Intelligent Design in Michigan

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By Andy Kaiser
Article ID: 1231

Intelligent Design has come to Michigan. Michigan is my home state, so this gives me motivation to get off my big fat brain and do some research. And I have a child who will be entering the Michigan school system soon. That gives me motivation to write.

According to Michigan House Bill 6027 – sponsored by Republican John Moolenaar – Michigan is now the recipient of a so-called “academic freedom“. campaign. This bill uses language recommended by the religiously-motivated Discovery Institute.  Here’s the text of the original Michigan bill 6027. It’s subtitled with “academic freedom to teach evidence regarding controversial scientific subjects“. Here’s recommended bill text from the Discovery Institute. Compare the two and you’ll find connections, including word-for-word similarities.

The bill attempts to open the science classroom for contrasting opinions. This is termed “academic freedom”, so presumably those who have a dissenting opinion on how the world works can have a chance to say it, and those teachers with dissenting opinions on how the world works can have a chance to teach it.

A criticism raised by proponents of such language is something like this: ”Teach the controversy. Why would you oppose academic freedom?” I agree. Teach it. But since that specific controversy is religion-based, put it where it belongs, in religion class. By all means, teach creationism, or Intelligent Design, or whatever it’s currently called. And do it in a religious studies classroom. But if you’re sitting in a science class, the only religious education you should get is an explanation of why it doesn’t belong there.

Science is a body of knowledge, and a process. It’s based on testable theories and observable evidence. A science class teaches the scientific method, how to postulate and test theories, and how to critically examine evidence. Religion does not do these things. Religion is not part of a science education.

If Intelligent Design proponents truly believe that their case stands up to scientific scrutiny, what do you think is the honest way to present it:

Option 1: Force school boards to teach these beliefs

Option 2: Publish the case in a legitimately scientific way, and convince other scientists with data and evidence

Option 1 is what ID proponents use today. Science, unfortunately, demands Option 2. If you want to play in the scientific sandbox, you’ve got to play by the rules. Granted, option 2 is not used by proponents, because it can’t be. When you start examining such things from a scientific viewpoint, the proposition gets reclassified as a religion.

Intelligent Design proponents can’t fight their battle head-on. Instead of trying to prove their own point, they would rather subvert science and sneak their way into a school curriculum. They want to legitimize themselves in the science classroom without following any of the scientific method.

Intelligent Design is a theory that can’t be tested. This is not science. It doesn’t belong in a science classroom. Unless we take the argument to its logical conclusion, and start teaching so called “alternative” beliefs everywhere. When you teach astronomy, don’t forget to teach astrology. When you teach biology, don’t forget to teach phrenology. When you teach geology, don’t forget to teach Young Earth creationism. And the big reverse whammo: when you teach religion, don’t forget to teach atheism! Hey, ID proponent, if it’s so important to insist on teaching the controversy in science, you wouldn’t mind if we taught about religious controversy, right? Even forget about atheism: I’ve got 1.5 billion Muslims that would like representation in your Christian studies class, so they can present their alternative viewpoint.

Hopefully you can see what topics don’t belong in what classroom, and why.

This brings us back to Michigan. My home state is currently known for its horrible economy and depressing auto industry. Do we really need to make things worse? Degrading the quality of education teaches our children incorrect information, and endorses living life without critical thinking. That’s dangerous. That hurts Michigan. That hurts our children. That hurts our future.

To contact state representative John Moolenaar:

S-1287 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI  48933

Phone: (517) 373-1791
Toll Free: (800) 626-8887

johnmoolenaar@house.mi.gov

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• The danger of religion in politics
• Religious deference taken to extremes
• Universities and academies fail to teach scientific thought and rationality
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