To add my personal opinion to almost all of the above commenters again, 'Exaclty!'. It seems so obvious! Why can't the state legislatures see the difference between Science and non-Science/fantasy.

I amin fear for my child. the Dark Ages are in th epast, or are they? You cannot refute Intelligent Design and thus, it is not Science.

Saddens me to hear this... Hopefully no science teachers will teach anything but real science. Just because this group wants it, doesnt mean the teachers will want it.

when someone knows for sure, let him speak! i grew up in tennessee.been to all the "christain' schools".but still believe in science.big bang,or whatever. i beleive jesus was a man that " created love" to link us together and hope that we love each other! "christ" was alive 2000 years ago, but the earth is millions of years old. noone knows, but everybody has got their own opinion! that is our right. so, no one is wrong,and no one is right!(untill proven!)looking foward to that day to learn!!luv to all!!!!!!!!! the universe is too big to think we are the "center'! how egotistical!!may we all see that day that we know! just love each other!!

The reason why noone has found the missing link is because they don't take the Bible seriously. Cain was not Adam's son he was the serpent's son. If you look at the lineages in the Bible it goes from Adam to Seth and skips over Cain and Able. Cain was a liar and a murderer like his father. Forever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the Truth.

Ah the endless debate of creation vs evolution. Why do people even bother coming on here arguing about it ? I have seen both sides of the debate, science used for both sides to prove their points.
Too much anger and lashing on these forums to ever have a good debate.

You can fool some of the people all the time

I live in Ohio and one of the teachers at my old high school teaches her students about both the theory of evolution and intelligent design. Her students hold a debate in class over it once she's taught them both theories. I don't think Tennessee schools should be all gung ho about incorporating intelligent design into their science lessons, but neither should they be barred from doing so if they wish. Ideally they would do the same thing as the teacher from my high school: teach both theories and let the students debate their validity.

At this point, I don't think it should be a issue on "How we all got here" but "How we all gonna live together without destroying it all". You see, we at the blunt end of your sharp remarks just may have answers, but yet the questions are never ask. The same people you bully and abuse have the same free will as you, yet can't afford your drama to fight back. Now that your seeing the oppressed of the world standing up, your the ones afraid. I talk to people every day and I'm no longer alone in seeing how the very same people we elect forget about us once in office, how that you tax and fee the very ones that make and have made you billions, yet from the billions made there is no return. Now I know you show us on TV how you have million dollar parties, and drive unique million dollar cars, but lets try to ID or evolute a theory on where the rest of those billions go. I figure at this point in history, I a common every day man with many skills, blessed/conditioned (you pick the how) with common sense could be a better leader than the last several we put in. So in my eyes this whole story like many others, just another distraction to keep "whomever" fighting and divided.

Do bullies dream or just steal someone Else's? You know dreams? As a oppressed person dreams of you burning, or stomping your brain, their survival over comes their dreams of revenge. Not one of you has ever said sorry, and made amends. Your Gods forgive, go on pray some more, pray that the oppressed minds stays strong, and that we will always know right from wrong.

"WHAT IF" Maybe its time for real change, I myself just a broke, down on his luck, down to earth, plain and simple talking mind, can't act, profiled, loaded with skills and the common sense to apply them kind of guy to take a shot at leading. What you got to lose? I'm game, why not "from trailer house to White House"?

I love how they get to fight so they can teach this crap to our kids. But we took prayer out of schools, and you can't even have a religion any more (at least you can't talk about it) More science less God... how's that workin for us.

Its amazing when you look at headlines and such from even just 30 years ago, and look at them today. If we are evolving, we seem to be turning more into animals instead of humans.

test

I fail to understand why intelligent design and evolution could not both be taught as "theory" and left up to the children being taught to decide what it is they believe to be true. I understand the implications of not teaching ONLY Biblical creation (separation of church and state) but I find it ludicrousto simply ignore something that people have believed to be true for thousands of years and not include that as part of the curriculum. I attended parochial school my entire life, however my Earth Science and Biology teachers were open minded enough to show us the other side of the coin by insisting we know what Darwin's theory consisted of as well as the big bang theory. I'll never forget my Biology teacher's words after touching on the topic of evolution. He said, "Well, I have explained both Evolution and Intelligent Design to you. To be perfectly honest, I cannot prove to you beyond a shadow of a doubt which theory is correct. Only your heart and your faith can do that for you."

If any teacher trys to teach evolution in the state of Pennsylvania there will be such a war that a lot of teachers will be replaced ==and you can tahe that to the bank our lord will permit this to happen but at a great cost ==your life will burn into eternal hell after death.

Darwin himself refuted his own theory. ID addresses the origins of life and if you have an open mind...........then look up something called "The Truth Project".

In a nut shell the odds that "life just happened" by random chance are 1 in 10 to the 174th power.

When a single celled organism formed it had DNA, the odds of DNA forming out of randomness are less than say if a tornado went through a junk yard and built a 747.

Yet to date there has been no hard evidence on anything evolving into anything else. Yes I've seen the multi sized skeletons suggesting that creatures "evolved" into larger or smaller replicates of the same animal but nothing that showed a fish became a monkey.

Show Me.

Tax dollars used to teach religion, what a waste. From an education standpoint the rest of the world is about to pass us by. So many people crying socialism yet they don't seem to mind having the government do the churches job.

It appears that many atheists and agnostics have deemed it worthy to post here. They must somehow feel threatened by Tennessee's right to teach Intelligent Design. A majority of Tennesseans are Christians who believe in God the Creator. These are the parents of the children in our schools. They by the way do NOT believe in Global Warming though Gore claims to be from our state. He was actually conceived in DC..LOL.

We believe by faith that God is the Creator. Even Einstein whose brain was much larger than any of the cretins posting on here, was in awe of God and the harmony that He had created. Did man come from slime? Perhaps some of you feel/think that you did.. Man has a soul, at least most do, and that separates him from the flora and fauna here on earth. Has God started over before? Yes. There have been several recorded extinction in our world's history. Don't think man could have been brought to the forefront during the era of dinosaurs. T-Rex and the raptors would have eaten him. So God started over. Cleared the slate and introduced man. He has created several different species of man over time. He began in Africa. Then in Europe with Neanderthal man. Then finally about 5000 years ago, he gave us Cro-magnon man or modern man. Earth is His creation. Has man evolved and adapted? yes. In the last 2 to 3 hundred years, due to glasses, drugs, machines, etc., weaker men have been allowed to reach adulthood and reproduce. We are now less athletic as a whole than the generations before us. Less able to do a day's work with our hands and backs. The harsh nature of life would have removed these weaker men from the gene pool 150 years ago. Now they walk among us. Is this a good thing? God must be ok with it for he has allowed it to go on until now. Many fools on here must think that they created themselves and cannot fathom the grand order of the universe. My family is betting it all on there being a God and a Heaven. Life is very short in terms of the universe and to me belief in God, Jesus, and the Hereafter sure looks like the best bet going. Or perhaps the fools are right and when these organic bodies stop breathing, we just go out like a candle. If that is the case, so be it. But if it is not, there will be HELL TO PAY! At least you will see a lot of your liberal friends down there:) I am an engineer and hope to see a few other folks of a scientific background in Heaven. Perhaps there will be more engineers in Heaven than lawyers? You betcha!

I guess I am just lucky that I had one teacher that truly taught me science. In this one class, we were taught the scientific theory of evolution. An yes it is a theory, because it has never been proved.

We were first taught how to formulate a theory and how to prove it. So yes, evolution is a theory.

But we were also allowed to discuss other alternatives on the subject, such as creation by God.

Don't get me wrong, there were other theories: alien involvement as the missing link etc.

The important thing was we had to create the theory and present our evidence/observations and facts.

It was not against any law to think for ourselves.

So we learned about evolution, took the test on it and left with more knowledge than most kids ever learn in schools today.

I simply do NOT want faith based ideals taught in public schools. Send your kid to private schools if you want Intelligent Design taught to them or teach it to them at your church in Sunday School.

I am not a religious person but i don't know if i believe in God. But i believe intelligent design has no place in public schools.

Evidence from both sides should be presented. Then using the tried and true scientific method a conclusion will be made.

 The problem is proof. The basic understanding is that you so many different religions in school and we need to teach this crap? The religion that is pregious against everything and everyone. A religion that pedophiles use to shield themselves with. And above all one of the main things why most people migrated to America for. Religious freedom. I can understand to teach both and let children make there own decision about.

The basic idea is proof. What does Creative Theory prove? That a book written by Catholic church, and yes the Bible is written by the Catholic belief. A book that has caused more grief then any other book.

 Here is also a basic idea that is going to rule over this, The basic Constitutional right, Freedom of Religion. This does not mean that one religion should take a precedence over another. This means that if my family and children do not want to learn about Christian belief then they have the right not to learn about about it.

Here is another Constitutional right Separation of Church and State. This mean that the Church has no place deciding rules and policies. Also it should not have a place in schools. What is next a Witch hunt for people that do not believe in god, and burn them at the stake?

Let me question: All ID supporters......where is the evidence of proof of the Garden of Eden, where is Noah's ark?

Proverbs 3:5 Has anybody wondered why ever since the Supreme Court kicked God out of school He has been replaced by metal detectors and security guards. Hmmm must be evolution

I think most of us agree we would prefer God as an absolute. In terms of teaching science I can understand not calling creation part of science. Creation and Judeo Christian values are part of our heritage, philosophy, law and culture. Why not insuring it's "existence" as part of history and culture curriculum?

Even though the scientific evidence suggests evolution it is reasonable to also suggest involvement of a progenator. Sometimes evolution appears as "fantastical" as creation. Personally I have found the two compatible. The Bible is largely interpretive and is taught as such in many universities and religious schools.

Seems as though we are always posing our questions as either/or propigating conflict. When you take a position in any argument you are always left with supporting your position....sometimes an impossible task.

Exactly what evidence have evolutionists garnered that establishes evolution as an apodictic fact? When and where was it demonstrated that complex organisms evolved from simpler organisms over millions of years? Better yet, when and where was it demonstrated that a non-human evolved to produce a human? I'd love to see someone provide just a shred of evidence that complex organisms evolved from simpler organisms, or that a non-human evolved to produce a human. What are the names of the laboratories where one can observe extraordinarily complex biological systems evolving from simpler biological systems?

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, 'Let me explain the problem science has with religion.' The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely.'

'Is God good?'

'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes.'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly.

'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good.'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues.

'He doesn't, does He? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent.

'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says.

He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'

'Errr yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes.'

'So who created evil?'

The professor continued,

'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer.

'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet.

'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question.

'Who created them?'

There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is

mesmerized.

'Tell me,'

he continues onto another student.

'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice betrays him and cracks.

'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing.

'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes.'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,'

the student replies.

'I only have my faith. '

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own.

'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'

'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.

The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.

'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that.. There is no such thing as cold, otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest

-458 degrees.' 'Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it?

That's the meaning we use to define the word.'

'In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester.

'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.

'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'

The student looks around the room.

'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?'

The class breaks out into laughter.

'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable,

demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers.

'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,'

the student continues.

'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'

Now uncertain, the professor responds,

'Of course, there is. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied,

'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.