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<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="+3"
color="#000000"><b> Professor Defends 'Intelligent
Design'</b></font></div>
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<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="-2" color="#000000"><b>By THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS<br>
<br>
</b></font><font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000000">Published:
November 4, 2005<br>
<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman" size="+1" color="#000000"><b>Filed
at 12:20 p.m. ET<br>
<br>
</b>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.<br>
<br>
''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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
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On the Net:<br>
<br>
Dover Area School District:</font><font face="Times New Roman"
size="+1" color="#000066"> http://www.dover.k12.pa.us</font><font
face="Times New Roman" size="+1" color="#000000"><br>
<br>
National Center for Science Education:</font><font
face="Times New Roman" size="+1" color="#000066">
http://www.ncseweb.org</font><font face="Times New Roman" size="+1"
color="#000000"><br>
<br>
Thomas More Law Center:</font><font face="Times New Roman" size="+1"
color="#000066"> http://www.thomasmore.org</font></div>
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