Friday, March 13, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
On the Origin of Intelligent Design
photo of Charles Darwin by J. Cameron, 1869
As we remember Charles Darwin on his two-hundredth birthday, I thought I’d use this play-on-words to post some thoughts on intelligent design.
The term intelligent design is the contention that humans and all living things are too complex to explain by the random route of natural selection therefore they must be prima facie evidence of an intelligent designer. Superficially, this seems to make sense. Especially if you grew up hearing the Bible called the Word of God. But if you take intelligent design to its logical conclusion then you have to reject the role of DNA, advances in medicine, genetics, fossil records, and two-hundred years of evidence that supports natural selection and evolution.
I’m not going to present a detailed argument here against intelligent design. That’s been done before and much better than anything I could do. If you want such an argument, I highly recommend the one presented by PBS’s NOVA entitled Judgment Day – Intelligent Design on Trial.
What I want to do is present a theory on the origin of intelligent design. I’m not referring to the obvious need for a new term to represent creation-science after the 1987 decision by the US Supreme Court. No, I want to try to answer the question, “Why do intelligent people, including some trained in modern science, find at so hard to reconcile religion and evolution? Why not take the religious position that God created the process of evolution via natural selection? The Roman Catholic Church has officially accepted the validity of evolution. So what is the problem?
Thirty years ago I attempted to dismiss creation-science as the work of crackpots but now that just doesn’t fly. In my post from last week (Feb. 7) I made a joke about it and called them crazy. Even as I posted, I knew I’d have to make a serious attempt to articulate my theory.
So here it is.
These ideas are fundamental:
1. A serious problem exists that proponents are trying to address.
2. Powerful and persistent forces support the problem. Therefore, powerful and persistent opposition is required.
3. The problem is serious enough for some to devote a lifetime to its solution.
4. The symptoms of the problem include a breakdown in the moral underpinnings of government, business, and daily life.
5. A solution based on religion is essential.
These ideas didn’t develop while witnessing the onslaught against teaching evolution in high school. They developed during media coverage of events in Iran during the Islamic revolution and the return of the Ayatollah Khomeini.
To be continued…
(It takes me so long to develop a post, I hope this one is finished sometime in February. Ah well, if Darwin procrastinated for two years on his book, please indulge my few days.)
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Trying to educate the religious-right in Texas?
The pseudo-science advocate, John Donald McLeroy, was just reappointed chairman of the Texas State Board of Education by Texas governor, Rick Perry.
Science education managed a victory against both of them last month.
As a member of the Texas Board, McLeroy has been trying to insert his religious beliefs into science education for more than a decade. It reminds me of that old definition of insanity: repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting different results.
When are you going to get the message Don?
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Family Calendar Update
I thought I'd post a shot of all the birds and at the same time a larger image of the cover page.
The images here can't begin to show the quality of the photos. All the photos are 6.5 X 9.5 and have a resolution between 200 and 300 pixels per inch and are printed on 8.5 X 11 Kodak photo paper.
The photos were shot with either the Nikon D50 or the Nikon D70s cameras. The lens was either an AF-S Nikkor 300 mm, f2.8 with Vibration Reduction or an AF-D Nikkor 80-400 mm, f4.5 - 5.6 also withVibration Reduction.
The images here can't begin to show the quality of the photos. All the photos are 6.5 X 9.5 and have a resolution between 200 and 300 pixels per inch and are printed on 8.5 X 11 Kodak photo paper.
The photos were shot with either the Nikon D50 or the Nikon D70s cameras. The lens was either an AF-S Nikkor 300 mm, f2.8 with Vibration Reduction or an AF-D Nikkor 80-400 mm, f4.5 - 5.6 also withVibration Reduction.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Family Calendar Cover Page
I'll be posting our 2009 family calendar in segments throughout the year. There are several people who don't get a copy so I thought this was a good way to make it more available.
The first post will be the photo for the cover page alone and near the end of December I'll post the photo for January as well as the calendar page.
The first post will be the photo for the cover page alone and near the end of December I'll post the photo for January as well as the calendar page.
The theme this year is backyard birds and this little guy is a Wilson's Warbler, Wilsonia pusilla. I can't help but think of flowers when I see the colors of the many species of warblers who stop over in our yard on their Spring migration to breeding grounds. Often, like the Wilson's, they may fly much farther north. If we are lucky they will stay a few days before continuing on.
All the photos, thirteen in all, were taken in our backyard. Hope you enjoy them.
TIME Magazine's Person of the Year
What a shocker!
Has TIME Magazine changed the definition of their "Person of the Year".
Let me see if I can locate the official (or what used to be the official) definition of their P.O.T.Y.
"TIME's Person of the Year is the man, woman, couple, group, idea, place, or machine that for better or for worse, has done the most to influence the events of the year."
Hmmm, did I miss something?...nope, it's still December 2008.
Well, how would one characterise his influence on 2008? He spent a lot of money making grand promises and he convinced more voters to believe his promises than McCain did. Can't think of anything else. Even if he had a real connection to Blago's Belly-flop it's a pathetic list of "influence (on) events".
(Insert oath), I can think of a few people who, "for better or worse", are on the top of MY list.
Richard Syron, CEO of Freddie Mac from 2003 to 2008 is near the top. As is Daniel Mudd, Fannie Mae’s CEO from 2005 to 2008. Or, SEC Chairman Christopher Cox.
Even TIME's runner-ups are weak compared to my candidates: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Gov. Sarah Palin and Chinese director...wait, did I see Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin? Are you kidding me? I would have listed her somewhere down there near Ralph Nader. Go figure!
Oh well. Come to think of it, I stopped subscribing to TIME nearly twenty years ago when their resemblance to a news magazine fell off the charts.
Has TIME Magazine changed the definition of their "Person of the Year".
Let me see if I can locate the official (or what used to be the official) definition of their P.O.T.Y.
"TIME's Person of the Year is the man, woman, couple, group, idea, place, or machine that for better or for worse, has done the most to influence the events of the year."
Hmmm, did I miss something?...nope, it's still December 2008.
Well, how would one characterise his influence on 2008? He spent a lot of money making grand promises and he convinced more voters to believe his promises than McCain did. Can't think of anything else. Even if he had a real connection to Blago's Belly-flop it's a pathetic list of "influence (on) events".
(Insert oath), I can think of a few people who, "for better or worse", are on the top of MY list.
Richard Syron, CEO of Freddie Mac from 2003 to 2008 is near the top. As is Daniel Mudd, Fannie Mae’s CEO from 2005 to 2008. Or, SEC Chairman Christopher Cox.
Even TIME's runner-ups are weak compared to my candidates: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Gov. Sarah Palin and Chinese director...wait, did I see Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin? Are you kidding me? I would have listed her somewhere down there near Ralph Nader. Go figure!
Oh well. Come to think of it, I stopped subscribing to TIME nearly twenty years ago when their resemblance to a news magazine fell off the charts.
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