One is often left with the impression that there is real debate within the scientific community over the relative merits of evolutionary theory and intelligent design (ID) and that evolutionary theory is a threat to good Christians everywhere. There is, however, simply no significant support for ID in the scientific community, and to say otherwise is simply dishonest. Yes, you can find a few people with PhDs in science or engineering fields that support ID, which is true for just about any idea out there. One needs to ask for any of these scientists what their fields of study are and what sort of impact they have had in their fields (do they publish in reputable journals?). The vast majority of scientists back the theory of evolution by natural selection, as this theory is supported by overwhelming scientific evidence.

Nonetheless, it is pointless to engage in debate over the merits of an idea based on faith, since ID is not set up to be falsifiable. The debate should not be about which idea you should believe, but which should be taught in public schools. Faith can be wonderful, but science education must adhere to the principles of science and should reflect the scientific consensus, which ID does not. Watering down the teaching of evolution in our schools risks the education of a generation of Americans that lack understanding of a theory that is a critical foundation of modern biology and medicine.

Finally, to stage the debate as being Christianity versus Science (by either side) is to the detriment of both. There are plenty of reputable biologists that are both Christian and supporters of modern evolutionary theory. They see no more conflict between faith and science than do Christians who study linguistics (or did the study of languages begin and end with the Tower of Babel?), Christian astronomers (or was Galileo wrong after all?) or Christian geologists (where did all that oil come from?). They simply recognize the distinction between their beliefs based on faith and their conclusions based on scientific evidence.

James DeGregori, 2006