Last week’s remarks by President Bush about “intelligent design”
deserving to be taught so students can be exposed to “different
schools of thought” will add fuel to that controversy.
It’s curious that when it comes to sex education, abstinence is
the only school of thought needed per the administration. It seems
these “different schools of thought” are not always
desirable.
Although the Douglas County School District has been spared this
divisive debate, there are rumblings to the south of us in Colorado
Springs. So in preparation for the day when we too will be dragged
into this, it would be worth it to review some items so the ensuing
debate will at least take place in a correct context.
First, evolution has nothing whatsoever to do with how life
began. Evolution deals with the subject of how existing life adapts
to its environment and to changes therein. Evolution studies the
feedback process of surviving and reproducing within an
environment.
The origin of life is not a feedback process and is therefore
completely out of scope. Although some evolutionary scientists
might be interested in knowing how life began, this is sort of like
John Elway being interested in golf – it’s outside of the main area
of expertise.
Second, evolution is a fact, with more than ample evidence in
the fossil record and even in our own lifetimes (see “The Beak of
the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time” by Jonathon Weiner,
available at your local den of subversive thought, the Douglas
County Libraries). The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics and
the breeding of traits into animals and crops are further
indisputable evidence of life evolving when outside changes are
exerted.
Evolutionary theories are developed to explain that fact.
Gravity is a fact – theories about how it works differ and continue
to cause disagreement. But anybody who would assert gravity doesn’t
exist because we don’t know how it works has misguided perception-
ditto evolution.
Third – yes – I said evolutionary “theories” in the plural.
There is no “theory of evolution;” rather, there are and have been
numerous theories of evolution over the years and there are no
doubt more to come in the future. Many have been discarded and
replaced with improved theories as more evidence becomes
available.
There are evolutionary theories known as gradualism, punctuated
equilibrium, allopatric speciation, peripatric speciation and many
other theories and sub-theories. So when attacking evolutionary
theories, be sure to specifically address the reasons why this or
that theory is bogus. Present your evidence (and no, opinions and
emotions are not evidence). That input might just be the key to
creating the new theory that will replace the one you just
debunked! Science glory awaits!
Fourth – there is no contradiction between present theories of
evolution and religion. The oldest and largest Christian church –
Roman Catholicism – has accepted that God created man, using
evolution as His tool. No problemo.
Science answers questions and questions answers. It examines
evidence and never works backwards from a pre-ordained conclusion.
Any discipline or theory that wants to present itself as science
must abide by those and other tenets.
Creation science never met the rigorous requirements to qualify
as a science. Repackaging it and renaming it “intelligent design”
(ID) fools no one (except those who wish to be fooled). Discussing
“intelligent design” is fine and good – in a class on religious
theory, rhetoric, marketing or mysticism. Just not in a biology
class. For that to happen, ID proponents need to present a body of
evidence and critically probe the evidence and test their theory
against that.
Don’t hold your breath.