Dealing with design

The idea of intelligent design is being promoted in schools and universities in the United States and Europe. Rather than ignoring it, scientists need to understand its appeal and help students recognize the alternatives. Intelligent design tries to use scientific methods to find evidence of God in nature.

What can scientists do to counter the appeal of intelligent design?

1) talk to students about how they personally reconcile their beliefs with their research.
2) talk to others in order to understand how faiths have come to terms with science.
3) scientists should familiarize themselves with some basic arguments as to why evolution, cosmology and geology are not competing with religion.
4) be prepared to talk about what science can and cannot do, and how it fits in with different religious beliefs.

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Published in nature april 28, 2005