Reviving “Intelligent Design”

A war of words hit the media when President Bush told reporters that teachers should explain the creation of life by "intelligent design" alongside the theory of evolution. Eighty years after John Scopes was fined (October 21, 1925) for talking about the evolution of life in his classroom, our beloved President manages to imply that the Tennessee teacher may have been wrong indeed.

Since in 1859 Charles Darwin published his theory that plants, animals, and man appear to have evolved from less developed species, some Christians have asserted that the creation of life in all of its forms was an instantaneous event, not an evolving process. Yet, a different answer to this disputed claim is clearly stated in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis.

“ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” Moses tells us. Then the Almighty designed day and night, then land and water, then vegetation, then animals, and then man, the only being that God created “in his own image.” One does not need to go into more detail to recognize that the Almighty did not complete his “intelligent design” all at once but, according to the Biblical metaphor, he did so in six “days.” “For a thousand years in thy sight,” Psalm 90 explains, “are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.”

Thus, centuries before Charles Darwin propounded his theory of the “Origin of Species”, the Hebrew scripture asserted that evolution is an essential feature of God’s creation. Even though evolution does not answer every question about the sources of life, few scientists would dispute that life, while randomly evolving, is nevertheless intelligently designed. That makes the feud between creationists and evolutionists essentially a non-issue.

According to The New York Times, the creationist phrase “intelligent design” was discussed in a White House Bible study before the President commented on it. The Times also reported that creationism “has been gaining support in school districts in 20 states, with Kansas in the lead.”

“ It’s what I’ve been pushing, it’s what a lot of us have been pushing,” said Dr. Richard Land, the president of the ethics and religious liberties commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. “...if you’re going to teach the Darwinian theory as evolution, teach it as theory. And then teach another theory that has the most support among scientists.”

Contrary to Land’s assertion, however, it is very difficult to find a reputable scientist who does not consider the evidence for biological evolution overwhelming. Physics professor A. R. Liboff of Oakland University and several other scholars publicly lamented the “science illiteracy” of Mr. Bush and the “shocking contrast with the early days of our Republic when science-minded political leaders like Thomas Jefferson held sway.”

“The young people of America are ill served by a president who confuses religion with science,” said Rev. Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “Surely, he [Mr. Bush] knows that most religious people see no conflict between Bible teachings and the evidence of science. His irresponsible comments will likely score big points with Religious Right leaders, but they undermine the teaching of sound science in the nation’s public schools.”

If the President wants creationism and evolutionary biology be given equal time in American schools, one wonders if he might not also demand that alchemy, phrenology, and astrology be taught side by side with chemistry, neurology, and astronomy.

As to “intelligent design”, many Americans, while rejecting this phrase as a partisan slogan, would certainly favor it as a guiding principle for the President’s foreign and environmental policies.

Wolf D. Fuhrig	Home	08-14-05
Reviving “Intelligent Design”
A war of words hit the media when President Bush told reporters that teachers should explain the creation of life by "intelligent design" alongside the theory of evolution. Eighty years after John Scopes was fined (October 21, 1925) for talking about the evolution of life in his classroom, our beloved President manages to imply that the Tennessee teacher may have been wrong indeed. Since in 1859 Charles Darwin published his theory that plants, animals, and man appear to have evolved from less developed species, some Christians have asserted that the creation of life in all of its forms was an instantaneous event, not an evolving process. Yet, a different answer to this disputed claim is clearly stated in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis. “ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” Moses tells us. Then the Almighty designed day and night, then land and water, then vegetation, then animals, and then man, the only being that God created “in his own image.” One does not need to go into more detail to recognize that the Almighty did not complete his “intelligent design” all at once but, according to the Biblical metaphor, he did so in six “days.” “For a thousand years in thy sight,” Psalm 90 explains, “are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” Thus, centuries before Charles Darwin propounded his theory of the “Origin of Species”, the Hebrew scripture asserted that evolution is an essential feature of God’s creation. Even though evolution does not answer every question about the sources of life, few scientists would dispute that life, while randomly evolving, is nevertheless intelligently designed. That makes the feud between creationists and evolutionists essentially a non-issue. According to The New York Times, the creationist phrase “intelligent design” was discussed in a White House Bible study before the President commented on it. The Times also reported that creationism “has been gaining support in school districts in 20 states, with Kansas in the lead.” “ It’s what I’ve been pushing, it’s what a lot of us have been pushing,” said Dr. Richard Land, the president of the ethics and religious liberties commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. “...if you’re going to teach the Darwinian theory as evolution, teach it as theory. And then teach another theory that has the most support among scientists.” Contrary to Land’s assertion, however, it is very difficult to find a reputable scientist who does not consider the evidence for biological evolution overwhelming. Physics professor A. R. Liboff of Oakland University and several other scholars publicly lamented the “science illiteracy” of Mr. Bush and the “shocking contrast with the early days of our Republic when science-minded political leaders like Thomas Jefferson held sway.” “The young people of America are ill served by a president who confuses religion with science,” said Rev. Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “Surely, he [Mr. Bush] knows that most religious people see no conflict between Bible teachings and the evidence of science. His irresponsible comments will likely score big points with Religious Right leaders, but they undermine the teaching of sound science in the nation’s public schools.” If the President wants creationism and evolutionary biology be given equal time in American schools, one wonders if he might not also demand that alchemy, phrenology, and astrology be taught side by side with chemistry, neurology, and astronomy. As to “intelligent design”, many Americans, while rejecting this phrase as a partisan slogan, would certainly favor it as a guiding principle for the President’s foreign and environmental policies.

Wolf D. Fuhrig

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08-14-05

Reviving “Intelligent Design”