INTELLIGENT DESIGN IS OBVIOUSLY NOT ...

... intelligent to some; but at least one high ranking Australian believes teaching it is the intelligent thing to do.

The controversial theory of "intelligent design" has won the qualified backing of Education Minister Brendan Nelson, who says it should be taught in schools alongside evolution if that is the wish of parents.

Intelligent design, which is damned by critics as a front for biblical Creationism, argues that life on Earth is too complex to have evolved purely through Darwin's theory of natural selection.

He told the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday that he would oppose replacing evolution with ID in Australia's science classes but said parents should be able to choose that their children learn about it.

"Do I think it should be a replacement for teaching the origins of mankind in a scientific sense? I most certainly don't think that it should be at all. In fact, I'd be quite concerned if it were to replace it," said Dr Nelson, who is a medical doctor and a Christian. [...]

"As far as I'm concerned, students can be taught and should be taught the basic science in terms of the evolution of man, but if schools also want to present students with intelligent design, I don't have any difficulty with that. It's about choice, reasonable choice."

Notice his clear focus on the educational aspect of the issue, rather than on the emotional aspect of the issue! Kudos to Mr. Nelson.

The Age also asked Health Minister Tony Abbott, known for his Catholic views, his view of intelligent design but he refused to say whether it should be taught in Australian classrooms. "This is a traditional argument which is put forward in theological classes but I'm not a theologian," he said.

Labor education spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said: "All young people should have an understanding of a range of religious beliefs."

Both Abbott and Macklin presuppose ID is a religious issue and move forward from there. It is clear to this observer that many people, when asked about ID, respond from ignorance and not from knowledge.

I have several children who had the same problem while growing up; they saw my lips move, the heard the sounds I made, they even understood the words I used, but they did NOT listen to what I was saying. Their minds were off thinking about something else while their heads rocked up and down in acknowledgement but not understanding.

There are both a religious and a scientific position on ID, each having their place and importance; people should know the difference between the two. To dismiss the latter, due simply to the existence of the former is dishonest. Sadly, this seems to be the prevailing modus operandi these days.

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