. And THEM. You know? Even if if God snapped his fingers and created it all, teach what happened in the aftermath. There’s a lot of ground to cover, there.

Second: Why are God and Science are so incompatible, anyway? Maybe God started the ball rolling, and then things developed. I dunno. I just don't think they're so different. Unless you’re a biblical literalist.

And shit, yo: How long is a day in God's mind, anyway? 7 days could be 4 billion years, for all we know. Hubris, hubris, to think we know otherwise.

Love to all. Even you, the dude with the argyle blanket, sleeping on 31st and Lexington in NYC.

9 comments:

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

You have great ideas that make sense. You write well and I like your writing voice. What I'm saying is there's some raw potential here as writer. I think you're good.

Little things are what matter between good and great. Take out words you don't--words that get in the way of the story you're telling--and you'll kick it up a notch. (smile)

Truman Capote said, "Every time you want to write very (insert your own word there) use damn, your editor will take it, and you won't miss anyway."

I've been teaching young writers too long. Sorry coldn't help myself. Hope you don't mind. Delete me if you do.
Smiles,
me-Liz

zandperl said...

"Why are God and Science are so incompatible, anyway?"

Because of the definition of science. It is defined as the search for answers based upon physical evidence without resort to supernatural explanations. As soon as we introduce something supernatural (such as God), it is no longer science. Because of this religious individuals are free to argue that science is inherrantly flawed as much as they like, but introducing God into science is not an option. That would be like teaching Satanism in Sunday School.

Christopher Trottier said...

The only problem is that several parents don't bother to teach their children values, and they are not exposed to church. School is all the education on ethics they receive. In this sense, do you really want school to teach children ethics? I know I don't.

EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima said...

I did not learn about GOD in school or college. I learnt about GOD in the bosom of my beloved mother. She had only Sunday School education and she read only one book all her life, the Holy Bible in our mother tongue Igbo. And that was the best and only education she ever had. And she told me that the Holy Spirit of God does not live in houses built with bricks, but in hearts filled with love.

Americans should stop harassing and embarrassing God in their petty politics.

The best place to discover God is not in your schools ot workplaces, but in your hearts.

God bless America.
I love you.

Kiley said...

This post = totally awesome. I wish more people would pull their heads out of their collective asses (pardon my coarse language, but I am a scientist and am frequently harassed about this whole issue on a personal level, as though I had something to do with it myself!) and consider the issues as you have laid them out here.

cheers,
ariK

Tommy said...

If there was a god, this would not even be a debate.

The existance of George Bush and Pat Robertson is a prime argument against Intelligent Design.

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to say.
AMEN.
Er. You know what I mean...

ClashingCymbals said...

"God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." Genesis 1:5

Cleary a day to God means the same thing as it does to us. Unless you could somehow prove that the Earth was rotating slower back then so a day would last longer.

Kiley said...

Ranting Tommy: TOO DAMN FUNNY!!! Bravo. :-)