Is the dispute between intelligent design and evolution undermining science, religion, or neither?

Answer 1

Probably both.

It undermines science because it isn't scientific and it introduces the silly idea of "personal truth" into a hard science, where it doesn't belong. Evolution is the way it is, and there's no science that argues otherwise.

It undermines religion because it shows religious people as having not moved beyond the Age of Enlightenment, as backwards, and as not understanding science.

Answer 2

It's undermining politics, but science isn't hurt by it. In fact, most scientist don't waste their time even bothering with any debates about intelligent design. And of course, it's undermining religion because many religious claims are disproved by science. But, that's not a bad thing. Religion is just a form of Dungeons and Dragons for adults.

Answer 3

Actually, there really isn't a dispute. So there's nothing to undermine, other than public opinion.

Intelligent Design has nothing to do with science, and the scientific community does not bother with them. Unfortunately, this nonchalance on the part of the scientific community is what has allowed these fringers like Dr. Dino to continue to dupe people via propoganda.

But the difference between the two is akin to comparing nuclear fission to alchemy.

Answer 4

It certainly doesn't undermind science; truth is objectively distinct from belief (evolution is true whether or not Alabama believes it).

Religion is unavoidably undermind on some level because evolution unequivocally and empirically describes a natural process to explain the formation of the hominid and of homo sapiens. This process requires no divine intervention whatsoever.

By calling attention to the question of evolutionary design, the leaders of the religious creation movement, such as Michael J. Behe and the rest of his cronies at the Discovery Institute, religious-minded scientists are publically humiliating their own faiths at the expense of a futile quest for evidence for young-earth creationism. Rather than be comfortable with their doubts, they made the grave error of making their doubts public business by trying to force their stupid ideas on public education. In so doing, they have discredited their own doubts in a very public way, as we especially saw in the complete smackdown that Intelligent Design received at the Dover trial.

Science, however, remains unaffected. Empirical truth doesn't care how many screaming evangelists demand that we put Genesis in the classrooms (but oddly, they don't struggle for Poseidon, Shiva, or steady-state theory...). The scientific consensus on evolution remains unshaken and even strengthened.

Answer 5

I would say that intelligent design absolutely does not undermine religion. In fact, intelligent design is a marrying of science and religion and is very exciting! Intelligent design doesn't necessarily undermine evolution, depending on how you look at evolution. Evolution believes that life was created out of nothing, or non-living elements. The mathematical equation of the non-living elements coming together in an exact way to create life, in itself, has to be classified as a miracle, or would suggest intelligent design. By the way, some answering this question thinks that most scientist don't believe in intelligent design. That is wrong.

Answer 6

If science is the pursuit of knowledge and an understanding of the universe, then no, Intelligent Design does not undermine it.

If science is the study of finding an excuse not to believe in God, then yes, it does undermine it.

Science has proven that the mathematical formula behind Intelligent Design works in every case to determine whether or not something has been designed, but for some strange reason, they deny its validity in determining whether or not the universe was designed. That is nothing more than intellectual dishonesty.

And why is it that whenever I debate an evolutionist, they spend most of the time telling me how invalid my arguments are, but can never tell my WHY they're invalid?

Answer 7

In my understanding, it is between the Adam and Eve/Intelligent Design theory and evolution.

The first claiming that humans were made to be humans in their rightful form, as they appear today, and are not biologically related to all other organisms. This theory simply contradicts with the idea of evolution.

It is primarily the idea that some relgious purists refuse to interpret the Bible symbolically and feel that all its contents are completely accurate. Its not really undermining, its just a contradiction.

Answer 8

I don't think it undermines science, perhaps science education if religion is allowed to be taught as a science.

I think it undermines religion because "It says so in the book and therefore it's irrefutable and unquestionable" isn't really much of an argument.

Those who want to teach creationism should, of course, be free to do so at home or in their churches. It just can't be taught in a school as science.

Answer 9

What debate. Intelligent Design has being shot down in the courts. The closest to a debate you will find is here, and it will start when a shred of evidence for ID is brought forth.

Answer 10

It certainly doesn't undermine science. It might undermine education in the USA though.