Intelligent Design

Should intelligent design be taught in science classes, and to what degree?

  • Yes, intelligent design should be taught in science classes and fully explored.

  • Yes, intelligent design has a place in science class, but it should only be mentioned.

  • No opinion / neutral

  • No, intelligent design shouldn't be taught in science class, but it can be mentioned.

  • No, intelligent design does not have a place in science classes.


Results are only viewable after voting.

zsdersw

Lifer
Oct 29, 2003
10,505
2
0
Should ID be taught in science/biology classes? If so, should it merely be mentioned as an alternative to the theory of evolution or should it be taught and fleshed-out completely?

I'm of the belief that no, it doesn't belong in science/biology classes, but if it were just mentioned as an alternative to the theory of evolution I wouldn't have a problem with it.

Poll is public
 

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
126
There's a thin line between ID and God. It will definitely be interpreted as God and loons will start crying foul. But IMO, sure, I am a big supporter of ID and strongly feel that its time all option should be laid down on the table and let the students decide that they believe in, its time to start the debate
 
Last edited:

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
35,427
9,620
136
No real detail, no explanation. A one line opener into a chapter (or book?) of evolution. Mentioned in passing merely for the merit of its historical context. "While religions say blah".
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
I think it should be explored, particularly in light of the big bang. The big bang IMO is impossible based on real scientific tenets (cause and effect) anyway, at least if you keep going back to "what came before the big bang". I still don't know how it's possible that we all have come into existence without something either starting the universe out of the blue or the universe always having been here, neither of which follow the laws of science.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
35,427
9,620
136
There's a thin line between ID and God. It will definitely be interpreted as God and loons will start crying foul. But IMO, sure, I am a big supporter of ID and strongly feel that its time all option should be laid down on the table and let the students decide that they believe in, its time to start the debate

Why? At one time we thought the earth was flat, now there's evidence to the contrary. Is it time to start the debate?

If they wish to learn religion, they are perfectly free to do so at a Church. Which I might suggest is separate from a classroom.
 

zsdersw

Lifer
Oct 29, 2003
10,505
2
0
There's a thin line between ID and God. It will definitely be interpreted as God and loons will start crying foul. But IMO, sure, I am a big supporter of ID and strongly feel that its time all option should be laid down on the table and let the students decide that they believe in, its time to start the debate

Are science classes the right place for it, though, when the root of ID cannot be subjected to the scientific method?
 

Borealis7

Platinum Member
Oct 19, 2006
2,901
205
106
No, as its not science. period.

the base case which ID relies on, that Amoeba that "cant live without any one of its parts" has long been disproved. there is no credible evidence to ID, and it doesn't give an answer to anything.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
I went with the last option since its a science class but I wouldn't have a cow if it was brought up in class by a questioning student. You can't close your ears and pretend you didn't hear it.
 

ModestGamer

Banned
Jun 30, 2010
1,140
0
0
Should ID be taught in science/biology classes? If so, should it merely be mentioned as an alternative to the theory of evolution or should it be taught and fleshed-out completely?

I'm of the belief that no, it doesn't belong in science/biology classes, but if it were just mentioned as an alternative to the theory of evolution I wouldn't have a problem with it.

Poll is public


ID is a philosophy, it is not a science. the premise fials by creating a conclusion and manipulating data to make the conclusion work. Science is collecting data and making reasonable assements of what the data states.
 

zsdersw

Lifer
Oct 29, 2003
10,505
2
0
ID is a philosophy, it is not a science. the premise fials by creating a conclusion and manipulating data to make the conclusion work. Science is collecting data and making reasonable assements of what the data states.

I agree.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,330
1,841
126
Intelligent Design = a religious belief. It has NO place being taught in schools. If it is mentioned in schools, it had better be in a mythology class.
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0
I think it should be explored, particularly in light of the big bang. The big bang IMO is impossible based on real scientific tenets (cause and effect) anyway, at least if you keep going back to "what came before the big bang". I still don't know how it's possible that we all have come into existence without something either starting the universe out of the blue or the universe always having been here, neither of which follow the laws of science.

First, you have a terrible misunderstanding of the Big Bang and how it happened.

Second, how does injecting a supernatural deity into the equation make things simpler?

So a deity answers the question of how the singularity got there, but doesn't that simply raise the question of what created the deity or how it got there (even though "there" can't really be defined as a place)?
 
Nov 30, 2006
15,456
389
121
The belief that given the observed complexity and intricate interdependency structures of life, an intelligent entity must have conceived and created it.
Based on that definition, I believe that intro science/biology should teach that science in no way proves/disproves whether or not an intelligent designer exists. This is fundamental.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
35,427
9,620
136
The belief that given the observed complexity and intricate interdependency structures of life, an intelligent entity must have conceived and created it.

...

Well now you've left me stumped. I thought you were referring to creationism. You know, 6 days, 6 thousand years ago... Adam, Eve riding dinosaurs etc. For what else is there on the subject of ID?

I don't think religions have had the smarts to adapt the theory to exist with evolution. Have they?

As for whether the universe has a creator... since science cannot have a say in the matter, what does it have to do with science? The whole notion is out of place. Is irrelevant. It's philosophy, not science.
 

zsdersw

Lifer
Oct 29, 2003
10,505
2
0
Based on that definition, I believe that intro science/biology should teach that science in no way proves/disproves whether or not an intelligent designer exists. This is fundamental.

Wikipedia says this is what ID is:

"certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection."
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
35,427
9,620
136
What would scientifically be taught anyway? Since this isn't regarding the book of Genesis you do not have any material to work with. :hmm: :confused:
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
I can see teaching why Creationism and ID are not science, but also why evolution does not conflict with belief in some kind of creator like the FSM.

But I'm an agnostic, so what do I know? ;)
 

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
9
81
Intelligent Design is Science Fiction, not Science.

I wouldn't be at all shocked if we learned someday that planets throughout the galaxy were seeded by some other race hundreds of millions of years ago. But that's best left to the imagination and not a science class.
 

Fear No Evil

Diamond Member
Nov 14, 2008
5,922
0
0
Intelligent Design = a religious belief. It has NO place being taught in schools. If it is mentioned in schools, it had better be in a mythology class.

Right, when teaching you absolutely DO NOT want to present both sides of thought. That is just good critical thinking when you completely eliminate the 'thinking' of 1/2 of the argument. Hopefully we can parlay this into not teaching about the Tea Party, Republicans, Conservatives, or anyone else you disagree with.

Bigotry! Its OK when its taught in schools!
 

woolfe9999

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2005
7,153
0
0
404 science not found.

The religion class is thataway ---> (private school only please)

- wolf
 

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
126
Why? At one time we thought the earth was flat, now there's evidence to the contrary. Is it time to start the debate?

If they wish to learn religion, they are perfectly free to do so at a Church. Which I might suggest is separate from a classroom.

It does not have to be religious, we dont have to say that "God" created us, but some intelligent being created us, like maybe aliens. For some kind of scientific experiment for all we know. There is no reason to rule that out fully. I am not saying that we teach that some being said - let there be light and... but instead explore the possibilites. Explore why we are so mcuh different from other animals on the planet, why is it that we are the only ones that eveolved so much more than the others.

From where I stand, ruling out this possibility would be like saying that the earth is flat.