Discovery Institute Bails Out on Dover School Board

The Discovery Institute has declined to support the Dover Pennsylvania School Board in its upcoming trial related to its mandate to present Intelligent Design in Biology classes as an alternate theory to Evolution.

An associate director of Discovery's Center for Science & Culture, called the Dover policy "misguided" and "likely to be politically divisive and hinder a fair and open discussion of the merits of intelligent design."

Yeah, I think that accurately describes the situation. Now if they would just articulate the "merits" of Intelligent Design.

Another officer of the institute said the Discovery Institute is "not trying to hinder their case in court," but the organization wants intelligent design to be debated by the scientific community, not school boards.

That sounds like what I've been saying doesn't it? Only one problem, the Discovery Institute hasn't presented all that much evidence to debate. What it has presented has been pretty much dismissed by the scientific community as little more than a thinly veiled equation to the effect that IGNORANCE = GOD. If science can't explain it in minute detail, then GOD DID IT! Wasn't this the explanation for lightning and thunder at one time? Shall we begin locating virgins for the next sacrifice?

While the Seattle "Think Tank" may be taking the position that the debate should be among scientists and not in a 9th grade science classroom others, such as Michael Behe from Lehigh University, don't seem to feel the same way and are expected to testify on behalf of the defense.

Which reminds me, how the hell does a prestigious engineering school such as Lehigh justify providing a pulpit for Behe? They can't seriously believe he's engaging in real research can they?

Let's hope that this is an example of rats leaving a sinking ship shall we? A precedent that Intelligent Design IS camouflage for Creationism is just what's needed at the moment.