Intelligent Design

The USA is in deep debate whether Intelligent Design should be taught in schools. The Vatican has chipped in and the whole thing has become such a mess, I could be accused of tackling the subject just to popularise this blog.

However, I'm the kinda guy who comments on things, so I'm going to piss off everyone and comment on it anyway.

For those not in the know, which, citizens of the USA, is probably 99% of the earth's population, Intelligent Design is a theory that evolution is simply a Higher Intelligence's way (capitalisation intended) of putting His (sexist nomenclature intended) plan into operation. In other words, we evolved, but that's because God made it so.

The Vatican is jumping because the theory goes against the Old Testament's dogma that the earth was created in six days, flora and fauna included. The rationalists are jumping because Intelligent Design, or ID, has no basis in fact and teaching it in schools may just be a way for Creationists (yes, there is indeed a body of people called so) to bring God into public education and thus justify their belief that those who believe in a Caucasian Jesus are far above the rest of the world, which is Asian and African.

Know what I think?

Both parties are wrong.

Intelligent Design is great as a personal belief. That's what it should remain. Why teach it in schools?

Intelligent Design is a theory. The coming years may either prove or disprove it, or leave it as belief. Why tie its tenability to its teachability? If a time comes when proponents of ID can conclusively prove that it is true, there's not a rationalist on earth who would have a logical base to oppose the teaching of it. Till that time comes (if it ever does), it remains a theory and those who believe in it are welcome to take the Missionary route and preach it at every opportunity, such opportunity not being the availability of classrooms from Principals sympathetic to the idea.

In other words, rationalists are wasting their time trying to disprove ID and proponents of ID are wasting everyone's time trying to teach it in schools. The way to keep ID out of schools (the best thing to do, in my opinion) is not to attempt to disprove it but to put the onus on the proponents to prove it and thus make it worthy of inclusion in a school syllabus.

Deepak