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TechnoratiMany pro-evolution reports, including the latest book, often mistakenly portray intelligent design as a sister concept to creationism, injecting a religious element where none exists.
"NAS manages to celebrate evolution as an unassailable truth, completely misrepresent intelligent design," argues a Jan. 3 report by Discovery Institute, an intelligent design think tank, in response to the book.
Intelligent design is unlike creationism because it doesn't rely on religious text but rather on empirical evidence, according to Discovery Institute's briefing packet for educators entitled "The Theory of Intelligent Design."
The group and other supporters also criticized NAS for failing to address challenges to the theory of evolution and for instead "rehashing" the same arguments.
"What's lacking is the true scientific debate about the merits and weaknesses of evolutionary theory as presented by Darwin," said Peter Sprigg, vice president for policy at Family Research Council (FRC), in his Jan. 3 appearance on NBC Nightly News.
The book ignores "peer-reviewed articles on the concept and the credentials of 700 doctoral-level scientists who have publicly questioned Darwinism," argues FRC President Tony Perkins.
Despite the usual buzz surrounding the evolution-related controversies, the book's publication has garnered attention as science curriculums in several states like Florida and Texas undergo scrutiny or reevaluation.
Evolution critics, meanwhile, have urged the schools to re-tune the teachings on evolutionary theory by providing alternate views.
"Students should learn about the evidence for and against evolution," Casey Luskin, program officer for the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, told the Associated Press.
Christian Post reporter Nathan Black contributed to this report.
