Intelligent Design, Creationism, and Evolution
Intelligent Design is the most recent form of creationism to develop, but its roots go back much further. It is based upon the idea that the existence of God can be deduced from the intricate design in the universe, a view popularized by William Paley's famous Watchmaker Analogy in his 1802 book Natural Theology.
Intelligent Design Dishonesty: Creating Extremism to Attack
Intelligent Design is almost entirely based upon criticism of evolution and science - it has nothing of substance to offer itself. Because of this need for something to criticize, it sometimes occurs that Intelligent Design supporters will need to create something to attack, otherwise they simply have nothing at all to say.
Intelligent Design is almost entirely based upon criticism of evolution and science - it has nothing of substance to offer itself. Because of this need for something to criticize, it sometimes occurs that Intelligent Design supporters will need to create something to attack, otherwise they simply have nothing at all to say.
Phillip Johnson and Evolution
The Intelligent Design movement wouldn't exist today without the efforts and influence of Phillip Johnson, a retired lawyer who decided that cultural and political secularism could be combatted through the development of a new form of creationism. If you listen closely to what he says, you'll notice him admitting that his agenda is culture, not science.
The Intelligent Design movement wouldn't exist today without the efforts and influence of Phillip Johnson, a retired lawyer who decided that cultural and political secularism could be combatted through the development of a new form of creationism. If you listen closely to what he says, you'll notice him admitting that his agenda is culture, not science.
Christian Reconstructionism & Intelligent Design
Defenders of Intelligent Design insist that it is a program of scientific inquiry, not religious faith. Evidence makes it clear, however, that in addition to being bad science and bad theology, Intelligent Design is a political program designed to overturn naturalistic science. It is further supported by important leaders in the Christian Reconstructionist movement.
Defenders of Intelligent Design insist that it is a program of scientific inquiry, not religious faith. Evidence makes it clear, however, that in addition to being bad science and bad theology, Intelligent Design is a political program designed to overturn naturalistic science. It is further supported by important leaders in the Christian Reconstructionist movement.
Intelligent Design vs. Satanic Design
Defenders of Intelligent Design insist that the 'designer' they have in mind need not be their God. Anyone or anything could, in theory, be the 'designer.' What about Satan? If the identity of the designer is left open, isn't it just as likely that some evil being like Satan designed life? I doubt that any defenders of Intelligent Design would agree with this.
Defenders of Intelligent Design insist that the 'designer' they have in mind need not be their God. Anyone or anything could, in theory, be the 'designer.' What about Satan? If the identity of the designer is left open, isn't it just as likely that some evil being like Satan designed life? I doubt that any defenders of Intelligent Design would agree with this.
Intelligent Design is a War on Reason
The immediate focus and target of defenders of Intelligent Design is evolution; the long-term target is, they admit, is methodological naturalism and materialism in science. Their ultimate goal, which they only rarely admit to openly, are reason and modernity themselves.
The immediate focus and target of defenders of Intelligent Design is evolution; the long-term target is, they admit, is methodological naturalism and materialism in science. Their ultimate goal, which they only rarely admit to openly, are reason and modernity themselves.
Religious Conservatives: Are Any Honest About Intelligent Design?
It's surely possible to mount an intellectually and ethically credible defense of Intelligent Design, but I haven't found any religious conservatives actually do it. It is ironic that Intelligent Design it defended in a dishonest manner because it was created in order to 'restore' morality to a secular America. If this is any indication of what they have in mind, they can keep it.
It's surely possible to mount an intellectually and ethically credible defense of Intelligent Design, but I haven't found any religious conservatives actually do it. It is ironic that Intelligent Design it defended in a dishonest manner because it was created in order to 'restore' morality to a secular America. If this is any indication of what they have in mind, they can keep it.
Intelligent Design: William Dembski's Religious & Christian Agenda
It's standard for defenders of Intelligent Design to insist that it's not a religious, and certainly not a Christian, belief system. It's valid science, they tell everyone, and any religious or Christian implications which one might draw from it is purely incidental. It's a nice fairy tale, but it has no basis in truth. The most prominent advocates of Intelligent Design make this clear.
It's standard for defenders of Intelligent Design to insist that it's not a religious, and certainly not a Christian, belief system. It's valid science, they tell everyone, and any religious or Christian implications which one might draw from it is purely incidental. It's a nice fairy tale, but it has no basis in truth. The most prominent advocates of Intelligent Design make this clear.
Unintelligently Designed Comments on Intelligent Design
Is there anyone in the world who can construct a competent, serious, and honest defense of Intelligent Design? I suppose it's possible, but I've never encountered such a person. Everyone single defense of Intelligent Design that I've ever seen, bar none, has been a reason to question the mental competence of the author.
Is there anyone in the world who can construct a competent, serious, and honest defense of Intelligent Design? I suppose it's possible, but I've never encountered such a person. Everyone single defense of Intelligent Design that I've ever seen, bar none, has been a reason to question the mental competence of the author.
Honesty: An Endangered Species With Intelligent Design Supporters
Science does not tolerate dishonesty very well. There will always be scientists who try to cheat and commit fraud, but they are all found out eventually. In the scientific process, only honest work survives over the long term. Perhaps this is part of why defenses of pseudoscience are so often dishonest in their rhetoric and claims.
Science does not tolerate dishonesty very well. There will always be scientists who try to cheat and commit fraud, but they are all found out eventually. In the scientific process, only honest work survives over the long term. Perhaps this is part of why defenses of pseudoscience are so often dishonest in their rhetoric and claims.
Intelligent Design as a Theocratic Tool
Christian Right advocates of Intelligent Design have always intended it as a means for injecting more theism and Christianity into American culture. This makes their agenda appear far more benign than it really is: they want more Christianity in American culture because, in the end, they want to replace America's secular institutions with a theocratic regime under their control.
Christian Right advocates of Intelligent Design have always intended it as a means for injecting more theism and Christianity into American culture. This makes their agenda appear far more benign than it really is: they want more Christianity in American culture because, in the end, they want to replace America's secular institutions with a theocratic regime under their control.
Intelligent Design as a Biblically-Based Position
The fact that Intelligent Design is a program for promoting a conservative, evangelical form of Christianity is undeniable. It's not even reasonable to say that it's a generally religious movement that promotes a general form of monotheism. Why? Because Intelligent Design advocates are clear in their defense of Jesus Christ and the New Testament as foundations for their beliefs.
The fact that Intelligent Design is a program for promoting a conservative, evangelical form of Christianity is undeniable. It's not even reasonable to say that it's a generally religious movement that promotes a general form of monotheism. Why? Because Intelligent Design advocates are clear in their defense of Jesus Christ and the New Testament as foundations for their beliefs.
Wedge Strategy of the Christian Right: Pushing Religion
One of the refreshing things about Judge Jones' decision in the Dover trial was his reference to the infamous 'Wedge' strategy of Intelligent Design supporters. Far from being a scholarly and scientific research program, Intelligent Design was conceived from the outset as a means for injecting more religion, theism, and Christianity into schools and American culture generally.
One of the refreshing things about Judge Jones' decision in the Dover trial was his reference to the infamous 'Wedge' strategy of Intelligent Design supporters. Far from being a scholarly and scientific research program, Intelligent Design was conceived from the outset as a means for injecting more religion, theism, and Christianity into schools and American culture generally.
Good Design vs. Bad Design: Complexity and Design, Irreducible Systems
A common argument from defenders of Intelligent Design is that some biological systems could not do their job if any parts were removed and, therefore, couldn't possibly have evolved naturally - therefore, they must have been designed. Such a system is, however, sub-optimal at best. Well designed systems shouldn't be easy to break and should have redundancies.
A common argument from defenders of Intelligent Design is that some biological systems could not do their job if any parts were removed and, therefore, couldn't possibly have evolved naturally - therefore, they must have been designed. Such a system is, however, sub-optimal at best. Well designed systems shouldn't be easy to break and should have redundancies.
Intelligent Design is Essentially a Religious Proposition
Most scientists recognize that Intelligent Design is essentially religious, lacking even rudimentary scientific merit. Many supporters of Intelligent Design must recognize it, too, because they haven't been able to produce any scientific research and haven't contributed anything to our understanding of biology and life.
Most scientists recognize that Intelligent Design is essentially religious, lacking even rudimentary scientific merit. Many supporters of Intelligent Design must recognize it, too, because they haven't been able to produce any scientific research and haven't contributed anything to our understanding of biology and life.
Intelligent Design and Evolution
Intelligent Design is founded upon two principles: science cannot explain the complexity and intricacy of the universe and, therefore, that those aspects of the universe point to the existence of God. This does not result in necessarily rejecting all of evolutionary theory, but they do argue that the naturalistic foundations of evolution are inadequate to explain the development of life.
Intelligent Design is founded upon two principles: science cannot explain the complexity and intricacy of the universe and, therefore, that those aspects of the universe point to the existence of God. This does not result in necessarily rejecting all of evolutionary theory, but they do argue that the naturalistic foundations of evolution are inadequate to explain the development of life.
Intelligent Design Methodology
Not making an independent case for one's own theory but rather focusing on undermining another theory may not be good science, but it is a good legal strategy. This shouldn't be surprising, because the one person most responsible for the development of the Intelligent Design movement is Philip Johnson, a law school professor and recognized authority on criminal law.
Not making an independent case for one's own theory but rather focusing on undermining another theory may not be good science, but it is a good legal strategy. This shouldn't be surprising, because the one person most responsible for the development of the Intelligent Design movement is Philip Johnson, a law school professor and recognized authority on criminal law.
Intelligent Design and Politics
Intelligently Design is a creationist movement which did not simply evolve into one with political goals - unlike other creationist movements, it started out that way very explicitly and deliberately. Nevertheless, Intelligent Design does share many of the basic social and political presuppositions and goals as those of other creationist groups.
Intelligently Design is a creationist movement which did not simply evolve into one with political goals - unlike other creationist movements, it started out that way very explicitly and deliberately. Nevertheless, Intelligent Design does share many of the basic social and political presuppositions and goals as those of other creationist groups.
Evolution and the Law: What is Balanced Treatment?
Although not heard quite as often today, calls for "Balanced Treatment" were once a fundamental aspect of creationist attempts to insert their beliefs into science classes across the country. Through such efforts they hoped that not only would scientific creationism receive more widespread acceptance, but also that evolution would slowly wither away and die.
Although not heard quite as often today, calls for "Balanced Treatment" were once a fundamental aspect of creationist attempts to insert their beliefs into science classes across the country. Through such efforts they hoped that not only would scientific creationism receive more widespread acceptance, but also that evolution would slowly wither away and die.
American Scientist Review of Black Box
In this American Scientist magazine book review, Yale biologist Robert Dorit identifies six fallacies that plague Behe's book.
In this American Scientist magazine book review, Yale biologist Robert Dorit identifies six fallacies that plague Behe's book.
Argument for an Intelligent Creator
Early "intelligent design" argument made by Thomas Aquinas, from Summa Theologica I, 2, 3.
Early "intelligent design" argument made by Thomas Aquinas, from Summa Theologica I, 2, 3.
Irreducible Complexity?
Michael Behe's book Darwin's Black Box claims that many biological systems are "irreducibly complex" -- that in order to evolve, multiple parts would have to arise simultaneously. But is it true?
Michael Behe's book Darwin's Black Box claims that many biological systems are "irreducibly complex" -- that in order to evolve, multiple parts would have to arise simultaneously. But is it true?
Humans, Cockroaches & Physics
Creationists argue that the fundamental constants of nature are so precisely tuned that an intelligent designer was required to create the universe. Do they have a case?
Creationists argue that the fundamental constants of nature are so precisely tuned that an intelligent designer was required to create the universe. Do they have a case?
Publish or Perish
This list of papers has been collected in response to Michael Behe's claim that the scientific literature is virtually silent on the topic of molecular evolution.
This list of papers has been collected in response to Michael Behe's claim that the scientific literature is virtually silent on the topic of molecular evolution.
Intelligent Design: Scientific?
Many creationists resort to the "intelligent design" argument - but how scientific is it, really?
Many creationists resort to the "intelligent design" argument - but how scientific is it, really?
Theory of Evolution & Intelligent Design
Alleges that natural selection does not explain the evolution of complexity and examines the "logic" behind intelligent design.
Alleges that natural selection does not explain the evolution of complexity and examines the "logic" behind intelligent design.
Origins
Scholarly and popular resources about intelligent design and philosophical theism.
Scholarly and popular resources about intelligent design and philosophical theism.