Biology Quote by Richard Dawkins
“If complex organisms demand an explanation, so does a complex designer. And it's no solution to raise the theologian's plea that God (or the Intelligent Designer) is simply immune to the normal demands of scientific explanation. To do so would be to shoot yourself in the foot. You cannot have it both ways. Either ID belongs in the science classroom, in which case it must submit to the discipline required of a scientific hypothesis. Or it does not, in which case, get it out of the science classroom and send it back to church, where it belongs.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins, 2006
Scientific explanations must be testable; intelligent design lacks empirical support and should not be taught as science.
In simple terms: Science requires testable hypotheses; ID does not meet this.
Key Takeaway
Keep science classrooms free of non‑empirical claims.
Themes
science
education
religion
critical thinking
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
educational
controversial
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- public policy
- debates on evolution
- teacher training
Key Concepts
epistemology
methodology
separation of church and state
Questions to Reflect On
- Should philosophical ideas be taught alongside science?
- How to balance respect for belief with scientific rigor?
A Different Perspective
Some argue ID belongs in philosophy, not science, blurring boundaries.
