After my original writing in 2005, Judge John E. Jones rendered his opinion in December, 2005, on the Kitzmiller v. Dover case. This is the case in which a school board, with some assistance from the Discovery Institute, attempted to insert intelligent design into the science curriculum as an alternative "theory" to evolution.
The decision here, posted by Talk Origins, provides a thorough overview of intelligent design origins.
The Dover case illustrates the effectiveness of skilled persuasion techniques. To wit: Most of the pro-ID school board members had a very minimal grasp on what the heck ID is about, but they had a very good grasp on the emotive buttons it pushed in them, related to their faith and patriotism.
From Casey Brown, a Dover school board member who resigned after the board voted to insert ID:
There has been a slow but steady marginalization of some board members. Our opinions are no longer valued or listened to. Our contributions have been minimized or not acknowledged at all. A measure of that is the fact that I myself have been twice asked within the past year if I was 'born again.' No one has, nor should have the right, to ask that of a fellow board member. An individual's religious beliefs should have no impact on his or her ability to serve as a school board director, nor should a person's beliefs be used as a yardstick to measure the value of that service.Another board member who resigned, Wenrich, said:However, it has become increasingly evident that it is the direction the board has now chosen to go, holding a certain religious belief is of paramount importance.
I was referred to as unpatriotic, and my religious beliefs were questioned. I served in the U.S. Army for 11 years and six years on the board. Seventeen years of my life have been devoted to public service, and my religion is personal. It's between me, God, and my pastor.
No comments:
Post a Comment