I've been listening to my local National Public Radio (NPR) station all week advertise for an upcoming show that will discuss “intelligent design.” This is no big deal per se, except the announcement is so completely misleading that I am convinced that the show in question will be pure nonsense, and so I resent NPR wasting time airing it.

The announcer helpfully begins by explaining that previous discussions of “intelligent design” have focused on the religious arguments in favor. That is, “the Bible says it, I believe it and that settles it.” But now, the announcer proclaims, the argument for “intelligent design” is based on science. And do you know what the scientific basis of “intelligent design” is? That nature is so perfect that it could only have been created by God.

Wow. That is so scientific.

What a crock of shit. There is absolutely NOTHING scientific about that statement. First of all, nature is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. But the emotional belief that it somehow is still does not prove anything, except a deep abiding desire to see something that is not there, and to attribute what is unknown to a “known” supernatural entity. People can believe whatever they want to believe. However, "scientific" requires a certain standard of logic that just wanting to believe does not meet.

There is no “scientific” basis for “intelligent design.” Such irresponsible attemtps to reframe the argument or redefine “scientific” to fit their own purposes is untenable. I am somewhat miffed that NPR would allow such transparent lies to air, but I guess maybe they have enough confidence in their listeners that no one will fall for it and they won't have to face the accusation of censoring “religious” points of view.

Still, I will be glad when the show airs and I am not irritated every time I have to listen to the announcer spew lying propaganda repeatedly.