[Vision2020] NYTimes: Intelligent Design/UI prof

[Mark Solomon]

  Professor Defends 'Intelligent Design'

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: November 4, 2005


Filed at 12:20 p.m. ET

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- A biology professor who supports classroom 
discussion of ''intelligent design'' testified Friday that major 
peer-reviewed scientific journals shun articles on the concept 
because it is a minority view.

''To endorse intelligent design comes with risk because it's a 
position against the consensus. Science is not a democratic 
process,'' University of Idaho microbiology professor Scott Minnich 
said under cross-examination.

Minnich testified on behalf of the Dover Area School Board, which is 
defending an October 2004 decision to require students to hear a 
statement about intelligent design before ninth-grade biology lessons 
on evolution. Teachers opposed the statement, which says Charles 
Darwin's theory is ''not a fact'' and has inexplicable ''gaps,'' and 
refers students to the textbook ''Of Pandas and People'' for more 
information.

Eight families are suing to end the practice, saying it violates the 
constitutional separation of church and state because it essentially 
promotes the Bible's view of creation.

Intelligent design supporters argue that natural selection, an 
element of evolutionary theory, cannot fully explain the origin of 
life or the emergence of highly complex life forms.

Minnich testified that intelligent design is based on science and 
doesn't require adherence to any religious belief. He also praised 
the prescribed statement to students.

Like some other advocates of intelligent design, Minnich acknowledged 
that he believes the designer is God, but he stressed that is a 
personal belief, not one based on science.

The trial, which began Sept. 26, is being heard without a jury and 
was expected to conclude with closing arguments Friday afternoon. The 
judge was not expected to rule immediately.

The plaintiffs are represented by a team put together by the American 
Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church 
and State. The school district is represented by the Ann Arbor, 
Mich.-based Thomas More Law Center, which says its mission is to 
defend the religious freedom of Christians.

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On the Net:

Dover Area School District: http://www.dover.k12.pa.us

National Center for Science Education: http://www.ncseweb.org

Thomas More Law Center: http://www.thomasmore.org
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