Introduction to ID, warts and all
A review of A Biblical Point of View on Intelligent Design by Kerby
Anderson
Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR, 2008
reviewed by Emmett L. Williams
This book by the national director of Probe Ministries and host of the nationally
syndicated radio talk show, Point of View, attempts to be an introduction
to the scientific, biblical and educational aspects of intelligent design.
The modern, politically correct view of origins is that the development of all nature
is a result of molecules-to-man evolution. The foundation for such an idea is rooted
in the philosophies of naturalism and Darwinism with the total elimination of intelligent
design and creation by supernatural means. Unfortunately Darwinism and naturalism
have become a religion whose devotees censor any hint of design, yet they feel free
to speak authoritatively on any subject of human endeavor from an evolutionary view
point.
In this book the standard proofs for evolution are examined and found wanting. Some
examples are the fossil record with its myriad “missing links”, chemical
evolution (abiogenesis), ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny and the continual use
of fraudulent “evidence” supporting that theory, the peppered moths
as an example of natural selection, the variation in Darwin’s finches, and
mutations supposedly causing improvement in fruit flies.
The meaning of intelligent design (ID) is introduced. When viewing the natural order
and complexity a person can conclude reasonably that this is evidence for a master
plan or intelligent designer as opposed to the origin of the world being a result
of brute natural processes occurring by chance. William Dembski’s use of the
terminology “specified complexity” is illustrated by designated seating
in a cinema (an obvious input of planning and information):
“… when the precise seating arrangement at the cinema corresponds to
seats people have been assigned on their ticket stubs we begin to doubt whether
these events occurred by chance” (p. 56).
When viewing the natural order and complexity a person can conclude reasonably that
this is evidence for a master plan or intelligent designer
Various arguments for design are suggested such as the genetic code (pp. 58–63).
The useful design of supposed “junk DNA” is explained. So-called examples
of bad design are countered in a scriptural manner by the Fall of Man (Genesis 3) initiating degeneration processes in the cosmos.
The accelerating deterioration would cause defective features to form in a decaying
created order.
Teleological evidences from astronomy to microbiology are outlined from the framework
of intelligent design. Michael Behe’s concept of irreducible complexity in
living systems argues against chance step-by-step formation and operation of such
organisms.
Anderson makes the surprising statement,
“… finding evidence for intelligent design does not necessarily require
a belief in the supernatural (although for most people it does)” (p. 86).
However, the origin of design can only be adequately explained by a supernatural,
creative God who was there in the beginning.
Various theistic viewpoints on origins are briefly explored in the chapter on “Origins
and the Bible” with a plea for “ … humility and civility on all
sides” (p. 128). But it would take too much space to properly address this
subject here.
No matter if ID proponents say that their theories do not imply supernaturalism,
this approach unfortunately is not convincing to ‘the natural man’.
Two chapters are devoted to “Is Intelligent Design Science?” and “Should
Intelligent Design Be Taught in Schools?” The ID movement is trying to accomplish
what many creationists have struggled with for decades, i.e. creation should be
offered as an option to evolution in the government school classroom. The naturalistic
power structure coupled with a cooperative judicial system and generally liberal
media will have none of it. ID advocates thus suffer the identical fate as biblical
creationists. No matter if ID proponents say that their theories do not imply supernaturalism,
this approach unfortunately is not convincing to “the natural man”.
They will not have the Creator rule over them.
I disagree with some statements made by individuals that Anderson quotes with approval.
One is that the creation account in Genesis is only poetry, whereas an objective
grammatical-historical analysis of the text shows that it is a literal account of
God’s creative activity. Another is that naturalism and creationism can be
combined comfortably under the big tent of ID. This introduction to ID, however,
is well-written and easily readable. If you wish to know more about intelligent
design and some of the goals of the movement, this book is a good place to start.
Readers’ commentsJoe J., United States, 9 October 2010
William’s review of Anderson’s book seems to be fair, objective, and is a breath of fresh air. As a creationist, I welcome the input of Intelligent Design because it opposes what is perhaps the most damaging philosophy/religion the world has ever seen. While ID falls short in biblical foundation, they are a needed voice in this, the Great Debate.
xx e., United States, 9 October 2010
You subhumans are idiots.
Peter M., South Africa, 9 October 2010
What is the point of the ID movement? There is a head-on attack on Christ, and God, based on the most spurious of reasons. None of the reasons are to do with Science, and are all to do with religion. The raison-d’être for Darwinism is to dethrone God, and his Son as Psalm 2 foretold. What Darwinism needs is a blood nose, and not an oblique and compromised pseudo-apologetic.
Darwinism is exposed and naked before true science, that rightly interprets the latest findings in the light of the Bible. Jesus is titled The Truth. His words will never pass away, even though the world and the heavens will pass away. We can trust him completely. It is very sad to see the declension that has filled the church as the greatest Apostasy of all time begins to take hold. If you cannot believe the first page of the Bible, you have lost the whole Bible, that we only have because martyrs gave their lives to bring it to us. The devil’s first gambit was, "Hath God said…?" It was spectacularly successful, and he uses it now again casting doubt on the veracity of The Word of God.
The ID proponents actually weaken our fight for the truth, because they give place to the devil on page one of God’s Word. In a fight, if initially one gives ground to an opponent, it is likely that he will win the encounter. We must stand firm, and dance on the bones of Darwinism, for the God of Peace will crush Satan shortly under our feet. Let us take the fight to the so-called scientists. They cannot explain the programming of DNA, the fact that over a century of laboratories have not replicated one protein, which was supposed to have happened in the open air, by chance. They are disproved by mathematics, even their own numbers equate to no chance, and they have to turn a blind eye to design, on the superficial level, the artistic markings on skin, and hair and scales, and the more sub-cutaneous masterful arrangements of machinery etc which have then been micro-processed into seeds, which can replicate. The simple biological cell is so stupendously complex that nothing man-made even remotely compares with the works of God’s hand. He is the Creator, and they are without excuse. |
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