I am somewhat afraid to do this, but let me briefly comment on something Mollie said in the, as usual, lively GetReligion wars over media bias on evolution, creationism, naturalism, fundamentalism and various other terms that the media cannot get straight, in terms of using definitions that ring true to the activists being quoted (sometimes accurately and sometimes not).
In defending her "We're not religious" post, Mollie wrote, concerning David Klinghoffer's National Review Online piece about Intelligent Design:
... (If) you read the Klinghoffer piece -- who doesn't fit YOUR stereotype of ID supporters being Christian, I might add -- he specifically said he had been collecting quotes from evolutionists ABOUT religion, especially Christianity. ALL I AM TRYING TO SAY is that this story is important enough to at least cover fairly, accurately and with a critical eye in all directions. I'm sure we can agree about that.
Actually, GetReligion readers will remember that some in the journalism establishment (and some readers of this blog) do not agree that Intelligent Design is a subject that deserves neutral, fair, balanced coverage. That is one reason why -- as a journalism issue -- this story is so important.
But if you are interested in hearing both sides, you can watch Beliefnet.com for some interesting reactions to recent events. The blistering words of the opinion written by Judge John E. Jones III can be read in all their glory by clicking here. There is a wide-ranging interview -- done after the ruling -- with biochemist Michael J. Behe in the same online package.
And finally, the Washington Post did a second-day story on what might happen next. There was, for example, this rather hot-tempered response from a key leader in the 16 million-member Southern Baptist Convention:
"This decision is a poster child for a half-century secularist reign of terror that's coming to a rapid end with Justice Roberts and soon-to-be Justice Alito," said Richard Land, who is president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and is a political ally of White House adviser Karl Rove. "This was an extremely injudicious judge who went way, way beyond his boundaries -- if he had any eyes on advancing up the judicial ladder, he just sawed off the bottom rung."
Wow, that'll sure help calm things down at the Alito hearings.