A political martyr adds fuel to the fire of controversy
Transcript of today's show: Sound Off: Science & Faith. Our point/counterpoint regulars Shelley (the voice of science) and Peter (the voice of faith), comment on the story.
A New York state legislator has introduced a bill strictly for the purpose of creating controversy. The bill would give NY schools the green light to teach intelligent design as a theory equal to Darwinian evolution. Daniel Hooker, the bill’s sponsor, was not surprised when his bill died in committee. He never expected the bill to succeed, he just wanted to pour gasoline on the evolution controversy raging across America. [source: National Center for Science Education]
Listen to the 1-minute broadcast of this story [mp3]
The Voice of Faith: Peter Williamson, M.Div., comments:
Daniel Hooker’s wake-up call to action can be portrayed as a call to controversy, but the hidden prejudice against Intelligent Design must be sussed out somehow. You cannot see the enemy if he is hiding as the Truth.
The Voice of Science: Shelley Greene, Ph.D., comments:
Do I smell some campaign money here? Representative Hooker is obviously playing with politics on someone’s behest when he introduces legislation not for it to become law, but to advertise an agenda. I suspect the Intelligent Design political machine, who has been very active in Ohio and Pennsylvania in recent years. I wonder if they’ve been making calls lately to Rep. Hooker’s office? Or better yet, maybe a friendly chat over drinks and filet mignon at the Georgian?