INTELLIGENT DESIGN Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Creationism  Commonly used to describe the belief that creation occurred literally as described in the Bible (Genesis)  The fundamentals ’ concept of inspiration almost demands accepting this view  This view often stands in direct opposition with certain interpretations of the scientific method or naturalism  Key contention of such creationists is that only a supernatural miracle and not “ unguided evolution ” can account for origins  It is recognize that they represents a vocal minority within conservative Christianity  Commonly used to describe the belief that creation occurred literally as described in the Bible (Genesis)  The fundamentals ’ concept of inspiration almost demands accepting this view  This view often stands in direct opposition with certain interpretations of the scientific method or naturalism  Key contention of such creationists is that only a supernatural miracle and not “ unguided evolution ” can account for origins  It is recognize that they represents a vocal minority within conservative Christianity

Intelligent Design  We investigate whether or not existing empirical evidence implies that life on Earth must have been designed by an intelligent life form  We use scientific analysis to make this determination  For example, when an archeologist finds a statue made of stone in a field, one can easily argue and conclude that the statue was designed, and then it is reasonable to seek to identify the statue ’ s designer  Because we are scientists we first seek evidence of intelligent design  Because we are Christians we hold the belief that the designer is God  We investigate whether or not existing empirical evidence implies that life on Earth must have been designed by an intelligent life form  We use scientific analysis to make this determination  For example, when an archeologist finds a statue made of stone in a field, one can easily argue and conclude that the statue was designed, and then it is reasonable to seek to identify the statue ’ s designer  Because we are scientists we first seek evidence of intelligent design  Because we are Christians we hold the belief that the designer is God

Intelligent Design  Michael Behe (associate professor of biochemistry at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, USA) Darwin’s Black Box  A mousetrap consists of several interacting pieces:  The platform, the catch, the spring, the hammer, the holding bar  All of which must be in place for the mousetrap to work  The removal of any one piece destroys the function of the mousetrap  Natural selection could not have created irreducibly complex systems, because the selectable function is only present when all parts are assembled  Michael Behe (associate professor of biochemistry at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, USA) Darwin’s Black Box  A mousetrap consists of several interacting pieces:  The platform, the catch, the spring, the hammer, the holding bar  All of which must be in place for the mousetrap to work  The removal of any one piece destroys the function of the mousetrap  Natural selection could not have created irreducibly complex systems, because the selectable function is only present when all parts are assembled

Intelligent Design  Biochemical example: Cilium (Cilia)  Hairlike structures on the surfaces of many animal and lower plant cells  Function to move a cell or group of cells or to help transport fluid or materials past them  Made up of fibers called an axoneme containing microtubules powered by dynein arms  Ciliary motion simply does not exist in the absence of microtubules, connectors, and motors  Therefore, we can conclude that the cilium is irreducibly complex  Biochemical example: Cilium (Cilia)  Hairlike structures on the surfaces of many animal and lower plant cells  Function to move a cell or group of cells or to help transport fluid or materials past them  Made up of fibers called an axoneme containing microtubules powered by dynein arms  Ciliary motion simply does not exist in the absence of microtubules, connectors, and motors  Therefore, we can conclude that the cilium is irreducibly complex