Blog #8

"It is fair to require students to understand something but there is a difference about learning and believing" (Matzke). This simple quote from the Evolution vs. Intelligent Design packet sums up the very complicated issue of teaching intelligent design and or evolution in public schools. Although evolution may be a science, there are gaping holes in the argument. What fills these holes? A higher power. Who is this higher power. No one knows for sure. Therefore, we must BELIEVE in who/what fills that gap. Belief is a personal experience, and no one can tell another what to believe. Intelligent Design forces children to have a belief on a very touchy subject: religion. I believe Intelligent Design should not be taught in public schools.

According to Richard Buggs in the article "The Guardian," Intelligent Design "does not rely upon the Bible, the Qur'an, or any religious authority or tradition-only scientific evidence." How is this so? There is absolutely no scientific evidence of a "higher power," there is just a hunch. What if man is just not smart enough to figure out the answer to how the world came to be? It seems as if man can't find the answers, so takes the easy way out and says it is just beyond his mental capacity.
Also, Intelligent Design completely does rely upon a religion. One must believe that there is a "higher power." What is the difference between a "higher power" and God? Do scientists have any evidence to prove there is a higher power? No. Therefore, it forces the student to believe in something that cannot be proven. It forces the student to have a religious belief, whether the pro-intelligent design side likes it or not. Religion does not belong in schools, so Intelligent Design doesn't either.
In the movie"Flock of Dodos" it was said that "you cannot scientifically prove Intelligent Design." Because of this, Intelligent Design is totally faith based. The definition of faith is "belief that is not based on proof" (Websters Dictionary). Intelligent design has no scientific proof. Also in the movie, it was said that all Intelligent Design is just "repackaged creationism." I couldn't agree more. What is the difference between creationism and Intelligent Design? Nothing except the evolution of the world. Who put it there is exactly the same for both.