Papers Examine Origins of Intelligent Design

In a front page article titled Politicized Scholars Put Evolution on the Defensive, the New York Times today carries a long profile of the Discovery Institute and its activities which are aimed largely at promoting the theory of Intelligent Design. It describes the Institute's strategy:

Pushing a "teach the controversy" approach to evolution, the institute has in many ways transformed the debate into an issue of academic freedom rather than a confrontation between biology and religion.

However, the Institute also has taken positions on issues such as local transportation and foreign affairs. Among the organization's backers is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that gives it $1 million a year.

[UPDATED] Meanwhile, the New York Times Magazine today runs an interesting column by William Safire describing the origins of Intelligent Design. He quotes Prof. Leonard Krishtalka of the University of Kansas who describes Intelligent Design as ''nothing more than creationism in a cheap tuxedo.''