Yet another poll, or rather this time a nascent one being run by the boyos at TelicThoughts who mailed myself and more than a few other science bloggers to see what our answer to the question “On which points are intelligent design and creationism identical?” given the following definitions:

“creationism” will be defined as “a belief in the literal interpretation of the account of the creation of the universe and of all living things related in the Bible” (source: Dictionary.com). “Evolution” will be defined as “the theory that all modern life forms are derived from one or a few common ancestors via descent with modification”.

Firstly, that a very restrivtive definition of creationism as it only encompasses young-earth creationism and ignores a number of viewpoints that are proudly creationist (day age, gap, etc). Secondly, what’s the definition of intelligent design? We’re not told, but are lead to believe that it is different from evolution (it is) or creationism sensu lato (it is not).

In any case, they provide the following options:

• A. Both creationism and intelligent design require one to have a particular interpretation of the Biblical creation account.
• B. Both creationism and intelligent design require one to accept a particular age of the Earth and of the universe.
• C. Both creationism and intelligent design require one to reject evolution.
• D. Both creationism and intelligent design identify the Christian God as the creator.
• E. Both creationism and intelligent design hold that there is an intelligence behind certain features of nature.
• F. There are no points of similarity between creationism and intelligent design.
• G. None of the above options accurately describe the relationship between creationism and intelligent design.

The answer is, of course, ‘G’ and ‘G’ alone. As Wes Elsberry points out, there should be an option “H. ‘Intelligent design’ is a subset of the arguments previously labeled ‘creation science’.”