He said it: Wait, shut up, believe, pay, wait, shut up, believe, pay, four easy steps ...

Phillip [Johnson] is absolutely right that the evidence for the big transformations in evolution are not there in the fossil record - it's always good to point this out. It's difficult to explore a billion-year-old fossil record. Be patient!

- William Provine, evolutionary biologist, Cornell University*

- * quoted in Michael Powell, “Doubting Rationalist: 'Intelligent Design' Proponent Phillip Johnson, and How He Came to Be”, Washington Post (Sunday, May 15, 2005). For context, go here.

Oh, and did we mention that your kids are legally required to learn in school how to wait, shut up, believe, and pay too? Sure, because we may as well all be one big happy family in the Four Easy Steps plan. Maybe some of our children will be chosen for the noble task of suppressing doubt.

Find out why there is an intelligent design controversy: