Editor's note

	Clockwise from top left: Behe, Cassimeris, Mendelson, Steffen, Raposa, and Goldman.

In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III ruled in December that "it is unconstitutional to teach (intelligent design) as an alternative to evolution in a public school science classroom." The ruling was in response to the Dover, Pa., school board's policy requiring ninth-graders to hear a prepared statement about intelligent design before learning about evolution in biology class. Michael Behe, professor of biochemistry, testified in support of the school board and has attracted international media attention for years as one of the leading proponents of intelligent design. Behe's colleagues in the biological sciences department took the extraordinary step of posting an official disclaimer on the department's Web site that states, in part: "While we respect Prof. Behe's right to express his views, they are his alone and are in no way endorsed by the department. It is our collective position that intelligent design has no basis in science, has not been tested experimentally, and should not be regarded as scientific."

Judge Jones, in his decision, wrote that while intelligent design has no place in a science classroom, it "should continue to be studied, debated, and discussed." During the fall semester, a Chaplain's Forum held on campus to offer differing perspectives on the contentious issue drew a standing-room-only crowd. The six faculty members who participated addressed the implications of intelligent design for science and for religion. This series of essays, which grew out of the Lehigh forum, is intended to shed light on an issue that all too often engenders only heat.

Intelligent design meets scientific test -- By Michael Behe

Keep science and religion separate -- By Lynne Cassimeris

Scientific hypothesis? Not likely -- By Steve Goldman

ID is not flip side of evolution -- By Tamra Mendelson

Finding the divine in the everyday -- By Michael Raposa

The courage of faith -- By Lloyd Steffen

Lehigh Alumni Bulletin
Winter 2006