Lileks on Intelligent Design

As is often the case, Lileks, has a pretty common sense approach to the issue:

Oh: I mentioned yesterday that I wrote a column on Intelligent Design. Basic point: I don't think schools should be required to teach it. No. But science classes might profit from the occasional discussion hour where students get to speculate about these things. I've never thought evolution was in conflict with the idea of a Maker, but that's just me; everyone tries to square the Mysteries of the Universe with the intellectual emotions that give them a sense of satisfaction and completeness, so if you come up with a cosmological model that feels satisfying, you should worry. That said, I can easily understand how some see God everywhere in creation, and somewhat baffled by those who see God nowhere. I admit it's hard to square the idea of an intervening diety with human suffering - why didn't He stop the tsunamis? But that's like saying that the existence of an intact anthill in Rio disproves the existence of my left foot, when it might mean I just haven't had the chance to get on a plane to Brazil and kick the thing over. I don't trouble myself with the micro aspect of theology, since God would seem to be a Macro kind of guy. My only point is that leaving speculative discussions out of science - if only one class, once a year - is like teaching kids about the Constitution without having an hour to discuss whether rights are granted by man or inherently endowed by a creator. Can we talk? As a great bony deep thinker once brayed.

Some good ideas and good points.