Some people claim that intelligent design is not creationism and that it is something entirely new. Is this correct?
Intelligent design is nothing more than repackaged creationism with a new name.
This was brought to light in the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial in which a creationist textbook, Of Pandas and People was brought in as evidence. An earlier draft of Pandas from before the 1986 trial of Edwards v. Aguillard read:
“Creation is the theory that various forms of life began abruptly, with their distinctive features already intact: Fish with fins and scales, birds with feathers and wings, mammals with fur and mammary glands.”
Creationism was declared to be a form of religion and after the trial the Pandas book was re-written to remove any traces of “creationism”. Instead “intelligent design” replaced “creationism” in the book. Here is the same sentence from the book after the Aguillard trial:
“Intelligent design means that various forms of life began abruptly through an intelligent agency, with their distinctive features already intact: Fish with fins and scales, birds with feathers, beaks and wings, et cetera.”
Judge Jones ruled that Intelligent Design could not separate itself from its creationist roots.
"The evidence at trial demonstrates that ID is nothing less than the progeny of creationism" (page 31)
"The overwhelming evidence at trial established that ID is a religious view, a mere re-labeling of creationism, and not a scientific theory." (page 43)
Please see here.
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