Tuesday, August 02, 2005
This is to be expected of Bush, yet it is also disgraceful.
Press release follows ...
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For more information, please contact:
Ellen Johnson, President (973) 625-6900
Dave Silverman, Communications Director (732) 648-9333
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 2, 2005
BUSH CALL TO TEACH "INTELLIGENT DESIGN" IN PUBLIC SCHOOL SCIENCE
CLASSES ILL-INFORMED, UNCONSTITUTIONAL SAYS ATHEIST GROUP
President Bush should not be encouraging efforts to have so-called "intelligent design"
taught in public school sciences classes since it is unscientific, would promote
religious belief and violate the First Amendment, an Atheist civil rights watchdog group
charged today.
In a press conference Monday, Mr. Bush remarked that he thought "intelligent design"
deserved equal treatment in schools along with scientific teachings about evolution
and the origin of life. While Governor of Texas, he also called for "creationism" to be
part of the school curriculum. "Intelligent Design" posits that a creator or deity is
responsible for the complexity of the universe and the emergence of life.
Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists, said that Bush is confusing the issue,
and promoting religious bias.
Johnson pointed out that the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association
for the Advancement of Science and other reputable groups oppose introducing
creationism and "Intelligent Design" (ID) propaganda into classrooms.
"Creationism, Intelligent Design and other religious doctrines may be taught in the
public schools," added Johhnson, " but only comparative religion classes along with
all the other religious origin theories like the Chinese egg or other creation mythology.
It should not be taught in science classes and that distinction has to be made."
Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists, said "Not all
opinions are of equal value, and we need to teach science -- not religion -- in our
science classes. We wouldn't teach astrology in astronomy courses, or give flat-earth
teachings 'equal time' in the geography class."
American Atheists is a nationwide movement which defends the civil rights of nonbelievers,
works for the separation of church and state, and addresses issues of First Amendment
public policy.
American Atheists, Inc. P. O. Box 5733 Parsippany, NJ 07054-6733
Tel: (908) 276-7300 Fax: (973) 625-6901
