Libertarian Librarian

So, tell me why, exactly, Evolution and Intelligent Design can't live in harmony with one another? Seriously. The two theories are not mutually incompatible, and neither can be proven or disproven... so maybe they are part and parcel of the complete answer?

Evolution, as the Intelligent Design advocates really, really, really, REALLY want you to remember, is only a theory. It has not graduated to the realm of a Law of nature, though in effect, it is largely treated as such. ID advocates also note that they don't discard evolution entirely-- rather, they believe that it is incomplete, and unable to fully explain the existence and development of life.

Which means, contrary to all the wonderful Scopes' monkey trial analogies were getting these days, this is not a case of having to choose one or the other, nor between science and religion or even between Evolution and Creationism. And, frankly, unlike the situation in that famous case, most of the hyperbole and vicious anti-intellectualism seems to be coming from the evolutionary side of the argument, while the ID advocates are primarily asking the science community to at least consider their position rather than dismissing it out of hand. Still, there are reasoned responses to the ID position, but frankly, all this really says is that ID d/n disprove Evolution/Natural Selection. By the same token, however, this argument does not really provide any reason to think evolution is superior to ID other than that most of its proponents are Christians.

Much of our world can be explained through Darwinian evolutionary processes (ie, natural selection for survival attributes). But there are deficiencies in the theory, and it definitely does struggle to explain some of the tremendous complexities of life we find on this amazing planet of ours. But even if it didn't struggle in those areas, would that make it mutually incompatible with Intelligent Design?

Not really. Intelligent Design Theory argues that there is a lot of evidence that someone, or something, had a plan for how life should develop on Earth. This may, or may not, be the God of the Bible. Most IDT advocates believe it is the God of the Bible, but they admit that this is believe, not fact. So, what if this entity, god, gods, aliens, whatever, set the spark of life in motion billions of years ago, and set in place the necessary parameters for live to develop?

From a scientific view, is that any weaker of an explanation than that life just somehow spontaneously "emerged" and then wound its way down the long eons of history with natural selection as the principle guiding force, to where we are today? From a religious standpoint, is the belief that God started the whole thing way back when, and then, mostly, let his creation shape itself along the parameters intially established any harder to believe than that he made the whole thing *poof* in one go several thousand years ago?

So. Do I want IDT taught in public schools? Interesting question. As with most subjects, it depends. If IDT is taught objectively, and the teacher notes the possible deficiencies and/or religious implications of the thing, I think I'm okay with it. Of course, Evolution should be taught the same way... but I doubt it is, in most cases. If nothing else, I think the debate that IDT theory has sparked is healthy, because Darwin's theory has become rather too entrenched as Law these days-- to the point where many believe in it just because they believe in it.

Which is not to say I disbelieve it. Quite the contrary. I think it is a solid theory, with good evidence to support it-- but I don't think it's implications are nearly as far reaching as many in science and education would have them be. And if the choice were having to teach one or the other theory in public school, I would choose evolution, since I think ID's main usefulness is to explain how natural selection got started in the first place. But I really don't see the vast and horrible ruin of the sciences that will result if the idea of Intelligent Design is released in our public schools. Teachers and students aren't stupid-- let them here the pros and cons of each and make up their own minds.

As to my belief? Well, I find it hard to believe we're here by accident-- and I find the idea that God started the whole thing billions of years ago knowing it would turn out something like what it is today far more compelling than that he just went *pow* and there we all were. I also find it hard to believe that this:

happened entirely by accident. Lordy, Lordy, can I have a Hallelujah?! But I could be wrong. Think I'll go crack me open one of those cold, delicious Fruktime Orange's and think on it some more.