For too long now students in our public schools have been taught that evolution is the only scientific theory that can be used to explain the origin of living things. To appeal to an all-powerful creator or designer we are told is irrational and void of any scientific validity. Since we are dealing with the question of origins neither the theory of evolution or intelligent design can be proved using the scientific method. This is because the scientific method requires observable and repeatable experimentation and by definition origins are not subject to this type of analysis.
According to Phillip E. Johnson, a leading proponent of intelligent design, “Science is based upon impartial, factual, repeatable observations. It is fair, open to free deliberation of all ideas and follows the evidence where it leads.”1 Sadly, the science that is taught in our public schools is taught with a prejudice called materialism which is based on laws, particles and chance as the engine that brought living organisms into being.
According to the theory of evolution blind chance was the design engine that somehow brought about the synthesis of living protein molecules. And then through a long series of fortuitous accidents these protein molecules learned to combine to form more and more complex organisms. After several billion years of trial and error and the survival of the fittest combination of atoms, molecules and cells, human beings emerged as the crowning jewel of this awesome random process.
Intelligent design theory on the other hand states that life at all levels is so unfathomably complex that an intelligent cause is the better explanation of how life came about rather than random mutation and natural selection or evolution. Under both theories the question of design is not the central issue but which creative engine seems more plausible – blind chance or blinding intelligence.
I must admit that for intelligent design to be true we must appeal to the supernatural. Since evolutionists rule out any concept of the supernatural, they are left to conclude that random mutation and natural selection is the only game in town.
It’s just bad science to conclude something such as evolution with no real proof to support one’s conclusions just because you are uncomfortable with the other plausible alternative. Could a supernatural intelligent designer be the creative force that brought our universe and human life into existence? According to the evolutionist this possibility is totally dismissed because they categorically rule out the supernatural.
It’s also intellectually dishonest to tell young students that evolution is a scientific fact when there are hundreds of scientists around the world today that believe evolution is impossible and that intelligent design theory makes more intellectual sense. I might add that it is also intellectually dishonest to not inform young people that many of the greatest scientists during the past 500 years such as Newton, Boyle, Kepler, Faraday, Kelvin, Maxwell and Dalton strongly believed in a universe that was designed by an intelligent cause which they called God.
I believe that when we follow the evidence intelligent design theory has much to offer us as a plausible theory on how living organisms came into being. Since the scientific method is what we need to teach students to use when trying to prove something scientifically neither evolution or intelligent design will be able to be proved in this way. When it comes to the question of origins it is imperative that we teach intelligent design alongside evolution in our public schools and let our students decide which competing theory makes more sense.
We as Americans pride ourselves as people open to exploring different viewpoints. Our public schools should be a safe place for the free exchange of ideas. Proponents of evolution should have nothing to fear if they feel their theory makes the most sense. If our society wants to be a champion in the marketplace of ideas, we need to expose our young minds to competing ideas and allow them to draw their own conclusions. If we don’t, we will be doing them a great injustice by teaching them as “fact” something that true science is not equipped to be in a position to prove.
In my opinion teaching intelligent design as well as evolution in our public schools seems to me to be a compromise position that will only stimulate our students to explore all facets of an incredibly important topic – the origin of life!
1 Phillip E. Johnson, Paul Nelson, John Mark Reynolds, J. P. Moreland, Darwinism in Crisis – Intelligent Design Theory and the New Revolution against Evolution, Christian Apologetics – Biola University
Agreed, my friend. Unfortunately, the schools have become political tools for the Godless to indoctrinate our youth into raising every thought against God. I pray for the remnants that are standing against this assault in a time that’s echoes of what God spoke of in Romans chapter one.
from your lips to God’s ears, Curt!