This is important background information on the Discovery Institute, the main hub of the repackaged creationism that’s been dubbed “intelligent design.” The Wedge Strategy is an internal Discovery Institute memo never intended to be released to the public, that was leaked to the Internet in 1999. It spells out their long term plan to “defeat materialism” and science (represented especially by the theory of evolution) and replace it with fundamentalist, evangelical Protestant theism.

The Wikipedia page correlates a lot of the sources and has statements from both scientific critics and “intelligent design” spokesmen: Wedge strategy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The full text of the Wedge Strategy document is posted on the web here: The Wedge Strategy - Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture.

And here’s a fascinating, detailed look behind the scenes at the Discovery Institute’s promotion of the stealth creationist bill just signed into law by Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal: The Discovery Institute, the LA Family Forum, and the “LA Science Education Act.”

This paragraph is especially pertinent, in light of recent LGF slugfests.

Creationists are always forced to morph into something less recognizable — and, they hope, less legally vulnerable — after losses in federal court. “Creation science” had morphed into “intelligent design” after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1987 Edwards v. Aguillard ruling barred public schools from teaching it. However, after Kitzmiller, that term, too, is legally dangerous, so DI had to disguise its efforts yet again. Consequently, “intelligent design” creationists now shroud ID in multiple alternative identities: “critical analysis of evolution,” “teaching the controversy,” teaching the “strengths and weaknesses of evolution,” “evidence for and against evolution,” and, in the form of legislation in Louisiana and five other states this year, “academic freedom.” These code terms are instantly recognized by DI’s supporters as announcements of creationist initiatives. However, the local foot soldiers cannot be relied on to stick to the DI terminological playbook. Early in the effort, Sen. Nevers candidly told a reporter that he introduced the legislation on behalf of the LFF because “they believe that scientific data related to creationism should be discussed when dealing with Darwin’s theory.” (emphasis added) After some quick spinning for the media (and probably some additional coaching), Nevers got back on message.

The Discovery Institute has posted a reply to the controversy over the Wedge Strategy: CSC - The ‘Wedge Document’: So What?

The first word in their statement is a typo. It’s been there for years.

Conspircay theorists in the media continue to recycle the urban legend of the “Wedge” document, which Discovery Institute has responded to in the past, in detail.

UPDATE at 6/29/08 8:20:13 am:

I’m glad to report that they finally fixed the typo.