ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Right on schedule, even more lunacy is added to the Dover PA fight over
Intelligent Design.

At least he didn't suggest that any scientists be taken out,
Jonah Cohen
Outreach & Public Programs Manager
Science Center of Connecticut

==================
Televangelist Robertson warns town of God's wrath By Alan Elsner 


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson
told citizens of a Pennsylvania town that they had rejected God by voting
their school board out of office for supporting "intelligent design" and
warned them on Thursday not to be surprised if disaster struck. 

Robertson, a former Republican presidential candidate and founder of the
influential conservative Christian Broadcasting Network and Christian
Coalition, has a long record of similar apocalyptic warnings and provocative
statements.

Last summer, he hit the headlines by calling for the assassination of
leftist Venezuelan Present Hugo Chavez, one of     President George W.
Bush's most vocal international critics.

"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in
your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city,"
Robertson said on his daily television show broadcast from Virginia, "The
700 Club."

"And don't wonder why He hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they
begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just
voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for His help
because he might not be there," he said.

The 700 Club claims a daily audience of around one million. It is also
broadcast around the world translated into more than 70 languages.

In voting on Tuesday, all eight Dover, Pennsylvania, school board members up
for re-election lost their seats after trying to introduce "intelligent
design" to high school science students as an alternative to the theory of
evolution.

Adherents of intelligent design argue that certain forms in nature are too
complex to have evolved through natural selection and must have been created
by a "designer." Opponents say it is the latest attempt by conservatives to
introduce religion into the school science curriculum.

The Dover case sparked a trial in federal court that gained nationwide
attention after the school board was sued by parents backed by the
American Civil Liberties Union. The board ordered schools to read students a
short statement in biology classes informing them that the theory of
evolution is not established fact and that gaps exist in it.

The statement mentioned intelligent design as an alternate theory and
recommended students read a book that explained the theory further. A
decision in the case is expected before the end of the year.

In 1998, Robertson warned the city of Orlando, Florida that it risked
hurricanes, earthquakes and terrorist bombs after it allowed homosexual
organizations to put up rainbow flags in support of sexual diversity. 

[The following added to later articles...]

Later Thursday, Robertson issued a statement saying he was simply trying to
point out that "our spiritual actions have consequences."

"God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in his
eye forever," Robertson said. "If they have future problems in Dover, I
recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them."

Robertson made headlines this summer when he called on his daily show for
the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

In October 2003, he suggested that the State Department be blown up with a
nuclear device. He has also said that feminism encourages women to "kill
their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become
lesbians."

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]