United States

Intelligent design goes on trial

Evolution cases date back to 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial

Attorneys for the plaintiffs began their case by arguing that intelligent design is a religious concept inserted in the school district's curriculum by the school board.

"This case is about free inquiry in education, not about a religious agenda," said Patrick Gillen of the Thomas More Law Center in his opening statement. The center, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, lobbies for what it sees as the religious freedom of Christians and is defending the school district.

District policy requires school administrators to read a statement before classes on evolution that says Charles Darwin's theory is "not a fact" and has inexplicable "gaps." It refers students to an intelligent-design textbook for more information.

Intelligent design holds that Darwin's theory of natural selection over time cannot fully explain the origin of life or the emergence of highly complex life forms. It implies that life on Earth was the product of an unidentified intelligent force.

The eight families say the district policy promotes the Bible's view of creation, violating the constitutional separation of church and state. But the rural school district of about 3,500 students argues it is not endorsing any religious view and is merely giving ninth-grade biology classes a glimpse of differences over evolution.

Sourced from: CNN

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005