Intelligent design becomes issue in Michigan governor's race

(AP) Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos ignited a controversy that kept blogs, party activists and editorial writers fired up for days when he said he approves of intelligent design being taught along with evolution in science classes.

DeVos, a conservative Christian and the son of Amway founder Richard DeVos Sr., made the comment to The Associated Press on Tuesday during a taped telephone interview on education issues.

"I would like to see the ideas of intelligent design that many scientists are now suggesting is a very viable alternative theory," he said. "That theory and others that would be considered credible would expose our students to more ideas, not less."

Up until then, DeVos had mostly kept his gubernatorial campaign focused on the economy.

Intelligent design holds that living organisms are so complex they must have been created by some kind of higher force.

The push to include intelligent design in science classes was dealt a blow last December when a federal judge barred the school system in Dover, Pa., from teaching intelligent design alongside evolution in high school biology classes. The judge said that intelligent design is religion masquerading as science and that teaching it alongside evolution violates the separation of church and state.

On Thursday, DeVos stressed that it should be up to local school systems and parents to decide what is taught in science classes. He said he thinks of intelligent design as a "legitimate, competing scientific theory" to evolution.

But he added, "The governor's personal opinion shouldn't be driving the agenda one way or the other."

Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who is Roman Catholic, said Michigan schools need to teach evolution in science classes and not include intelligent design. She said school districts can explore intelligent design in current events or comparative religions classes.

"I believe that God created the universe. That's my religious belief. But religion should not be taught in a science class," she told the AP in a telephone interview.

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On the Net:

DeVos campaign: http://www.devosforgovernor.com

Granholm campaign: http://www.granholmforgov.com

Michigan Department of Education: http://www.michigan.gov/mde