Monday, June 20, 2005
Separating ID From Religion in Dover Just Got Harder
As noted in RSR's earlier post (scroll down) on the split between the Discovery Institute and the Thomas More Law Center in the Dover case -- See also Panda's Thumb --the carefully crafted legal strategy to separate intelligent design from religion may be coming apart at the seams.
Attorneys for Thomas More have essentially told intelligent design "theorists" William Dembski, Stephen Meyer, and John Campbell to take a hike -- their services are no longer required.
How will the school board and Thomas More now get past previous court rulings that religion may not be taught under the guise of science in public schools?
RSR sees two big problems.
First, the school board of a taxpayer financed public school system is now being defended by a group that describes itself as, a "law firm dedicated to the defense and promotion of the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life."
Second, William Buckingham the Dover school board member and head of the curriculum committee who pushed for mandating the teaching of design describes himself as a born-again Christian -- what else? He believes, he has said, in creationism. Imagine that.
Touchingly, he says “This is not an attempt to impose my views on anyone else.”
Oh yeah, the York Dispatch also quotes Buckingham as saying, "Nearly 2,000 years ago, someone died on the cross for us. Shouldn't we have the courage to stand up for him?"
Stephen Meyer and the boys in Seattle must be tearing their hair out. The Dover case, from which they have now been shut out, will undoubtedly be heard first and is therefore most likely to set a precedent on intelligent design in the public schools.
Attorneys for Thomas More have essentially told intelligent design "theorists" William Dembski, Stephen Meyer, and John Campbell to take a hike -- their services are no longer required.
How will the school board and Thomas More now get past previous court rulings that religion may not be taught under the guise of science in public schools?
RSR sees two big problems.
First, the school board of a taxpayer financed public school system is now being defended by a group that describes itself as, a "law firm dedicated to the defense and promotion of the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life."
Second, William Buckingham the Dover school board member and head of the curriculum committee who pushed for mandating the teaching of design describes himself as a born-again Christian -- what else? He believes, he has said, in creationism. Imagine that.
Touchingly, he says “This is not an attempt to impose my views on anyone else.”
Oh yeah, the York Dispatch also quotes Buckingham as saying, "Nearly 2,000 years ago, someone died on the cross for us. Shouldn't we have the courage to stand up for him?"
Stephen Meyer and the boys in Seattle must be tearing their hair out. The Dover case, from which they have now been shut out, will undoubtedly be heard first and is therefore most likely to set a precedent on intelligent design in the public schools.
