>-----Original Message-----
>From: evolution-owner@lists.calvin.edu
>[mailto:evolution-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On Behalf Of Susan Brassfield
>Cogan
>Sent: Friday, September 08, 2000 10:41 AM
>To: evolution@calvin.edu
>Subject: Re: Definitions of ID
>
>
>> Hi Chris:
>>Saying "nature" did something is no more informative than saying god did
>it.
>
>
>
>>The only questions science can try to answer is how they did it. ( either
>>"god" or this guy, "nature") Most IDs do not deny evolution, they are
>>skeptical of "accidental evolution"-- some process occurring without plan,
>>purpose or design.
>
>Susan:
>as Chris and I (and others) have pointed out that is religion, not science.
>Plan and purpose are not detectible by science--people who wish to hold
>these views as religious beliefs are perfectly free to do so. In fact they
>have a constitutionally guaranteed right to do so. However, "most IDs" want
>those religious views accepted and taught as science and they simply can't
>be without violating church and state separation.
>
>Nelson:
>I don't see how the evidence of the irreducible complexity of the bacterial
>flagellum has anything to do with the seperation of church and state?
And Susan Replies:
Behe ceases to explore possible evolutionary pathways for his IC systems
with the simple pronouncement "God did it." That's one of the main
objections to ID: it is stultifying to scientific inquiry. The purpose of
ID (and IC) is to "prove" the existence of the gods is a scientific fact.
If you can do that, you can get around the major legal roadblock to having
Christian dogma taught in public schools--in science class, no less. This
is one of the major objectives of the Discovery Institute which, at least
in part, bankrolls Behe, Dembski and Johnson.
Susan
----------
The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our
actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only
morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life.
--Albert Einstein
http://www.telepath.com/susanb/
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