Intelligent Design (What should be taught in schools?)

by a retired teacher, Thursday, January 31, 2008, 14:10 (6143 days ago)

There is a major problem of terminology here. In your chapter 'What should be taught in schools?' you say "the concept of Intelligent Design has been used as a cover for Creationism, which gives the latter an undeserved shade of scientific respectability and the former an undeserved shade of religious fundamentalism. ID is the basis of the case against atheism...." From the earlier chapters in your guide, it would seem that by intelligent design you are referring to whatever created the organism that set the whole process underway. Unfortunately the term does not mean that. It really is, as you say, a cover for Creationism, a "pseudo-science" devised to promote Christian beliefs, and was exposed as such at the Dover Trial (2005). Even some theist evolutionists are opposed to it (like Kenneth Miller, whom you and George Jelliss have referred to under Origin of Light Sensitivity). The moment you use it, people will assume that you are a Creationist. This has also affected the word "designer", which you have used all through. As an agnostic myself, I have learned by experience to avoid all such agent nouns, because both theists and atheists automatically think of "God". The difficulty is to find a term that indicates a conscious creative force (as opposed to chance) but which will be devoid of any other associations. At this point I must beat a hasty retreat, because I haven't found one! Perhaps you could run a competition, with a substantial cash sum as first prize.