Ep 5. Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial

In NOVA season 35 episode 5, viewers are taken on a journey through the highly debated world of intelligent design in schools. The episode, titled Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial, centers around the 2005 court case Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District which ruled that intelligent design had no place in the public school classroom.

The episode provides a thorough background of the case, including interviews with the lawyers, witnesses, and journalists who covered the trial. Viewers are shown how the case developed from a decision by the Dover school board to require the teaching of intelligent design alongside evolution in science classes. This sparked a heated debate between those who viewed intelligent design as a scientifically valid theory and those who believed it to be a thinly veiled religious doctrine.

The case itself is presented in an engaging and informative way with footage from the trial interspersed with interviews from expert witnesses. The court heard from notable academic figures who argued both for and against intelligent design as a scientific theory. As the trial progressed, it became clear that the witnesses in favor of intelligent design were not scientists but rather individuals with a theological background. This fact ultimately swayed the judge in the case, who ruled that intelligent design was an attempt to inject religion into the science classroom and therefore had no place in public schools.

Throughout the episode, viewers are exposed to the arguments for and against the theory of intelligent design, as well as the potential impact its acceptance would have on public education. The episode also delves into the history of the intelligent design movement and its relationship with the creationist movement.

Ultimately, Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial is a compelling exploration of how science and religion intersect in the classroom and beyond. The episode provides a balanced and nuanced perspective on the debate surrounding intelligent design and highlights the importance of maintaining a separation between church and state in public education. It is a must-see for anyone interested in the ongoing tension between science and religion and its impact on society.