Apparently, President Bush isn’t the only Republican leader advocating the teaching of so-called `intelligent design’ in schools.
According to this story on MSNBC, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has now joined those advocating the evisceration of America’s science curriculum.
Echoing similar comments from President Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said “intelligent design” should be taught in public schools alongside evolution.
Frist, a Republican from Tennessee, spoke to a Rotary Club meeting Friday and told reporters afterward that students need to be exposed to different ideas, including intelligent design.
“I think today a pluralistic society should have access to a broad range of fact, of science, including faith,” Frist said.
In other words, science, fact, and faith are all equal methods of acquiring knowledge. Well, let’s see about that.
The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.
Knowledge or information based on real occurrences
By contrast, faith is defined as:
1. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence
There is no such thing as scientific faith. Science, faith, and fact are completely different animals. Faith does not belong in a science classroom any more than science belongs in an theology classroom. What is shocking is that a man like Frist, a skilled surgeon, would so blatantly blur the lines between science and non-scientific thought.
The question, as with everything political, is why he’s saying this now. The answer, I think, is found further down in the MSNBC article:
Frist, who is considering a presidential campaign in 2008, recently angered some conservatives by bucking Bush policy on embryonic stem cell research, voicing his support for expanded research on the subject.
In other words, Frist needs to establish his bona fides with the evangelical Republicans who dominate the Republican primary process in many states important to getting the 2008 nomination. Frist, of course, denies this:
“To me, I see no disconnect between that and stem cell research,” Frist said. “I base my beliefs on stem cell research both on science and my faith.”
And on your ambitions for 2008.
Hat Tip: Outside The Beltway
