Letter: Intelligent design is not science

Monday, Oct. 24, 2005 | 9:01 a.m.

Can Gary Strabala (letter of Oct. 20) or other "Intelligent Designer" advocates explain why an "intelligent" designer created hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.?

Would any benevolent designer have created cancer? If there was an intelligent designer it is obvious that the designer must have been evil or at least flawed in designing. Strabala would probably avoid explaining this by saying his designer "works in mysterious ways," so an explanation would not be necessary.

He is dead wrong when he states that belief in God is rational. Every religious belief relies on "faith." The word "faith" means a belief in something for which there is no proof.

Belief in something based on faith is not the same as beliefs based on reason -- on the scientific method. A scientific "theory" can be disproven. A faith-based theory cannot be disproven and therefore can never be considered a scientific theory.

There is certainly nothing wrong with faith-based beliefs, as long as they don't interfere with my rights -- and as long as they don't deprive my children of an adequate science education in a public school.

Five hundred years ago a majority believed the Earth was flat and the sun revolved around the Earth. They were, of course, wrong.

Intelligent design is not science. It may be taught in philosophy or religion classes, but teaching it in a science class is a serious threat to science education and will destroy our children's knowledge and respect for science and the scientific method. Let's not impose our intuitive beliefs on others.

Mel Lipman Las Vegas

Editor's note: The writer is president of the American Humanist Association.