More Lunacy Over Mythological Indoctrination in Public Schools

'Intelligent design' trial begins today in Pennsylvania

"Nearly 2,000 years ago, someone died on a cross for us," said board member William Buckingham, who urged his colleagues to include intelligent design in ninth-grade science classes. "Shouldn't we have the courage to stand up for him?"

First off, it doesn't bode well for the existence of an omniscient, omnipotent "God" so weak that it requires the aid of (as the Reich views people) sinful, sniveling, hell-bound worms. Second, this debate is -- according to the Christian Reich itself -- supposed to be about "equal time" for a "theory" they see as equally valid as evolution. Those of us with firing synapses know better; that it's actually about Christians having the "right" to brainwash all the little children with their own particular brand of fantastical creation mythology. What an unfortunate (for them) slip of the tongue when a member of the clan (or is it Klan?) accidentally reveals their true motivations...to defend Christianity against the perceived onslaught of...well, intelligence.

The statement on intelligent design approved by the Dover school board was read to ninth-grade science students in January and will be read again this year. It reads in part:

"Because Darwin's theory is a theory, it continues to be tested as new evidence is discovered. The theory is not a fact. Gaps in theory exist for which there is no evidence…. Intelligent design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from Darwin…. With respect to any theory, students are encouraged to keep an open mind."

It's so frustrating to have the word "theory" so abused. There is a monumental difference between a scientific theory and a pulled-straight-from-my-theological-ass mythological theory...which creationism is. And isn't it ironic how the Christian Reich bandies about the phrase "open mind" with regard to creastionism, but when it comes to civil liberties (a.k.a. equal rights for homosexuals and non-Christians) you can practically hear their feeble minds clanking shut.

"This issue is bubbling under the surface all over the country, but the Dover board had the courage of their convictions," said Richard Thompson, chief counsel for the Michigan-based Thomas More Law Center. The center promotes and defends the religious freedoms of Christians, he said...

When asked about the religious freedoms of non-Christians, Thompson shrieked, "death to the infidels!", if only in his empty head.

If all this sounds eerily reminiscent of another case on evolution, it is.

Eighty years ago, the Scopes trial in Dayton, Tenn., tested the legality of a state law banning the teaching of evolution.

That's right...despite eighty years of advancements in every field of science, the Christian Reich refuses to pull its collective head from...uhh, the sand (to put it politely).

"They should be able to teach all kinds of theories in school, and
that's how you learn", said toothless Jeff Raffensburger.

And what, then, of the great Flying Spaghetti Monster (pbuh)? (Hint...the whole premise put forth by the Christian Reich that this is about teaching "all kinds of theories" is patently absurd).

In a landmark 1987 case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana could not require schools to balance the teaching of evolution with creationism, a Bible-based view of natural history. That case has become a key issue for plaintiffs, who argue that Buckingham's statements revealed the board's similar religious intentions.

Attorneys for the school board, however, say intelligent design is different from creationism because it does not mention religion. They also note that Buckingham, who has since left the board and moved, has protested that his comments were taken out of context.

If there's one lame-ass defense constantly spouted by religious nutters when their own words prove their idiocy it's, "but I was taken out of context...". Yeah. Right.

"I know there are a lot of people fighting over this, what we should be taught," (Dover High School ninth-grader, Giovanni Herman) said. "But it's all OK with me. In the end, I think I'll make up my own mind."

That's true...he will make up his own mind. But it isn't the public school's place to teach him Christianity's (or any other religion's) version of reality, that's his church's.