I wish I had been involved in this from the outset, if only to avoid reading ten pages in one sitting...

This is one of my favourite subjects, but much of what I had to say has already been said (many times), so I will limit myself to the following:



This is a fundamental problem - the difference exists whether people believe in it or not. Everyone believes what they want to believe, often despite evidence to the contrary (not just in religion), and it is surprising how far individuals will bend things to fit those beliefs. I would include the length of creation "days" in that statement



Nothing is wrong with teaching kids different opinions - in fact, this is the ideal situation. The problem is that "different opinions" in such statements tend to mean the one that the speaker agrees with. Interesting that you end with "the truth according to mama" .

I note that the Intelligent Design idea fits conveniently with Christianity, and no supporter has advocated teaching about Hindu, Shinto and Dreamtime creation stories. I am all for teaching the alternatives (in an appropriate religious, not science, lesson), but that has to cover more than the one favoured option, otherwise it is just dogma.

If you haven't already guessed, I come from one of the most secular countries in the world. This story has had a lot of press over here. Talking of which, no-one has mentioned the judges comments:

"In his ruling, Judge Jones demolished assertions by members of Dover's former school board, or administrators, that the theory of intelligent design (ID) was based around scientific rather than religious belief.

He accused them of "breathtaking inanity", of lying under oath and of trying to introduce religion into schools through the back door.

The judge said he had determined that ID was not science and "cannot uncouple itself from its creationist, and thus religious, antecedents". "

I had best stop now, before I upset anyone else
Sara