Confusion abounds concerning what Intelligent Design is and is not. And as Ben Stein’s movie Expelled releases nationwide on April 18th, there will be much more. If you listen to the media, you will almost never hear them get this right (I am not trying to be mean, just honest). So, here is the definition of ID from proponents of it:
“The scientific theory of intelligent design holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection acting on random mutations.”
ID is not creationsim in sheep’s clothing. Nor does it advocate Genesis or any other religious text be taught in the classroom as science. It is not a religious in nature, but does have religious implications. Who or what is the designer? ID does not say–that is not a scientific question. That is a question for philosophy of religion and theology to investigate (a great place to start is To Everyone an Answer: A Case for the Christian Worldview).
Expelled is a movie about freedom of speech and freedom of inquiry. And this is a conversation that needs to be had.
To help understand these issues further, see The Design Revolution: Answering the Toughest Questions About Intelligent Design by William A. Dembski