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AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE - The Texas Freedom
Network revealed a side of "intelligent design" proponents rarely seen
by the public at large. The group released a transcript and recording of
an extraordinarily candid speech given in 2005 by recently named State
Board of Education Chairman Ron McLeroy.
McLeroy told a gathering at Grace Bible Church in Bryan, Texas, of his
efforts to expunge evolution from the state's high school biology
textbooks. "Back in November 2003, we finished [the]. . . adoption
process for the biology textbooks in Texas. . . I want to tell you all
the arguments made by all the intelligent-design group, all the
creationist intelligent design people, I can guarantee the other side
heard exactly nothing," he said.
He went on, condemning other Christian board members for not following
his lead.
"[T]he four really conservative, orthodox Christians on the board were
the only ones who were willing to stand up to the textbooks and say they
don't present the weaknesses of evolution," he said. "Amazing."
He admonished the audience not to bicker over the finer points of
creationism because they were united under a "big tent" against
evolution.
"Whether you're a progressive creationist, recent creationist,
young-Earth, old-Earth, it's all in the tent of intelligent design,"
McLeroy said. "And intelligent design here at Grace Bible Church is
actually a smaller tent than you would have in the intelligent design
movement as a whole, because we are all Biblical literalists. . . So
because it's a bigger tent, just don't waste our time arguing with each
other about. . . all of the side issues."
"Modern science today," McLeroy complained, "is totally based on
naturalism," thus "it is the naturalistic base that is [our] target." .
. .
Following a long spiel about biblical truth, McLeroy told the audience
to ignore intelligent design's religious foundation when talking to the
general public. Not to worry though, the "time to address [Biblical
issues] will be after we have separated materialistic prejudice from
scientific fact."
The second step, he said, is to point out that evolution wrongly depends
on "naturalism;" that supernaturalism or divine influences are unfairly
excluded from the conversation. Finally, forget the scientists and
target people without a firm grasp on evolutionary theory. . .
TFN's press release noted that the 2006 school board elections shifted
the balance of power, giving McLeroy and his allies a slim majority. The
board is slated to revise science standards this school year.
http://blog.au.org/2007/08/09/trouble-in-texas-school-board-
chairman-seeks-religion-in-science-class/
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AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE - The Texas Freedom
Network revealed a side of "intelligent design" proponents rarely seen
by the public at large. The group released a transcript and recording of
an extraordinarily candid speech given in 2005 by recently named State
Board of Education Chairman Ron McLeroy.
McLeroy told a gathering at Grace Bible Church in Bryan, Texas, of his
efforts to expunge evolution from the state's high school biology
textbooks. "Back in November 2003, we finished [the]. . . adoption
process for the biology textbooks in Texas. . . I want to tell you all
the arguments made by all the intelligent-design group, all the
creationist intelligent design people, I can guarantee the other side
heard exactly nothing," he said.
He went on, condemning other Christian board members for not following
his lead.
"[T]he four really conservative, orthodox Christians on the board were
the only ones who were willing to stand up to the textbooks and say they
don't present the weaknesses of evolution," he said. "Amazing."
He admonished the audience not to bicker over the finer points of
creationism because they were united under a "big tent" against
evolution.
"Whether you're a progressive creationist, recent creationist,
young-Earth, old-Earth, it's all in the tent of intelligent design,"
McLeroy said. "And intelligent design here at Grace Bible Church is
actually a smaller tent than you would have in the intelligent design
movement as a whole, because we are all Biblical literalists. . . So
because it's a bigger tent, just don't waste our time arguing with each
other about. . . all of the side issues."
"Modern science today," McLeroy complained, "is totally based on
naturalism," thus "it is the naturalistic base that is [our] target." .
. .
Following a long spiel about biblical truth, McLeroy told the audience
to ignore intelligent design's religious foundation when talking to the
general public. Not to worry though, the "time to address [Biblical
issues] will be after we have separated materialistic prejudice from
scientific fact."
The second step, he said, is to point out that evolution wrongly depends
on "naturalism;" that supernaturalism or divine influences are unfairly
excluded from the conversation. Finally, forget the scientists and
target people without a firm grasp on evolutionary theory. . .
TFN's press release noted that the 2006 school board elections shifted
the balance of power, giving McLeroy and his allies a slim majority. The
board is slated to revise science standards this school year.
http://blog.au.org/2007/08/09/trouble-in-texas-school-board-
chairman-seeks-religion-in-science-class/
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