The Intelligent Design Theory suggests that intelligent causes are necessary to explain the complex, information-rich structures of biology, and that these causes are empirically detectable.
Contrary to popular belief, this theory is based on modern science, not religious beliefs.

1. A n00bish, pseudo-science religious theory that advocates that some phenomenon are just too complicated to be explained by science alone, and therefore God, or an intelligent designer must exist.
2. Excrement.

An attempt by the apologists for creationism to artificially inject their metaphysical theory with scientific credibility. Intelligent design makes the "deduction" that the development of complex life on this planet was an intelligent creator, largly on the basis of argument by personal incredulity, a flawed understanding of Darwinian natural selection and fundamental misunderstandings of basic principles of thermodynamics and biology. Advocates claim natural selection/evolution (which they frequently confuse) are impossible, and often have links to other biblical-literlists that believe the earth is only 30000 years old, and other such fantasies. There is reason that the evidence would lead any impartial person to come to such conclusions; it is therefore an example of wishful thinking and by the principle of Occam's razon is a metaphysical (faith) based belief, not a scientific one. The continued deliberate obtuseness on this issue has led to fundamentalists attempting to force science teachers to present it in the classroom, and the general devaluing of science in the population of the US and other countries as a whole.

An apparently unprovable hypothesis that living creatures were created by an all-powerful, intelligent entity that itself did not have a creator. Contrast with evolution. ID proponents typically fail to understand 4 things:

1) Scientists use the word "theory" differently than the layperson
2) Science operates just fine in the absence of absolute truths. Thus, if evolutionary theory doesn't explain everything, that's not a problem - it's a "work in progress"
3) People are no better off substituting a slightly imperfect scientific theory for a completely unsupported religious hypothesis
4) The fact that ID cannot be disproven is a weakness, not a strength (e.g. There are 482,331 raisins orbiting Saturn right now... I defy you to prove me wrong).

A whole-baked idea that the right wing is using to devalue the teachings of the theory of evolution in public schools. What this concept is devoid of is that it cannot be proved nor disproved, unlike evolution which is a theory but has evidence. Stuff that cannot be proven and has no evidence should not be taught in public schools.

1. The theory that an omniscient being plays a vital role in the workings of the universe and is the explanation of all things (including but not limited to the origins of life itself) that have not yet been fully proven.

2. A subtle way for creationists, particularly Christian extremists, to inject their religious ideas in to the public school systems and scientific community.

Although the theory of intelligent design is defended with rhetoric about how evolution is also only a theory (thusly giving right for other theories to be taught as well), one key thing is different- the implied meaning of the word theory. Evolution is not a theory. It is a scientific theory. Scientific theories are not plain "I think this is why this works" theories, they are "I think this is why this works, and here's the lowdown on how it works" theories.

Scientific theories are attempts to explain through experimentation and observation the workings of the universe, whereas intelligent design is a theory with no supplied (let alone proven) hypothesis. This is also known as speculation. Furthermore, if at any time in the future there is a supposed hypothesis for intelligent design, it would be immediately discredited due to it's supers...

Science, Religion and Truth, bastardised.

REEDITED: Something a bunch of drunk religous people and
disgruntled science teachers cooked up in their basement while high on PCP. Sadly, the people who came up with ID
are not at all intelligent.