A well done (IMO) documentary on "Intelligent" Design.

Thanks for the heads-up George. Yes, it is quite good.

A couple of quibbles: First of all, they keep referring to ‘intelligent design’ as a “new” attack on Darwin, when it’s eminently clear that it’s the same old attack in new garb. But I suppose that’s done for rhetorical benefit.

Second, they do spend an inordinate amount of time explaining intelligent design, and not nearly enough (or nearly the same amount, in fact) describing evolution. So they missed something of an opportunity to explain the power of the theory.

But these are both relatively small issues in the scheme of things. I also wish they’d quoted from Judge Jones’s decision at the end ... “breathtaking inanity” is a good line, after all, as is his claim that the supporters of intelligent design perjured themselves on the stand about their motivations.

I also wish they’d quoted from Judge Jones’s decision at the end

I agree. One feels (at least some) relief knowing that there are (at least some) rationally thinking people in power.

Anyone who wants to read the (lengthy but wonderful) decision by Judge Jones can find it by clicking here .

I use a computer at the public library, and they disable the speakers, so I wasn’t able to hear the documentary.  Tell me, where can I get some more information about ID?  Some kid over at a Christian forum keeps trying to tell me that Intelligent Design is totally compatable with the Theory of Evolution!

Advocatus, there are a number of books that deal with this issue, however it would likely take you awhile to read through them. If you are interested, I’ve heard two good ones are Philip Kitcher’s Abusing Science: the Case Against Creationism, and D.J. Futuyma’s Science on Trial: the Case for Evolution, 2nd Ed.

However, I’d start with:

The National Center for Science Education

and Judge Jones’s decision that I linked to above. No kidding, he goes through the evidence very well and very clearly and it’s free.

And I think you should press this ‘kid’ for what he means. It’s difficult to respond to a claim without an argument.

This is very interesting documentary. You can find some in Youtube also.

[quote author=“dougsmith”]And I think you should press this ‘kid’ for what he means. It’s difficult to respond to a claim without an argument.

Since I challenged him to tell me more, he kind of slunk away.  I haven’t heard from him since.

[quote author=“advocatus”][quote author=“dougsmith”]And I think you should press this ‘kid’ for what he means. It’s difficult to respond to a claim without an argument.

Since I challenged him to tell me more, he kind of slunk away.  I haven’t heard from him since.

How typical! Maybe he went to the dessert to think about it…. :wink:

If the issue comes up again, definitely check out the resources for info on evolution I stickied in this (Science and Technology) folder. Lots of great stuff there.