Judge ruled correctly on 'intelligent design'

Monday, December 26, 2005

A federal judge's ruling that "intelligent design" is a religious doctrine that does not belong in science classrooms is welcome.

As other judges have ruled over the years, there may be room for the Bible and other religious texts in classroom settings within a cultural and historical context, but there is no room for religion in science classrooms.

Advocates of "intelligent design" argue that some forms of life are so complex that they must be the product of an intelligent designer (God) and that there is no proof that evolution occurs.

In a 139-page ruling, Judge John Jones, a Republican appointed by President George W. Bush, ruled that doctrine amounts to a re-labeling of creationism.

Jones' ruling comes after a Pennsylvania school board required that a statement be read to ninth-grade biology students that was critical of evolution and suggested intelligent design as an alternative.

That policy was wrong because it was based on religious opinion, not science, said Jones.

While it is true that science is not able to trace every step along the evolutionary ladder, calling it an unproved theory is a little like the big tobacco companies claiming that there is no absolute proof that smoking causes cancer.

Evolution is based on overwhelming scientific evidence gathered over lifetimes of painstaking research.

Science is science because it works, because research can be replicated, because theories can be applied to real situations.

It is the tool that allows us to reach beyond our own atmosphere to the moon and beyond. It is what allows us to cure cancer and grow crops that feed starving people.

It is far too important to our children and future generations to sacrifice because it conflicts with some interpretations of religious texts.

That doesn't mean that what students learn about evolution in today's classrooms is the last word, only that it is the best information available.

True science is a work in progress with one theory supplanting another as new information dictates.

Faith need not be perpetually in conflict with science. There have always been scientists who have been able to reconcile their faith with science.

But to allow religious views to interfere with the teaching of science would be a betrayal of our education system and our children.

It is worth noting that the First Amendment of the Constitution, which in part calls for the separation of church and state, was meant to prevent the persecution of religious minorities.

Letting religious doctrines into public school classrooms in any manner would open a Pandora's box that could lead to just such religious persecution, a fact that our founders knew very well.