Intelligent Design Decision

In an opinion issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge John Jones ruled that teaching "intelligent design" would violate the Constitutional separation of church and state.

"We have concluded that it is not [science], and moreover that ID cannot uncouple itself from its creationist, and thus religious, antecedents," Jones writes in his 139-page opinion posted on the court's Web site.

"To be sure, Darwin's theory of evolution is imperfect. However, the fact that a scientific theory cannot yet render an explanation on every point should not be used as a pretext to thrust an untestable alternative hypothesis grounded in religion into the science classroom or to misrepresent well-established scientific propositions," Jones writes.

I find this very reassuring. At the same time, it's more than a little scary that we need a legal ruling to escape being sucked into the fundie vortex.

Comments

[Don Nunn]

I nearly drove off the road when I heard this story on the radio on my way to work today. I was so stunned that common sense and rationality had prevailed.

I find disconcerting my surprise that sensibility would triumph, but was I happy to hear about this decision! That is, once I was safely back in traffic....

[Leah]

Warms my heart. Although, as you said, it's frightening that we need a legal ruling on the obvious. Still, it makes me want to do a little happy dance.

[Liz]

I have faith in the law because so many people are idiotic. Those that believe in ID are not the sharpest tacks in town.