JMS: What happens when a living thing dies? It’s a mystery.

USG: Even to those of us who have faith in the Book that talks all about that mystery. But not all of it has to be mystery.

JMS: Science doesn’t pretend to know things, it only explains what it can [repeat in a lab].

USG: I am with you so far.

JMS: Science doesn’t disprove god, or an afterlife.

USG: A very honest statement.

JMS: Science isn’t dangerous.

USG: I agree.

JMS: Creationism doesn’t need to destroy science to promise an afterlife.

USG: I agree. Many into ID, actually believe that it was all designed that way... (sorry, couldn't resist)

JMS: You can teach your child about god and heaven all you want at home, no one is denying that. just don’t try to tell people that religion and science are the same, its dishonest and it can have serious consequences.

USG: Agreed. But the distinction I would like to make here, is this: Credulity is the belief in something in spite of the facts. Faith is taking 100% with you, based on the convincing fraction you can observe. (Kind of like getting on an airplane now days…) To say that 2+2=4 is the same as “God is the creator of the Universe.”… is dishonest. Because you are talking about two different things.

JMS: Was that fair? Trying to present intelligent design as an opposing theory to evolution? [It] is not fair.

USG: Lets be precise about what’s fair. Fair is equal access. Fair is comparing apples to apples. Fair is giving equal place at the table. Intellectually honest means that I am not afraid of your idea, because my idea is so truthful, that in the end, it will win. And if it doesn't, then we both win. I am smarter, and you are right. The key is to hire teachers that are better educators than manipulators.

JMS: It simply isnt science. as i mentioned before, it poses a question but explains nothing, by scientific standards.

USG: Careful. “It” is getting closer to explaining things. If you walked into a desert, and in the middle of the desert you saw a 747, parked on a sand dune, your first guess would not be “Oh, look what hatched out of an egg!” ID is knocking on the door. And there are a significant number of scientist who are starting to listen.

JMS: Evolution plays by the rules in science, creationism doesn’t.

USG: That’s because “science” sets the rules. If you add just one component to that equation, “God sets the rules.” Suddenly the whole paradigm shifts and plausibility and presuppositions which before said that, “because I can’t grow it in a test tube”, just get tossed out the window. Just a few short years ago, they thought the speed of light was constant…

JMS: You think not allowing the two to be compared on the same level is unfair, i think its unfair to think you can cheat science when others have worked so hard to actually prove their theories were scientifically sound.

USG: Amen.

JMS: In high school there are classes where students can study religion, but these usually involve more than just Christianity. Would the proponents of intelligent design go for that?

USG: Budah… dead; Mohamad… dead; Confusious… dead. Pharoh (King Tut)… dead; I think we can still visit where these people are buried. No problem. Bring em all in, they are all invited.

JMS: letting all sides be presented? in this sense, it actually would be fair because they would all be religions, just like Christianity.

USG: At Dallas Theological Seminary, they teach the tenants of all the world’s religions.

Once again, JMS, you are quite complete in your analysis. Ty

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"I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution." March 4, 1869, Grant's First Inaugural Address