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The Return of Intelligent Design
The Kansas Board of Education voted (6 to 4) to include "intelligent design" in the science curriculum in Kansas schools. Yes, I'm outraged, too, but in actuality "intelligent design" has been taught in schools across the country since the late 1940s - courtesy of the Moody Institute of Science (division of the Moody Bible Institute) who had been releasing such science films to schools. One such film is "Carnivorous Plants." On the surface, this film may seem like an average biology film, but like most of films from the Moody Institute of Science, there is an ulterior motive. While revealing the complexity of nature, their films would end with the film saying that this complexity was part of God's plan rather than evolution. Originally, these films were made to use the wonders of science (described as the wonders of God's creation) to attract people to Christianity, but the discounting of evolution sowed the seeds for the modern "intelligent design" movement.
Streaming file of "Carnivorous Plants" (courtesy of Internet Archive and AV Geeks)
Posted by Skip Elsheimer on 11/08/2005 | Permalink
Comments
Arghh!!! Please don't start sentences with "So...." The last place I thought I'd see this kind of contrived group-speak is on Stay Free. Every ad uses it, as in "So I'm driving my SUV to Target, and it hit's me - I'm paying too much for checking!...."
Next we'll be seeing "cool" on the site!
Posted by: Lynne | Nov 9, 2005 7:29:19 AM
I've removed the offending word. Cool?
Posted by: skip | Nov 9, 2005 11:00:37 AM
The shear absurdity of this situation almost makes it funny, (unless like me, you live in Kansas and have children to raise.)
I can't decide whether to stay and fight the dummies who control our Board of Education who wish to ensure their myopic view of the world is force fed to every student, or to flee to a state where people are actually use critical thinking skills.
While I am attempting to decide, I suppose I have no choice but to build a web site to explain to the rest of the free thinking world that not all Kansan's are dummies.
http://www.kansasfordummies.com/
Posted by: Rod Divilbiss | Nov 9, 2005 11:03:50 AM
More interesting though, is the way the wealthiest and most technologically advanced civilisation the world has known, is able forget how it came to be in that position. Rather than pat themselves on the back for being so clever, many Americans would rather credit a mythical being. There’s nothing new in religion breeding alienation by telling believers they’re responsible for their sins, but that god’s to thank for their achievements. Nevertheless, many choose religion at a time when it’s never been easier to disbelieve, escape that trap and be happy.
Yet the pace of change in society and new threats – be they terrorist, environmental or whatever – can be worrisome. Many people simply get left behind. I guess that for some, old fashioned conservative golden-ageism and religious certainty must look like the antidotes to all that fear.
Posted by: Stephen Newton | Nov 9, 2005 11:20:28 AM
There’s nothing new in religion breeding alienation by telling believers they’re responsible for their sins, but that god’s to thank for their achievements... Many people simply get left behind.
Sounds like you are going to be the one who gets Left Behind, sinner!
Posted by: Charles Star | Nov 9, 2005 11:40:05 AM
I just watched the film. Could it be more stilted and boring? I think that the youth of today will look past this kind of silliness just like the youth of 50 years ago surely did.
Posted by: BHTampa | Nov 10, 2005 6:40:55 PM
