Kansas State School Board At It Once Again

Evolution is science and should be taught as such. Biblical creationism is theology and should be taught as such.No one questions evolution within a species by natural selection. The question is in regard to the evolution of a new species from a preceding one. What is the impetus for this transformation?Did this happen by random selection without any metaphysical interference or did it happen with the aid of an intelligent designer. It seems to me that we can only observe, (to the best of our ability), the results.With my limited knowledge I can see of no way that science is able to say with any authority why things happened the way they did.It seems to me then evolution should be taught as science and that random selection and intelligent design should both be taught in philosophy as articles of faith.

Hi
I don't have a background in either physics or biology, but I do find them fascinating and as a result I joined this forum to learn.I think I just got my first lesson. One question though. It still seems to me that regardless of how one species evolved to another there still remains the question of why it occured. How can anyone definitively say that the change came about either with or without intelligent design.Enjoy your trip to the Island and thanks for the tips.This message has been edited by GDR, 05-22-2005 08:59 PM

Added by AdminNosy
This is not directly on the topic here. Please do not respond here.I have copied the following from the article on this site under the title of "Modern Synthesis of Genetics and Evolution".>>>This description would be incomprehensible to Darwin since he was unaware of genes and genetic drift. The modern theory of the mechanism of evolution differs from Darwinism in three important respects:
It recognizes several mechanisms of evolution in addition to natural selection. One of these, random genetic drift, may be as important as natural selection.
It recognizes that characteristics are inherited as discrete entities called genes. Variation within a population is due to the presence of multiple alleles of a gene.
It postulates that speciation is (usually) due to the gradual accumulation of small genetic changes. This is equivalent to saying that macroevolution is simply a lot of microevolution.<<<This is an outline on current thinking of HOW evolution occurred. It does not address the question of WHY it occurred. I suggest that it leaves open three possibilities as to why.
1. Through some random process that required no stimulation or design life has evolved to its current form. (Atheism)
2. An intelligent designer set the process in motion and then absented him/herself from the process. (Deism)
3. There is an intelligent designer manipulating the process in order to achieve a particular outcome. (Theism)Any of these three WHY's requires an act of faith. I can't see where science can make that choice for us.To go back to my original, but poorly worded point; I believe that in the teaching of evolution, part of the teaching should be that this is HOW we believe that evolution happened, but that we don't know WHY evolution happened. The WHY should then be part of a class on philosophy or religion, with all points of view being discussed.This message has been edited by AdminNosy, 05-23-2005 10:45 AM