Changes

*''regardless of whether or not the Apollo astronauts actually landed on the Moon,'' it is a fact that a large number of people—about 6% of the U. S. population, according to one poll—believe that the landing was a hoax or deception and that it never occurred... and it is also a fact that most Americans believe they really did land on the moon.

*''regardless of whether or not the Apollo astronauts actually landed on the Moon,'' it is a fact that a large number of people—about 6% of the U. S. population, according to one poll—believe that the landing was a hoax or deception and that it never occurred... and it is also a fact that most Americans believe they really did land on the moon.

Now, with regard to the theory of evolution, there are a number of facts that we should be able to agree on, ''regardless of whether or not we agree with the theory of evolution.'' One of them is a fact about opinion: just as most scientists once believed in the phlogiston theory, most doctors once believed in bleeding as a treatment for illness, and most Americans now believe that the Apollo astronauts really landed on the moon... the theory of evolution ''is the mainstream opinion'' of scientists today.

Now, with regard to the theory of evolution, there are a number of facts that we should be able to agree on, ''regardless of whether or not we agree with the theory of evolution.'' One of them is a fact about opinion: just as most scientists once believed in the phlogiston theory; just as most doctors once believed in bleeding as a treatment for illness; just as most Americans now believe that the Apollo astronauts really landed on the moon... '''the scientific mainstream of today believes in the theory of evolution.'''

*It is a fact that the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences can be taken to represent "mainstream scientific opinion" in the United States. It is a fact that the AAAS issued [http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2002/1106id2.shtml a 2002 statement] opining that "The contemporary theory of biological evolution is one of the most robust products of scientific inquiry.... To become informed and responsible citizens in our contemporary technological world, students need to study the theories and empirical evidence central to current scientific understanding.... the lack of scientific warrant for so-called "intelligent design theory" makes it improper to include as a part of science education."

*It is a fact that the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences can be taken to represent "mainstream scientific opinion" in the United States. It is a fact that the AAAS issued [http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2002/1106id2.shtml a 2002 statement] opining that "The contemporary theory of biological evolution is one of the most robust products of scientific inquiry.... To become informed and responsible citizens in our contemporary technological world, students need to study the theories and empirical evidence central to current scientific understanding.... the lack of scientific warrant for so-called "intelligent design theory" makes it improper to include as a part of science education."