Legally, though, isn “intelligent design” another name for “scientific creationism”?
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) and other organizations have tried to portray intelligent design as another variant of scientific creationism. For example, when high school biology teacher Roger DeHart, of Burlington, Wash., tried to teach his students about intelligent design, the ACLU of Washington state accused him of “presenting the discredited and illegal theory of creationism.” Similarly, they branded intelligent design as “a smoke screen for creationists who have lost in the courts.” Although intelligent design is compatible with many “creationist” perspectives, including scientific creationism, it is a distinct theoretical position. This can be seen by comparing the basic tenets of each view. Legally, scientific creationism is defined by the following six tenets: • The universe, energy and life were created from nothing. • Mutations and natural selection cannot bring about the development of all living things from a si
