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IDEA organization starts here
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By ELISA SAND, Staff Reporter
| 12/01/2008 |
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Two films will be shown at the Madison Public Library to introduce area residents to the concept of intelligent design and create some awareness of a local IDEA chapter that has formed here.
Madison resident Don Parker has chartered a local chapter and is looking for interested individuals to join.
IDEA stands for intelligent design and evolution awareness.
"It's promoting freedom in science to go where the evidence leads," Parker said.
The concept of intelligent design doesn't discount evolution. It merely states that life evolved through the guidance of a higher source.
To spark discussion, Parker plans to show two films at the library: "Where the Evidence Leads" (Dec. 4 and 10) and "This Privileged Planet" (Dec. 18 and again in January.) Each meeting begins at 7 p.m.
Parker, who has authored seven books, became aware of the concept of intelligent design two years ago, and it is a central theme in one of his books.
The first IDEA chapter formed in 1999 at the University of California-San Diego. The IDEA Center was formed three years later by college graduates from the original chapter.
Since that time, 40 clubs have formed on four continents, and 25 of those chapters are on university campuses.
While the concept sounds like an argument for creation, Parker says it's more than that. Creation has a religious theme that says everything was created by God. The theory of intelligent design says a higher intelligence had to be responsible for certain things, but it doesn't define what that higher intelligence is.
The movie "Where the Evidence Leads" discusses the concept of certain biological structures being irreducibly complex and uses bacterial flagellum as an example.
Parker said that particular component has 40 working parts, all of which are working together. If one of those parts stops functioning, the whole system grinds to a halt.
The example of that element, he said, supports the concept of intelligent design, because something that complex couldn't have evolved. Instead, it was designed for that particular purpose.
"This Privileged Planet" talks about Earth's position in the universe. Parker said Earth's position provides a perfect view of the rest of the universe and all the life-sustaining elements on Earth -- like gravity, the atmosphere and the position of the Earth as it relates to the moon and the sun.
Parker said he plans to show additional films like a recent documentary called "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." At some point, he said, he hopes to set up a debate with a college professor.
"I want to provide awareness," Parker said when asked about his ultimate goal of this organization. "My primary concern is we're losing our freedom to discuss it. Some states have passed laws against teaching intelligent design."
Once established, Parker said, he plans to hold monthly meetings to discuss a variety of topics. No membership fees are charged.
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©Madison Daily Leader 2009
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