Intelligent Design
Category archives for Intelligent Design
Just so you know … cdesign proponentsists
Posted by Greg Laden on September 14, 2010 The blogosphere is structured like a bus of tourists heading into ever new territory being spoken to by a thousand guides with microphones in the front of the vehicle. Woe be it to any guide who points out something that the bus passed several blocks back. But sometimes it is appropriate to re-mention certain things…
Evolution vs. Creationism: The Book
Posted by Greg Laden on September 14, 2010 A life science teacher should not have to know about creationism to teach evolution, other than to the extent that you may cover the history of evolutionary biology, and begin in the days before science took center stage and natural philosophy was dragged off with one of those big vaudeville hooks. But, unfortunately, you do…
Your letter to your child’s biology teacher
Posted by Greg Laden on September 9, 2010 You have to tell your child’s life science teacher (or, any science teacher for that matter) that your family does not support creationism, does not want to see anyone “teaching the controversy” and that you know that “Intelligent Design” is a form of creationism. I promise you, the creationist parents of your child’s peers, and…
Parents: Is your child’s teacher a creationist?
Posted by Greg Laden on September 8, 2010 It happens. A very large percentage of life science teachers are creationists. In Minnesota, and Minnesota is not that unusual, about half the population or more are creationists, but among life science teachers, that number is reduced by almost one half. In other words, one in three life science teachers are creationists, although most, one…
What to do about Bible-thumping students in the science classroom
Posted by Greg Laden on September 8, 2010 …. Have you ever had this happen: You are minding your own business, teaching your life science course, it’s early in the term. A student, on the way out of the room after class (never at the beginning of class, rarely during class) mentions something about “carbon dating.” This usually happens around the time of…
The Great Debate, Part I: Miller & Pennock vs. Dembski & Behe
Posted by Greg Laden on September 1, 2010 The Devil in Dover
Posted by Greg Laden on September 1, 2010 When I go to meet the teachers or administrators at my daughter’s school, I whisper these words to each of them: “I just want you to know that I’m involved in a number of organizations that seek to protect the quality of science education in our public schools. If you ever need any support, if…
British NSS Criticizes Creationist Zoo
Posted by Greg Laden on August 29, 2010 The National Secular Society of Britain has weighed in on the problem of bringing Welsh students to the Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm where they can learn about how Jesus rode a Dinosaur.
Half of Americans think evolution did not happen
Posted by Greg Laden on August 16, 2010 Therefore, we should teach that as fact in schools, right?
Who Pulled the Stake Out of Young Earth Creationism?
Posted by Greg Laden on August 15, 2010 Genie Scott’s recent talk at an Atheist Alliance International conference. The title: “Who Pulled the Stake Out? The resurgence of young-earth creationism”. Event date: 9-28-2007
Uncommon Knowledge: Genie Scott vs. Dembski
Posted by Greg Laden on August 13, 2010 An episode from KTEH’s Uncommon Knowledge series: “Darwin under the Microscope: Questioning Darwinism”. Dr. Genie Scott goes toe to toe with creationist Dr. William Dembski. Air date: 12/7/2001
Why are some urinary tract infections chronic?
Posted by Greg Laden on August 12, 2010 Chronic infection is, in a way, the new emerging infectious disease. Many pathogens are relatively tenacious when they infect elderly individuals or individuals who are otherwise not fully immunocompetent, and such individuals are, thanks to modern medical technology and practice, more common in the population. Resistant bacteria can cause chronic infection. It is interesting to…
A good example of appeasement
Posted by Greg Laden on August 12, 2010 … can be found here, in this talk by William Phillips speaking at the AAAS:
Teabagger Ron Micheli and the Wyoming Governor’s Race
Posted by Greg Laden on August 11, 2010 Wyoming, which is a pretty stupid state sometimes, although you don’t hear about it too often because almost no one lives there, has a candidate for governor who … wants teachers to be required to teach creationism. “I think it is as valuable a theory as any other theory.” … is opposed to abortion even…
Creationist College Prof Will Not Return to Classroom
Posted by Greg Laden on August 9, 2010 An adjunct community college professor had a bit of a problem when it came time to teach evolution, according to certain sources: Student Bryan Jaden Walker wrote on his blog, … that the professor “glossed over the scientific explanation very quickly (less than 20 seconds), then explained Creationism for about five minutes (5,000-year-old Earth, no…
Livingston Parish Saved from Creationists
Posted by Greg Laden on August 4, 2010 For now. This just in from the National Center for Science Education: Creationism won’t be taught in the public schools of Livingston Parish, Louisiana — at least not yet. The Baton Rouge Advocate (August 1, 2010) reports that “The Livingston Parish School Board won’t try to include the teaching of creationism in this year’s curriculum,…
Darwin’s Universe: Evolution from A to Z (a free excerpt)
Posted by Greg Laden on August 2, 2010 … from the National Center for Science Education. Click the picture to get the PDF of Darwin’s Universe: Evolution from A to Z .
Own The Poll UPDATED (Or, more proof that Christian = Liar)
Posted by Greg Laden on July 30, 2010 This one is very much worth the effort. Stop here first for some instructions on strategy, then go here to do this thing. UPDATED!!!!! Holy crap! The Kent Hovind poll started out looking like this: What do you believe about evolution? It’s a religion. * It’s a fact! * It’s a reasonable scientific theory. Then…
Livingston, LA School Board To Implement Discovery Institute’s “Academic Freedom” Law
Posted by Greg Laden on July 29, 2010 Barbara Forrest, author of Creationism’s Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design, has a major blog post addressing the current maneno in Louisiana. A Parish school board there wants to place creationism on equal or higher footing than evolution. Read Barbara’s piece here.
Louisiana Parish will Legally Require Creationism in Public Schools, May Ban Evolution
Posted by Greg Laden on July 26, 2010 Unless they are stopped which, frankly, does not seem very likely.
Religion has a major conflict with science, but does this conflict also exist within the sciences?
Posted by Greg Laden on July 16, 2010 …. because your proof of your god is falsified by science. But that is not a problem that science has. It is a problem that you have. It is also not a problem that the Secular Public School System in the US has. Unless you make it so. This explored in a recent iNewp piece:
Minnesota Citizens for Science Education has a New Home!!!
Posted by Greg Laden on July 14, 2010 And we need your help to move it. Please click here so the global network of DNS servers knows that you want to visit the MnCSE. You should really visit the site anyway, it’s very cool, even if you are not a Minnesota. I love the graphic thingie on the top of the right sidebar…
God, Darwin … or Both?
Posted by Greg Laden on July 13, 2010 Speaking of Accommodationism and New Atheism and stuff, check out this 10 year old discussion:
Dumb Canadians Get to Maintain Dumb Standards for their Dumb Kids
Posted by Greg Laden on July 9, 2010 And we’re talking about bigots and creationists in Alberta, which I figure is more or less the Canadian equivalent of Texas …. the dumbest province in the Great White North.
Are creationists dumb or not?
Posted by Greg Laden on July 6, 2010 This topic came up a couple of times during SkepchiCON. I’ll be blogging about that later. But for now, I thought you might find this interesting.
HuffPo Religion and Science: the stupidest thing I’ve read on the internet all morning
Posted by Greg Laden on July 6, 2010 Although I quickly add that I’ve not been reading much on the Internet this morning, but stilll ….. There is this item in HuffPo … Jesus and the Evolution of the Species by Stanley Knick, PhD: This is not about whether you believe in God, or whether you believe in evolution. It is not about…
US 5th District Court Slaps Evolution and Reason Upside the Head
Posted by Greg Laden on July 6, 2010 Apparently, it is OK for a government agency to insist that its employees consider religious explanations for natural phenomenon as equal to scientific ones in the context of science education. In a decision issued on July 2, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a lower court’s decision that the…
Newsflash: Evolution Wins in South Carolina!
Posted by Greg Laden on June 8, 2010 Considering how right wing SC is, this is rather remarkable. Here’s the details:
Antievolution legislation in Missouri dies
Posted by Greg Laden on May 20, 2010 Missouri’s latest contribution to ruining science education has died a merciful death before even reaching committee. This did not happen by itself. This happened because we are keeping an eye on them. We are watching you, Robert Wayne Cooper. And the rest of you. We are watching you too. Read the happy details at the…
, which is now available for the 
