Creationism against science

This topic of ‘where we came’ from was the main topic of The Guardian’s weekly science update podcast. The focus was on the debate between intelligent design and science, and whether or not both of these views should be taught in schools. The point about it being taught in schools was on the back of a video sent to state schools outlying the basis of intelligent design.

The podcast used 4 different scientists only one of which actually supported the notion of intelligent design. This first scientist introduced the idea behind intelligent design, and the notion of irreducible complexity. This was really the only argument for the intelligent design belief that the podcast put across, which made it a little one sided.

The remaining 15 minutes of the podcast was dedicated to arguments against intelligent design, initially started by a ‘Christian believer’ studying palaeontology at Cambridge. This scientist totally dismissed the theory and then followed this up with the question of exactly what there was to teach as intelligent design from a scientific perspective. This was then adequately reinforced by a professor at UCL and also a scientist from the U.S.A who has had to deal with this debate in more severe cases.

In summation the podcast has certainly re-affirmed my belief in evolution and did so without clouding the basic argument with ‘too’ advanced scientific jargon. There could have possibly have been more of an argument put forward for the intelligent design theory but to be fair they may have just struggled to find scientists willing to argue that theory.

submitted by Chris Hanley