INTELLIGENT%20DESIGN

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INTELLIGENT DESIGN

• Tuesday, October 2, 2007

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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

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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
  statues 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

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Intelligent Design

• Michael Behe (associate professor of biochemistry
  at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, USA) Darwins
  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

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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