First off, I commend you for taking a very firm stance. Not many people are willing to enter into a conversation such as this because they haven't figured out what they actually think. Secondly, I will galdly explain how believing in creationism and intelligent design does not neccesarily go hand in hand.
I used to act like a Christian, and when I say acting, I mean according to most christians out there I was one. I went to church studied Christian literature and so forth. From that part of my life, I gleaned many facts and beliefs, but something wasn't adding up. I decided to find out what I believed myself. I was done blindly following. I believe that some things were true. Like intelligent design, though at one point I tried to deny it and prove to my friends that it was false. The problem with that is, there is too much evidence and scientific theory to deny it if you really study it. My problem is that I realize that there is intelligent design, but I am unsure of what the designer wants or is. That is how I believe, yet at the same time do not. I hope that explains it.
"extrapolating and perverting dubious science in order to support a doctrinaire interpretation of Genesis". That is of course your oppinion, but I believe in science, and the lecture was clearly given from a very scientific point of view. As for seeking out evidence that ONLY supports the intelligent design, well it's rather hard to find real evidence that supports anything else. The missing link, and the dust on the moon, and the moons orbit, are all very tangible elements of support. I have seen very little real, By real I mean not hypothisized by scientists that are desperately trying to prove their own theory with no facts to back it up, evidence that supports evolution.
As for objectivity, secular scientists are out to prove something of their own, and there really are no completely impartial people. They just don't exhist. And your last statement, "'Upholding the authority of the bible from the very first verse.' No room for open-mindedness there!" First I think that statement is open to interpetation, and you have a right to take it anyway you want. I believe it means that the Bible is scientifically supported throughout the entire thing. And, as I can tell you have fairly staunch views of your own, and I know I have very staunch views of my own, we're really not able to complain about being "open-minded" are we.
