There is a debate tonight at a local church here between an atheist and an evangelical. The headline over the newspaper article calls the occasion a debate about Evolution. The article itself states the debate is about Intelligent Design. I have no interest in hearing the debate- I think it is futile. The debate really should be about philosophical Naturalism versus anti-Naturalism.
Anyway, they better get their definitions straight and be honest about it. The case for allowing Intelligent Design to be considered in public schools (and in the public mind) was dealt a serious blow last week- not by the Judge who ruled against that happening in the Dover PA school district, but by the lying by the supporters of the proposal. The latter swore under oath that they had never heard of a particular text book which presents the case for ID and that they were not really pushing for Creationism to be taught in the schools. Evidence made it clear that they lied on both counts. The Judges decision turned on the revelation of this perjury. Another black eye for Evangelicals. See the attached article.
For the record, The Theory of Intelligent Design is neither Creationism nor Christian. As to the Judge saying he would not allow Religion to be taught in the Public Schools, he is. Philosophical Naturalism (the basis for Darwinism, which the Judges decision supports,) is a Religion, if we define religion as a World View that offers assumptions based on faith in answer to the Big Questions about the origin, purpose, meaning and destiny of Life. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/151/31.0.htmlAnother black eye comes in the current case of Ralph Reed, former leader of the Moral Majority, apparently acting in an immoral matter, ie- dishonestly.
http://www.worldmag.com/displayarticle.cfm?id=11276Certainly Evangelicals know that we are under scrutiny by our enemies. Certainly we know dishonest means do not justify honest ends and, most of all, certainly we know that trying to deceive and mislead the Courts, the public and other Christians as Mr Reed is alledged to have done in the name of serving God is not only stupid, but sinful.
