Science, Evolution and Intelligent Design

Andrea McGinnis

Professor Dunn

LBSU 304

January 28, 2017

Science, Evolution and Intelligent Design

        I could not find an accurate definition of the theory of Intelligent Design based on the readings assigned. I am not biased in any way between any theories of evolution as I find them all to be fascinating.  From my research I could not find any unanimity between scientists on the subject and this is understandable.    With that being said, directly from the Intelligent Design website is this quote: “Intelligent design refers to a scientific research program as well as a community of scientists, philosophers and other scholars who seek evidence of design in nature. The theory of intelligent design holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection.”  (Discovery Institute, 2017)

        The question is, will believers in Intelligent Design be able to embrace the incredibly promising and innovative solutions outlined in Luke Bawazer’s Tedtalk while rejecting Darwin’s theory?  I absolutely believe that they will embrace it.  Just because Intelligent Design theorists do not believe in natural selection they do believe that evolution exists.  In fact, the idea of genetic manipulation and biological evolution is demonstrative of their science.  After all, genetic evolution technology is evolution by design not by natural selection.  

        Not all scientists believe in Darwinism, some argue that it has evolved and others disagree.  In fact, believers of Intelligent Design simply advocate that the education system should teach evolution theories to include all of its unresolved issues.  They believe there are severe scientific weaknesses on the theory of evolution. The teaching of its weaknesses is censored in school curriculums and the Darwin theory of natural selection is taught as fact regardless of decades of problems that are discussed in peer reviewed science related journals.  

          Science and religion have a long history.  In Wilson’s Intelligent Evolution, he states, “…Bruno was burned at the stake, and for its documentation Galileo was shown the instruments of torture at Rome and remained under house arrest for the remainder of his life.” (Wilson, n.d.) Giordano Bruno believed in an infinite universe and rejected the traditional earth centered theory.  Galileo once said, the “Bible teaches men how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go, “…a terrible detriment for the souls if people found themselves convinced by proof of something that it was made then a sin to believe.” (Galileo, n.d.)  

        Science has always been a controversial topic especially when it is compared with religion.  Intelligent Design believers do seem to have a bias, however they base their research on not believing in Darwin’s theory of evolution being a natural selection.  I personally do not even see a correlation between Bawazer’s science in genetic reproduction and Darwin’s  theory.  They are completely two different topics of discussion and any scientist could embrace this innovation regardless of their beliefs in evolution.