In the News

KTVB reports that members of the Idaho Science Teachers Association have approved an official position against teaching intelligent design in Idaho's public schools.

Rick Alm is the president of the ISTA's board and a science teacher at Bonneville High School.

He says teachers in public schools are charged with teaching methodology that's been approved by the scientific community.

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Steve Renner, in the American Chronicle, writes that "Darwinists are famous for using the blanket statement that intelligent design is the result of 'blind faith.' It's easy to write that, but is it true?"

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Jerry Bergman, of Northwest State College, will be speaking on Wednesday, February 28th, At Undiana University Purdue University at Fort Wayne. The talk begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be on the advantages of ID in doing science. He will be presenting several case histories.

The talk will take place in the Medical Bldg., Room 134.

In a series of lectures beginning Thursday, March 1, Duke University Professor Alexander Rosenberg will argue that Charles Darwin's theories best explain human behavior, culture and morality.

See if you can find holes in his premises and conclusions.

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In a thought-provoking paper from the March issue of The Quarterly Review of Biology , Elliott Sober (University of Wisconsin) clearly discusses the problems with two standard criticisms of intelligent design: that it is unfalsifiable and that the many imperfect adaptations found in nature refute the hypothesis of intelligent design.

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Friday at noon in Seattle, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will speak at a luncheon event being co-presented by the Discovery Institute - the controversial organization that promotes intelligent design theory and combats Darwinism.

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Science Daily reports on remarkable molecular "machines" in living cells, ribosomes. These remarkable factories are giving scientists clues to the development of new antibiotics and revealing secrets about how cells use the genetic information encoded in DNA. The full story is in a February 19th article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), American Chemical Society's weekly newsmagazine.

And we are asked to believe that this highly complex system slowly evolved in existence...

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In Evolution News & Views a summary of an article by Dr. Phillip Johnson, In Think, a philosophy journal published by The Royal Institute of Philosophy, is presented. The article is entitled Intelligent Design in Biology: the Current Situation and Future Prospects which assesses the current state of the debate over intelligent design.

Johnson explains that, despite the advances of the 20th century, many Darwinists still use old arguments that merely reflect microevolution.

Johnson observes that "because a gag order is in force, ID is not discussed in the scientific literature.

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A day-long conference called Darwin vs. Design will take place at the Knoxville (TN) Convention Center on March 24th.

The New York Times bestselling author Lee Strobel and a panel of scientists and experts will examine the evidence for Darwin's theory of evolution and the emerging scientific theory of intelligent design.

Featured speakers include Lee Strobel, Dr. Stephen Meyer, Dr. Michael Behe, and Dr. Jay Richards.

Attendees will interact with intelligent design scientists and philosophers whose discoveries in cosmology, biology, physics, and DNA present astonishing scientific evidence that is overturning the evolutionary thinking of the past.

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William F. Buckley comments on John McCain addressing the Discovery Institute in National Review Online.

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Eugenie Scott's latest award is from the AAAS for "Scientific Freedom and Responsibility."

This is the name of the AAAS committee that in 1990 unanimously defended the position that articles in science publications should be judged on their merit and not on the religious beliefs of the writer, even if such beliefs are in conflict with scientific views.

It is so ironic that Eugenie Scott received this award.

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William Mulgrew opines in the Triangle Oneline, the student newpaper of Drexel University.

Mulgrew writes, "Some oppose intelligent design because it doesn't explain who designed the intelligent designer. It's a metaphysical objection. It demands an answer that scientific observation, analysis and experimentation cannot provide. It presupposes that the Intelligent Designer was designed or had to be designed, and that it was designed by a "who" - some person or sentient being. Whether it's a god or gods, space aliens, or a time traveler who went back in time to create life, ID simply does not speculate on that question."

He further remarks, "In the past, it was religious theists who suppressed scientific pursuits because they didn't conform to their beliefs. Now the tables have turned. Opponents want to suppress ID because it doesn't conform to their materialist beliefs. Your religious views don't dictate what's taught or not taught in the science classroom. I'm sorry that ID makes light of scientific evidence in a way that puts atheists in an uncomfortable position, but please don't force your materialist religion on us."

There is much more clear thought in the remainder of this opinion.

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This week ARN announces the launch of the ID Arts website to explore the relationship between intelligent design and the Arts. Here you will find original artwork, poetry, literature, film festivals, movie reviews and more. Read why artist Jody Sjogren thinks the existence of art, and the human creativity experience, is one of the most convincing proof-positive experiences we have to validate intelligent design theory. Be the first on your block to own one of Jody's metamorphosis art prints like Blackbird or Dominant Raptor that illustrate how man-made designs often imitate the best designs found in living systems.

Darwinists are famous for their "just so" stories that seem to explain everything about nature, without any actual evidence. A new Darwinian Stories Blog has recently been sighted to document such stories from the mouths of real scientists. If you want to know how butterfies got their spots or elephants acquired their trunks, according to the theory of evolution, then give this blog a visit. Some of the stories are better than the ones your grandpa used to tell.

In Scientific American, Robert Shapiro is very candid on...
the problems with Miller-Urey experiment and DNA-first hypotheses about the OOL, the RNA world hypothesis, and the Pre-RNA world hypothesis.

Shapiro's hypothesis is anything but simple, though.

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In Evolutionary Psychology Journal, Hiram Caton of Griffith University in Australia does a critique on the traveling Darwin museum display.

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In National Review Online, John G. West, of the Discovery Institute, comments on the religious fervor of the observance of Darwin Day, and how the atheist's and agnostic's faith in Darwinism practiced openly could backfire on them.

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February 13, 2007

Today the Kansas State Board of Education threw out a model for teaching origins science objectively. In the place of objective standards the Board inserted a new model which allows only material or natural causes to explain the origin of natural phenomena.

According to the new standards all of scientific knowledge can be reduced to the "physical" " in terms of matter, energy and the forces." Even human consciousness, which science studies, is reduced to the physical. Only one answer is allowed to the question: Where do we come from? The answer: material causes - the random interactions of matter, energy and the forces.

Along with this materialistic doctrine that allows no alternatives, the new standards sweep aside objective standards that would introduce students to legitimate scientific controversies regarding chemical evolution (origin of life) and macro-evolution (origins of new body plans and sophisticated bio-chemical systems). Given the doctrine that only material causes are allowed to explain where we come from, criticisms of evolutionary theory become irrelevant.

The placard on the wall of the Kansas State Board of Education proclaims:

"Our students come first in every Board decision."

Today the State Board made a decision designed to withhold from students important relevant information about the most important question they may have to answer in their lives: Where do we come from? What is the origin of life and its diversity." Today the State sent a message to its school districts to withhold information relevant to that question and to teach impressionable young children that life derives from only material causes. Many Kansans who signed over 3,000 petitions to the Board believe that decision does not put the student first. Instead it puts first those who seek only a material cause to explain life - Materialists.

"Materialism is a very controversial idea that lacks a sound evidentiary basis," said Dr. William S. Harris, a biochemist. "It is the foundation for non-theistic religions and belief systems. State promotion of materialism effectively puts the state in the posture of discriminating between religions. Materialism favors the non-theist over the theist."

"The public has not been properly educated on this issue,"said John Calvert, the managing director of IDnet. "Eventually the truth will emerge as the public becomes better educated. A new documentary that follows the testimony of the science hearings held two years ago does that."

"The decision of the Board, not only disregards the needs of the students, it also undermines the home by discrediting parents who reject materialism and the ethics and morals it fosters," said Greg Lassey, a former biology teacher and an author of the objective model that was removed from the standards.

Richard Dawkins will be the guest with Paula Zahn on Monday, February 12th at 8pm EST on CNN. It's Darwin Day. Arm yourself with the baloney detector.

The above link is to an important document on Smithsonian episode.

In Physorg.com an article discusses the first fossil of a leaf insect.

"One thing that was discovered shows that little has changed with leaf insects during the last 47 million years. Though the fossil has a few differences, it bears a considerable resemblance to extant leaf insects in the size and shape of its segments. This specialized cryptic behavior and morphology, the scientists say, exemplifies evolutionary stasis."

Statis is particularly troubling to the whole Darwinian paradigm. How random mutation and natural selection cannot possibly improve on a species is puzzling and remarkable. Take the bacteria...

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Evolution News & Views reports that in a recent speech in New York City, Roman Catholic Cardinal Cristoph Schoenborn of Vienna sharply criticized efforts in America to prevent students and the public from learning about the debate over Darwin's theory. According to the Associated Press report:

Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Vienna said that restricting debate about Darwin's theory of evolution amounts to censorship in schools and in the broader public.

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PRnewswire reports that another 100 scientists have joined the ranks of scientists from around the world publicly stating their doubts about the veracity of Darwin's theory of evolution.

"Darwinism is a hoax that has been perpetrated for 150 years," says
dissent list signer Dr. Michael Egnor. "It's a trivial idea that has been
elevated to the status of the scientific theory that governs modern
biology." Egnor is a professor of neurosurgery and pediatrics at State
University of New York, Stony Brook and an award winning brain surgeon
named one of New York's best doctors by New York Magazine.

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If you view the proposed changes to the Kansas Science Standards
you will see two models for teaching origins. A model that teaches the materialistic theories of chemical and biological origins objectively and a model that teaches those theories dogmatically. The present standards incorporate the objective model. Next week the Kansas State Board will consider throwing out the objective model and replacing it with the materialistic model.

In many's opinion, the effect of the change would be is to cause the state to promote Materialism in public education. The question is whether it is fine for the State to promote materialism?

Student - the Edinburgh University Student Newspaper, recognizes that intelligent design is slowly working its way back onto the agenda and into the classroom.

In the past, what alarmed the secular police was a loophole in the National Curriculum that allowed the critiquing of scientific theories otherwise accepted as fact - and thus, potentially allowing the discussion of creationism and ID in science lessons. That loophole was closed.

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society explains: "The government has put out guidelines, but they're just that. They're statutory, not mandatory. People can disregard them if they want to. It all depends on what agenda particular teachers have got."

That cuts both ways, Terry Sanderson.

Sanderson's primary concern is that evangelist Christians could slip creationism or essentially religious theories into classrooms under the cloak of science. "Truth in Science is evangelists who are trying to sneak into schools with their strange ideas under the guise of being scientifically legitimate. It's theology not science, and it's not even good theology. It's absolute bunkum.

And there you have it...if you don't have a good rebuttal, it's time for ad hominem attacks.

The issue appears to pivot upon whether ID which has ostensibly little to do with the account in Genesis that the Earth was created in six days - is a valid scientific theory and whether evolution can be accepted as unequivocal fact.

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Nick Jackson, of The Independent, interviewed Stuart Burgess, Professor of design and nature in the department of mechanical engineering at Bristol University. He argues that intelligent design is as valid a scientific concept as evolution.

The mammalian knee-joint appears irreducible. Everyone has a four-bar linkage in their knee. Engineers know that for this to work, you need all four bars to be present.

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Randy Olson's anti-ID film "Flock of Dodos" is being shown at various venues (museums and universities) in honor of Darwin Day. The film makes many patently false claims about ID. Discovery Institute has posted a response Web site to the film. Access by clicking the link above. The site has many resources, including handouts which can be used to expose some of the falsehoods in the film, plus a short you-tube video.

A post responding to the film is also available at Evoluiton News & Views

Jonathan Dudley, a student at the Divinity School and a molecular oncology researcher at Yale School of Medicine, writes a commentary in the Yale Daily News.

Dudley writes, "Few scientists or philosophers from respectable academic institutions have given serious consideration to ID." But, apparently, many from academic institutions which are not respected have seriously considered ID?

He further states, "Modern science is characterized by what philosophers call 'methodological naturalism' - the pragmatic assumption that every physical phenomenon has a natural, versus a supernatural, explanation." The key word is philosphers. Methodological naturalism is a science philosophy, not what drives the vast amount of empirical research.

Dudley calls ID "pseudo-science". He adds, "Since ID invokes a supernatural being to explain the formation of 'irreducibly complex' physical structures, it does not employ methodological naturalism. Thus, by modern standards, it cannot be called 'science.' So, by defining away the possibility of supernatural cause, ID cannot be "science". ID is pushed off the playing field.

Dudley fairly points out, "Just because modern science is characterized by methodological naturalism, that does not mean that it should be. The above characterization of science is descriptive, not normative... Perhaps 'science' should be re-defined, allowing the explanation of natural phenomena by both natural and supernatural means. Indeed, if God exists and created the universe, why shouldn't we look for God's supernatural intervention in natural affairs?"

Dudley poses the question: If you are claiming that something in nature has a supernatural cause "Why continue searching for a naturalistic explanation if you believe there isn't one?" Again we are into the philosophy of science, where worldviews clash.

He remarks, "If those at the Discovery Institute truly want to 'defeat scientific materialism,' perhaps they would be better served taking a cue from evangelical Christians doing respectable science. Francis Collins GRD '74, ex-director of the Human Genome Project, might be a good place to start. Those at the Discovery Institute could join Collins in emphasizing why evolutionary theory is not incompatible with belief in the supernatural." The implication is obvious, namely DI and its proponents do science which is not respectable. Then he uses the equivocal term "evolutionary theory". No Christian, who is intellectually honest could square Darwinism with their faith. However, common descent is at least a possibility with God front-loading the cosmos with information rich matter.

We need to more clearly define terms and more clear thinking on this subject, and Dudley is further along than most.

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Evolution News & Views comments on an article in Seattle Post-Intelligencer about Darwin Day. The reporter notes that the Discovery Institute marks the same occasion with a lecture and discussion on "Darwin Day and the Deification of Charles Darwin." On Darwin Day the Discovery Institute will broadcast a short lecture by Dr. John West and Dr. Jonathan Wells about Darwin and his impact on modern science. The 30 minute program will be available at ID The Future and on Youtube.

According to the article the film's maker, oceanographer Randy Olson, started out really liking the work of Discovery Institute, but only after they didn't want to appear in his film did he resort to motive mongering and distorting our position on evolution.

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The University of Georgia's Christian Faculty Forum will sponsor a debate Wednesday, February 7th, on the theory of intelligent design, an alternative to the theory of evolutionary biology.

The 7:30 p.m. debate will be in the auditorium of the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, 315 Riverbend Road.

Debaters on both sides will be Christians, said Chris Peterson, an associate professor in UGA's department of plant biology, who will argue against intelligent design. Arguing for the theory will be Paul Nelson, a fellow of the Discovery Institute in Seattle and a faculty member at Biola University in Los Angeles.

This is from Reuters...

PARIS: France's Education Ministry has warned schools around the country against Islamic creationism theories after several thousand copies of an anti-Darwinist book from Turkey were mailed to them, an official said.

The lavishly illustrated Atlas of Creation by Harun Yahya, a shadowy figure who runs a large Islamic publishing operation from Istanbul, was sent to schools and universities over the past 10 days in a move that has baffled authorities, she said.

The Turkish original of the 768-page book, which rejects evolution, first appeared in Turkey late last year when it was also sent unsolicited to schools.

It sees Charles Darwin's theory of the "survival of the fittest" as the root of many of today's ills, including modern terrorism.

The French official, who asked not to be named, said puzzled school rectors had alerted the ministry to the large-format book full of lavish photographs meant to show that current animal species look exactly like the fossils of their ancestors.

"We asked them to be very careful because this book develops theories that are not in harmony with what the pupils learn," she said. "Our teaching is based on the theory of evolution. These books have no place in our schools."

The book appears to have been mailed from Turkey and Germany to schools all around France. "We have no exact figures but I think they could number several thousand copies," she said. "They do not seem to have targeted specific areas," she added. France's five-million-strong Muslim minority, Europe's largest, is concentrated in some areas such as the Paris region.

The Atlas of Creation is a novelty because it puts an Islamic twist on criticism of the theory of evolution, a cause championed by conservative Christians in the United States. Harun Yahya is a pseudonym for a reclusive Islamic teacher named Adnan Oktar. Turkish intellectuals say it covers a pool of writers since over 200 books in Turkish - and dozens translated into 51 other languages - have appeared under this name.

The group's financing is unclear and it declines to answer questions about it. Speculation about its financial backers ranges from Turkish Islamists to US Christian activists.

Darwinism became an issue in Turkey in the political turmoil before a 1980 military coup because leftist bookshops often touted Darwin's works as a complement to Karl Marx's theories.

After the coup, the military-backed government added a paragraph about creationism to its high school science textbooks. Leading US creationists held several anti-evolution conferences in Turkey in the early 1990s.

Atlas of Creation has over 500 pages of lavish photographs and a long essay arguing that Darwinism, by stressing the "survival of the fittest", was the original inspiration for racism, Nazism, communism and ultimately the terrorism of today.

"The root of the terrorism that plagues our planet is not any of the divine religions, but atheism, and the expression of atheism in our times (is) Darwinism and materialism," it says. "Islam is not the source of terrorism, but its solution," it says. "God has made the killing of innocent people unlawful. God commands believers to be compassionate and merciful."

The Discovery Institute, in Evolution News & Views, discusses the many wrong facts and contradictions that the author of the Warren Report, Devin James Carpenter, brought forth.

One of the glaring mistatements was that "The main issues in Kitzmiller v. Dover were: the soundness of evolution and 'intelligent design' as science, the separation of church and state, and the philosophy of science itself."

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The Corvallis Gazette-Times announces a free talk, examining the 2005 Dover, Pa., trial that tested whether intelligent design could be taught alongside evolution in public school biology classes.

The talk begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, in Oregon State University's Owen Engineering Hall, room 102.

Nicholas Matzke of NCSE, will discuss the trial and the ruling by federal Judge John Jones.

Too bas they don't have someone from our side.

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Here's a post from the Discovery Institute in Evolution News & Views on the new controversy in New Mexico.

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Regis Nicoll, a freelance writer, has a column in Breakpoint. It discusses the challenges of Black Holes and Multiverse creating our cosmos.

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Listen to this spoof on the non-existence of Richard Dawkins.

Find it at YouTube.

A news Release from Intelligent Design network:

February 2, 2007
NEWS RELEASE:
John Calvert, 913-268-0852
Exposing the Evolution Controversy Now showing at local theaters in Kansas!

Is there a genuine scientific controversy over evolution? A new documentary movie about Kansas Science Hearings held two years ago answer that question with a resounding "Yes." The film also shows why the controversy needs to be addressed in public schools.

Kansas Science Hearings: Exposing the Evolution Controversy will open with a special showing at the Glenwood Arts theater in Kansas City on February 12, 2007. The film begins at 7 PM, but arrive early to get a seat. The movie will also be shown between Feb 7 and 13 in other locations around the state, including Topeka, Leavenworth, Wichita, Independence, Dodge City/Meade, and Garden City. Go to www.KansasScience2005.com for specific times and locations.

Where did humans come from? What is the origin of life and its diversity? Any answer to these questions have a major impact on what we believe about religion, ethics, morals and even government. The US was founded on the idea that we derive unalienable rights from a Creator. However, materialistic cultures claim that because life is not a creation it has no inherent rights. Human rights exist only to the extent provided by government.

Twenty three expert witnesses testified about two distinctly different models for teaching about the ultimate question to children in Kansas schools. They included 5 PhD biologists, 4 PhD biochemists, 3 PhD Chemists, 1 PhD Geneticist (the inventor of the Gene Gun), 1 PhD Quantum Physicist, 3 Philosophers of Science, 1 PhD Professor of Education, 3 biology teachers, a Muslim science writer and an attorney.

The documentary is fast-paced and filled with drama as witnesses testify about systematic suppression of the controversy, fear in the class room and loss of jobs for teaching Darwin objectively. All of the witnesses were cross examined by an ACLU attorney. The hearings end with fireworks -a shocking refusal of the Materialists to submit to questions from the
other side.

"The materialistic model seeks to teach children that the universe is self existing and that life is the product of unguided evolutionary change. Because unguided material causation is assumed, the student is offered no information critical of that explanation," said William S. Harris, PhD, a biochemist who led the team that developed the competing objective model.

"The objective model we developed teaches only the materialistic explanation, but also informs students of genuine scientific
controversies about that view. There are two major controversies - one deals with the origin of life itself (chemical evolution), and the other deals with macro-evolution, the idea that random variation and natural selection have generated complex new bio-systems like cellular motors, factories and processing plants," said Greg Lassey, another team member.
"The presentations show undeniable controversies and the need to teach them."

"We have produced two versions of the documentary," said Brian Barkley, the producer of the movie. "A two hour version for the public, and a five hour version that covers the testimony of each witness in depth and includes all of the hearing exhibits and transcripts. This is an archival set for journalists and serious students of the debate."

Exposing the Evolution Controversy comes at the right time. The Kansas Board will consider proposals to throw out the objective model and replace it with the Materialistic one on February 13 and 14.
*******
Intelligent Design network, inc. is a nonprofit national organization that seeks institutional objectivity in origins science.

Aaron Vandenbos has a guest opinion in the Boise State Arbiter.

He points out what most ID proponents know, and Darwinists refuse to admit.

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Mississippi's House Bill 625, introduced by Representative Mike Lott (R-District 104) on January 9, 2007, died in committee on January 30, 2007, which was the last day for committees to report bills originating in their house of the legislature. If enacted, HB 625 would have provided, "The school board of a school district may allow the teaching of creationism or intelligent design in the schools within the district. However, if the theory of evolution is required to be taught as part of the school district's science curriculum, in order to provide students with a comprehensive education in science, the school board also must include the teaching of creationism or intelligent design in the science curriculum."

The latest ID The Future podcast from the Discovery Institute regards Scientific Research Projects from an Intelligent Design Perspective. The podcast is an interview with Joseph C. Campana, founder of ResearchID.org, a wiki-based website devoted to cataloguing scientific applications of intelligent design. CSC's Casey Luskin talks to Campana about what inspired the Web site, and how people can get involved to help constructively catalogue intelligent design scientific research.

Click HERE.