Iowa professor again poised to defend "intelligent design"

Posted 23 February 2007 by Tara Smith

Via From Right 2 Left, I see that U of Iowa physics professor. Fred Skiff, will be speaking on intelligent design next week:

At the next "Finding God at Iowa" Lunch Forum, Fred Skiff, University of Iowa professor of physics and astronomy, will speak on the theory of intelligent design. The forum will be held from noon to 1 p.m. March 2, in the Ohio State Room (Room 343) on the third floor of the Iowa Memorial Union. Skiff will offer "A 'Fireside Chat' on Intelligent Design." He will discuss some of the questions underlying the debate over intelligent design in nature, such as: What are the appropriate assumptions, methods, and limits of science? Can the intelligent design argument be properly made within the realm of science?

Why am I so dismayed (well, besides the obvious)? Read more about it at Aetiology...

16 Comments

ben · 23 February 2007

At the next "Finding God at Iowa" Lunch Forum, Fred Skiff, University of Iowa professor of physics and astronomy, will speak on the theory of intelligent design.

Remember, ID has nothing to do with religion, nothing at all. Move along, no religious apologetics to see here, strictly science only.

DrFrank · 23 February 2007

Fred Skiff, University of Iowa professor of physics and astronomy, will speak on the theory of intelligent design

What, there's actually a theory of ID now?! *laughs head off*

Kimball · 23 February 2007

So what? If the raving atheist Hector Avalos can head up their religion department there, why can't the science prof talk about ID?

2hulls · 23 February 2007

I'll postulate that a "raving athiest" is probably the best qualified to head up ANY department of religion, assuming such a department considers all religions - he/she could truly treat each one on equal terms!

Dave

Wheels · 23 February 2007

Cheer up, guys! This is what you've been waiting for! Didn't you read the link? Skiff is going to finally present the THEORY of ID!
All that secret and very expensive hush-hush research at the De-Eye must have come to fruition, they've got something testable and evidence-based after all these years! Now they'll be showing us all the positive evidence for Design and how to reliable distinguish between Design and Not Design with some newfound, coherent, rigorous analysis that doesn't completely fail.

the pro from dover · 23 February 2007

And here it is: At some unknowable time in the past, an unknowable entity or entities did using a mechanism that cannot be understood or replicated and is currently not operating anywhere in the observable universe and for no apparent purpose did something that cannot be recreated or examined the result of which is everything. Can a Nobel prize not be far behind?

Sir_Toejam · 23 February 2007

Can the intelligent design argument be properly made within the realm of science?

methinks Spaceman Spiff will rely heavily on his cardboard transmogrification box duing his lecture.

normdoering · 23 February 2007

Skiff is going to finally present the THEORY of ID! All that secret and very expensive hush-hush research at the De-Eye must have come to fruition, they've got something testable and evidence-based after all these years!

I figure all the very expensive hush-hush research money was spent on cocaine and hookers. But then again maybe they're serious. And maybe we're wrong to blame religion, maybe the problem is just sheer human stupidity: http://normdoering.blogspot.com/2007/02/problem-with-stupid-people-is.html

Sir_Toejam · 23 February 2007

I figure all the very expensive hush-hush research money was spent on cocaine and hookers.

hey, if it's good enough for Ted Haggard.

Wheels · 23 February 2007

Actually that was crystal meth, not cocaine.
And those were only massages. He's "completely heterosexual."
Really. In fact, he didn't even know the guy! And all that meth he bought from this guy he's never met just got thrown in the trash.

Sir_Toejam · 23 February 2007

..in fact, he's so NOT gay, he went through a xian gay deprogramming clinic just to prove it!

Doc Bill · 23 February 2007

From Skiff's own web page at the U. Iowa it's clear he's a creationist. No problem with that.

I hope we can get some rigorous clarification on the Theory of Intelligent Design from him. God knows we haven't been able to do so from Dembski, Behe, et al.

ben · 24 February 2007

If the raving atheist Hector Avalos can head up their religion department there...

Oh no! Next you'll be telling us the head of the Psych department isn't actually mentally ill! What superstitious beliefs should one be required to hold to qualify to head a religion department?

Sir_Toejam · 24 February 2007

Oh no! Next you'll be telling us the head of the Psych department isn't actually mentally ill!

perfect analogy.

Flint · 26 February 2007

So a creationist astronomer will be explaining why the fundamental tenets of biology are all wrong? Truly, religion warps the mind in mysterious ways. If I were a biology professor, I'd wish to give a speech on why "stars" are actually pinholes in the firmament, on the grounds that scripture is a lot more infallible than astronomy professors. I wonder if Skiff would get the point?

Sir_Toejam · 27 February 2007

Truly, religion warps the mind in mysterious ways.

hmm, I rather think a mind like that had to have been warped with or without the religion as an enabler.