So saith a conservative judge:
“It is ironic that several of these individuals, who so staunchly and proudly touted their religious convictions in public, would time and again lie to cover their tracks and disguise the real purpose” behind a pseudo-science.
U.S. District Judge John Jones was referring to the now-ousted Dover, Pa., school board, which rooted its case for the teaching of creationism in false claims of secularism, false claims about the theory of evolution, and self-contradictions about “intelligent design.” Whatever the merits of intelligent design, during the course of the trial it became apparent that the school board intended to replace available scientific theory with self-serving falsehoods, and Jones reacted to that.
But Jones’ comment about deceit also applies to Focus on the Family, which continues the self-contradiction that ID — which is, among other things, the belief that the origins of man and the universe are unknowable to science — equals science.
[Apart from this story’s connection to Focus on the Family, and the various James Dobson organizations’ broader habit of distorting science and misrepresenting judicial rulings, this post is off topic. Please consider this an invitation to discuss anything. For more observations about the debate over “intelligent design,” visit Dispatches from the Culture Wars.]
Mike, if you think about it, it’s not that far off topic.
The religious right has an agenda. That agenda is comprised of several pieces: the outlawing of reproductive rights for women, reintroduction of Christian indoctrination in public schools (through incorporating ID in science classes, reinstatement of school prayer – which is always Christian prayer), censorship of anything that is antithetical to Christian teaching, and, lastly promoting the flawed logic that sexual orientation is a “chosen behavior” which can be altered through prayer and faith in Jesus Christ.
Questioning of any of the above, and other agenda points is considered bigoted and “anti Christian.”
No, Mike, I don’t think it’s off topic at all. I think it’s time their entire dog and pony show be exposed for the chicanery it really is. And Ex Gay Watch helps to hold their feet to the fire on one aspect of this agenda.
God bless and have a happy holiday season!
Intelligent Design is a secular concept just like NARTH is a secular organization.
Mike,
I think this posting is completely on topic.
The primary objection that I have with the ex-gay movement is not it’s stated goals (to help people with unwanted same-sex attractions) or even it’s base message (homosexuality is sin). Those who have that religious belief are certainly welcome to advance it.
What I (and I’m sure others here) object to is the constant barrage of lies that comes from Exodus, Focus on the Family, and others that spew out regularly and do real damage to vulnerable souls.
If Exodus said “with much prayer and self-control, you can live a life of celibacy. You will probably always be attracted to the same sex”, there would be no need for XGW. Those wishing to live celibate and wanting support in their decision would have a group dedicated to that decision.
And that’s fine. While I don’t share their Biblical interpretations, I don’t think people should behave in a manner that they themselves believe to be immoral. And though I would want to share with them the “good news”, I can’t fault people for trying to live a “more holy life”.
But that isn’t what Exodus does. Instead they lie to kids, change definintions to fool the public, lobby governments with blatant falsehoods and repeatedly propogate things that they truly know to be false. And that requires us to respond. It’s the billboards, the interviews, the anti-gay advocacy all using the mantle of God to hide a political agenda of falsehood.
So, I think about the most relevant thing that could be said about the ex-gay movement would be:
“It is ironic that several of these individuals, who so staunchly and proudly touted their religious convictions in public, would time and again lie … ”
Both ironic and sad.
Rick at December 20, 2005
Tooo funny 🙂
“DENY YOURSELF, AND YOU DENY YOURSELF”
Don’t wake up at 80 and say “I didn’t live the life God gave me”
Hank, your comment can be taken two ways. I’ll assume we’re on the same page with it.
I remember meeting a man once, who was in his 80’s. We were at a meeting of a newly formed gay/lesbian group. He said he was ready to kick himself for not coming out earlier in his life.
I felt badly for him because his age was a social barrier of sorts for the rest of the group, who were in our 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. Nonetheless, he was quite strong in his convictions, as were we.
I never saw him again, but I wondered what kind of life he’d led. It was very likely quite different from mine and my partners given the different times we lived in.
Still, I can’t help but wonder if he’d lived a full life, albeit very foreign to me at that time. As I get older, things don’t seem to be so black and white.
I will admit to being rather unfamiliar with the details of this Intelligent Design issue. I did a little searching just now and still have questions. Perhaps someone could clarify; just what was it they wanted to do here (the school board)? Did they want to replace the theory of evolution with ID? Or was it just the addition of a statement saying that another school of thought is that God guided the process (or something to that effect)? It seems to me the curricula for ID would be extremely short.
David
I’m still trying to slog my way through the 139 pages of the judge’s opinion in the case–which is available via a link on the Dispatches web site, but after I downloaded it (it’s an Acrobat file, but not a lengthy one) I immediately went to the end to read the holding. I was struck by the fact that the judge–a GWBush appointee–apparently awarded the plaintffs (the families) costs and attorneys’ fees against the defendent school board. That is highly unusual. It usually occurs only when the actions of the litigant (in this case the school board) are deemed totally frivolous.
The newly-elected school board has apparently announced that they will not appeal the judge’s ruling. Good move on their part.
There is a lot of additional information on the Dispatches web site and also on https://www.pandasthumb.org
ReasonAble,
The intelligent design movement is the latest facade used by the evolution denialists in their attempt to force their specific religious views into the science classroom. It is not the same as theistic evolution. The intelligent design movement is a PR campaign, not a scientific controversy, because the intelligent design proponents don’t do any research or present any scientific arguments.
David,
There’s a chronology and summary of the case here.
ReasonAble at December 21, 2005 01:55 AM
I will admit to being rather unfamiliar with the details of this Intelligent Design issue.
Three points.
One, read the court’s opinion in the Dover case (it’s available through the subsequently cited Dispatches web site).
Two, read the commentaries at Dispatches from the Culture Gap https://stcynic.com/blog/
Three, read the commentaries Panda’s Thumb https://www.pandasthumb.org and pay particular attention to PZMyer’s commentaries. He is a biologist, which should suggest that he has some idea as to the background of the science involved. He also has a personal blog, which can be linked to through PandasThumb.
The thing that confuses me about controversy over ID in the public school classroom is that there is no shortage of free, accessible classroom teaching on this subject. Churches all over the world are sharing this same material in sermons and Sunday school and Bible studies. The idea that it needs extra coverage in the public school setting is…well, just silly.