"Darwin's evolution theory loses out in mock trial" (2005)

Darwin's evolution theory loses out in mock trial
> <br> Indo-Asian News Service
> <br> New York, May 16, 2005
> <p>

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution was on trial in Topeka, Kansas, and it seems the legendary British naturologist lost to an "intelligent designer" - a barely disguised euphemism for God.

The mock trial of Darwin's theory by Kansas' Board of Education, which concluded on May 12, included testimonies and cross-examination of and by pro-evolution and pro-creationism experts.

The board's trial voted 6 to 4 in favour of bringing the concept of "intelligent design" within the methods of teaching science in schools. Over two dozen scientists, teachers and lawyers said the state's science standards be amended to incorporate alternative thinking.

There was widespread apprehension among America's liberals and scientists that God is being brought into the country's classrooms by the supporters of the concept of an "intelligent designer", who argue that the world had to have been designed by a particularly smart designer, possibly God.

At the centre of the trials is Steve Abrams, a veterinarian and Republican, who among other things believes that earth is only 5,000 years old, a view propagated by Christian conservatives, as opposed to 4.5 billion years as argued by scientists.

Abrams as the board chairman has challenged the validity of evolution as the only valid explanation of life. He has said evolutionary biology is inadequate in terms of evidence and there ought to be an intelligent designer at the helm.

The pro-creationists, who are generally perceived by scientists and liberals as Christian religious zealots pushing a biblical agenda, have lately chosen to use seemingly more neutral language while arguing their case. Rather than saying that life was created by God, they use the term an intelligent designer to give their case a more rational touch.

Among those who testified was Mustafa Akyol, a Turkish newspaper columnist and Muslim. He reportedly said that the theory of evolution, which incidentally goes against Islam as well, generates "anti-Westernism" elsewhere in the world. The purpose behind introducing people like Akyol was to give the trial an appearance of being non-partisan and religiously diverse.

The evolution versus creationism debate has been raging in Kansas since 1999, when the state dropped evolution from its requirements of science education and invited widespread ridicule.