American Family Association Weighs In

The American Family Association has issued an amusing press release on the Dover ruling. It says:

"According the logic of the court, any hint of the existence of God, whether derived by scientific means or otherwise, renders it off limits to public schools," said Stephen Crampton, Chief Counsel for the AFA Center for Law & Policy (CLP). "The rigid denial of any competing theory to evolution suggests that evolution itself may be the only god allowed in our schools," Crampton added.

Isn't it interesting how, in order to counter Judge Jones' ruling, the pro-ID crowd has to distort it completely to make it say something it doesn't say? The court did not rule that "any hint of the existence of God" makes it off limits in public schools. The court ruled that a transparently dishonest attempt to dress up a religious doctrine in scientific-sounding language is off limits in public schools. And the evidence presented at trial clearly supported the fact that ID is such an attempt.

"This case is far from over. It will be appealed. We intend to weigh in with an amicus brief, as will many similar groups around the country," Crampton said. "In the final analysis, the stranglehold evolution has on our public schools will not be settled until the Supreme Court addresses the issue," Crampton noted.

No, it's not going to be appealed, but thanks for paying attention before spouting off. As far as this "stranglehold evolution has on our public schools", let's change that around just a bit. Let's talk about the "stranglehold" that heliocentricity has on our public schools. After all, we teach that heliocentricity is true and do not allow teachers to offer geocentricity as an alternative because some people think the Bible supports it. Why? Because heliocentricity is true.

One could make the same arguments for geocentricity as one makes for ID - there are legitimate scientists who argue that it is true (Gerardus Buow, the leading geocentrist, has a genuine degree in astronomy from Case Western Reserve). They even make all the same arguments about "Copernicanism" as IDers make about "Darwinism", that it fosters a dangerous "naturalism" that leads to "moral relativism" and the downfall of everything good in society. And there is just as much research to support geocentrism as there is to support ID - none.