From my colleague Glenn Branch, the deputy director of the National Center for Science Education, a new article assessing the latest anti-evolution strategies being thrown at school boards around the nation. The ID crowd, who are as good at public relations as they are bad at doing science, have come up with slogan "teach the controversy" to sell their snake oil, and it's a compelling turn of phrase. But like all catchphrases, it hides a much deeper reality. As Glenn points out,
As a would-be intellectually respectable form of anti-evolutionism, intelligent design is not without its successes; its advocates publish a steady stream of articles and books, aimed at a popularusually religiously and politically conservativeaudience. Yet it is scientifically vacuous: Intelligent design is virtually absent from the peer-reviewed scientific research literature. Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, its advocates are now increasingly disavowing any intention of adding intelligent design to science curricula. Instead, like creation scientists, they call for teaching the controversy.
There is more to be said on the matter, so please read the rest of the article.
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Great article. All across our land, religious groups and individuals constantly seek governmental means of promoting their theology. CSPAN carried a couple of hearings today of a Senate subcommittee meeting with regard to religious expression. The appearance of ousted Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore reminded me that my blood pressure prescription needed refilling. I hope our elected representatives have the courage to support the separation of government and religion for their mutual benefit and that of the citizens.