In the News

Worth a look in the south Chicago Daily Herald...

Nature includes a new study on flagellar systems, which approaches from a protein network perspective. The first thing that the paper does is demonstrate (once again) that there are core proteins that are absolutely necessary for flagellar motility. But it also says something quite amazing: "In fact, it remains unclear whether all the protein components of the flagellar apparatus have been identified." The paper also says that predicted motility genes using genome sequences need to be checked against a functional background (aka 'biological relevance'). These scientists went to the trouble of finding out which genes are necessary for flagellar motility (via swarming assays). They found several novel motility proteins that appear to be species-specific.

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Fixed Point Foundation announced that atheist and best-selling author Richard Dawkins will debate his Oxford University colleague, Dr. John Lennox, on October 3rd at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Alys Stephens Center.

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Bill Dembski reviews Francisco J. Ayala's book, Darwin's Gift to Science and Religion.

See the review...

The European Council adoption of the "The dangers of creationism in education", was signed by only 15 of the 80 signing members.

Here is part of the summary statement...

Summary

Creationism in any of its forms, such as “intelligent design”, is not based on facts, does not use any scientific reasoning and its contents are definitely inappropriate for science classes.

However, some people call for creationist theories to be taught in European schools alongside or even in place of the theory of evolution. From a scientific view point, there is absolutely no doubt that evolution is a central theory for our understanding of life on Earth.

The Assembly calls on education authorities in member states to promote scientific knowledge and the teaching of evolution and to oppose firmly any attempts at teaching creationism as a scientific discipline.

The self-delusion and subterfuge is obvious. ID is not based on facts, and uses NO scientific reasoning? The document reads like a statement of faith and beliefs of a church denomination.

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Here's the latest interchange between Dr. Jeffrey Shallit and Michael Egnor on ENV.

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After a number of requests from teaching unions and civic bodies, including the Christian think-tank Ekklesia and the British Humanist Association, the UK Department of Children, Schools, and Families has issued guidance for teachers uncertain whether and how to discuss creationism - which is rejected by both scientists and theologians as lacking factual and theoretical value.

A statement on Teachernet, a government website, states that "Creationism and intelligent design are not part of the National Curriculum for science" and describes "intelligent design" as "a creationist belief" that "is sometimes erroneously advanced as scientific theory but has no underpinning scientific principles or explanations supporting it and it is not accepted by the international scientific community."

Apparently, forensics would not be a science in the UK either. Police would not be able to determine whether an event was the result of natural causations or agent causations. There would be no more who-dun-its, only what-dun-its.

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Global warming is heating up as an election issue. In the National Review article "What Would Jesus Drive?", Jay Richards takes a look at the varied positions of Evangelical Christians on global warming and explains that there are four distinct questions to be asked (and answered). He concludes by predicting that global warming will be a focus of Democratic candidates to woo the Evangelical vote in the upcoming elections.

Tom Heneghan, religion editor for Scientific American, reports on Europe's main human rights body, which will vote next week on a resolution opposing the teaching of creationist and intelligent design views in school science classes.

The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly will debate a resolution saying attacks on the theory of evolution were rooted "in forms of religious extremism" and amounted to a dangerous assault on science and human rights.

My head is spinning from the subterfuge...

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Merrill Balassone, of the Modesto Bee, wrote a piece on school board candidates and their take on ID in the classroom.

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Many folks talk about Darwin, but how many of us have actually read him? Now you are without excuse as his complete works can be downloaded to your iPod to listen to while you commute to work:

The Complete Works of Charles Darwin are now available online as downloadable .mp3 files. The audio is computer generated from the text and a little choppy, but the British accent helps create the proper mood for listening.

The project to put the complete works of Charles Darwin online was begun in 2002 by The University of Cambridge and was funded with a $500,000 grant. In addition to the audio files, complete text files and scanned page images can also be found on the site. Biographical information, an advanced search engine, and all six editions of "On the Origin of Species" make this website a researcher's dream.

A link to this site will soon appear on the ARN Featured Author page for Darwin so you can quickly locate it in the future.

In a major motion picture release scheduled for February 2008, Ben Stein exposes the frightening agenda of the "Darwinian Machine" in Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. Here is the official press release:

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- It's a movie that Ferris Bueller would take the day off to go see. What freedom-loving student wouldn't be outraged to discover that his high school science teacher is teaching a theory as indisputable fact, and that university professors unmercifully crush any fellow scientists who dare question the prevailing system of belief? This isn't the latest Hollywood comedy; it's a disturbing new documentary that will shock anyone who thinks all scientists are free to follow the evidence wherever it may lead.

Produced by Premise Media, Expelled, in theaters February 2008, is being marketed by Motive Entertainment, the company that has spearheaded significant Hollywood blockbusters, including The Passion of the Christ, Polar Express and The Chronicles of Narnia. Rocky Mountain Pictures, an established distribution company, which has enjoyed numerous box-office successes, will distribute the film.

Ben Stein, the lovable, monotone teacher from Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Wonder Years is on a journey to answer one of the biggest questions ever asked: Were we designed or are we simply the end result of an ancient mud puddle struck by lightning? Stein, who is also a lawyer, an economist, a former presidential speechwriter, author and social commentator, is stunned by what he finds on his journey. He discovers an elitist scientific establishment that has traded in its skepticism for dogma. But even worse, along the way, Stein uncovers a long line of biologists, astronomers, chemists and philosophers who have had their reputations destroyed and their careers ruined by a scientific establishment that allows absolutely no dissent from Charles Darwin's theory of random mutation and natural selection.

"Big Science in this area of biology has lost its way," says Stein. "Scientists are supposed to be allowed to follow the evidence wherever it may lead, no matter what the implications are. Freedom of inquiry has been greatly compromised, and this is not only anti-American, it's anti-science. It's anti-the whole concept of learning."

Expelled uncovers that educators and scientists are being ridiculed,denied tenure and even fired in some cases for the fact that they believe there is evidence of "design" in nature, challenging the idea that life is a result of random chance. For example, Stein meets Richard Sternberg, a double PhD biologist who allowed a peer-reviewed research paper describing the evidence for intelligence in the universe to be published in the scientific journal Proceedings. Not long after publication, officials from the National Center for Science Education and the Smithsonian Institution where Sternberg was a research fellow began a coordinated smear and intimidation campaign to get the promising young scientist expelled from his position. This attack on scientific freedom was so egregious that it prompted a congressional investigation.

On his journey, Stein meets other scientists such as astrobiologist Guillermo Gonzalez, who was denied tenure at Iowa State University in spite of his extraordinary record of achievement. Gonzalez made the mistake of documenting the design he has observed in the universe. There are others, such as Caroline Crocker, a brilliant biology teacher at George Mason
University who was forced out of the university for briefly discussing problems with Darwinian theory and for telling the students that some scientists believe there is evidence of design in the universe. The list goes on and on.

Unlike some other documentary films, Expelled doesn't just talk to people representing one side of the story. The film confronts scientists such as Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, influential biologist and atheist blogger PZ Myers and Eugenie Scott, head of the National Center for Science Education. The creators of Expelled crossed the globe over a two-year period, interviewing scores of scientists, doctors, philosophers and public leaders. The result is a startling revelation that freedom of thought and freedom of inquiry have been expelled from publicly-funded high schools, universities and research institutions.

"The incredible thing about Expelled is that we don't resort to manipulating our interviews for the purpose of achieving the 'shock effect,' something that has become common in documentary film these days," said Walt Ruloff, co-founder of Premise Media and co-Executive Producer. "People will be stunned to actually find out what elitist scientists proclaim, which is that a large majority of Americans are simpletons who believe in a fairy tale. Premise Media took on this difficult mission because we believe the greatest asset of humanity is our freedom to explore and discover truth."

The extensive grass roots campaign for Expelled, spearheaded by Motive Entertainment president, Paul Lauer, will include nationwide screenings and endorsements with key leaders, promotional materials, a promotional resource DVD, publicity, radio promotions and Internet. In addition, a pre-launch campaign will include unprecedented partnerships and a widespread campaign together with educators, youth, scientists, families and the media nationwide.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is scheduled for release in February 2008. For more information on Ben Stein's journey visit http://www.expelledthemovie.com.

Walt Ruloff, the executive producer of the Ben Stein movie EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED, has an amazing op-ed in the Baylor Lariat, the school newspaper.

"It may sound like a crazy question, but it needs to be asked: Does the administration at Baylor believe in God?"

"This is a legitimate question in light of the university's heavy-handed actions in shutting down the research Web site of Dr. Robert Marks."

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Regis Nicoll for Crosswalk.com, asks the question, "What do William Dembski, Frank Beckwith, and Dr. Robert J. Marks have in common? All three have been victims of academic suppression at not at Cornell, Stanford or MIT, but at Baylor University - the world's largest institute of higher learning in the Baptist tradition."

"In 2001, Baylor shut down the Michael Polanyi Center and removed Dr. William Dembski as its director because of the center's focus on ID. Last year, Baylor tried to deny tenure to Frank Beckwith - a scholar who is recognized as a world class philosopher with a prodigious publication record and high teaching marks - for his views on ID. And now the campus thought police has Robert Marks in its crosshairs."

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ScienceDaily reports that a team led by biophysicist Jeremy Smith of the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has taken a significant step toward unraveling the mystery of how proteins fold into unique, three-dimensional shapes.

To me, this protein folding seems to be remarkably designed...see for yourself.

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Matt Hibbard, reporting for Maneater, tells of a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor who will confront the debate between intelligent design and evolution in a lecture on September 20th. The lecture, open to students and staff, will address key points on both sides of the topic.

Philosophy professor Elliot Sober said he hopes this lecture clarifies the main differences between the two ideas.

"The main ideas in evolutionary idea are supported by lots of evidence," Sober said. "Intelligent design is not a genuine scientific theory; it doesn't make any novel predictions."

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May, 2005: The Kansas state school board again captures the world's attention with its evolution controversy - this time by holding scientific hearings that put Darwin's long-held theory on trial. Get face-to-face with the people behind this historic event, and see for yourself what really happened - and why.

For more information...go to the Web site.

Another great post on ENV...which is the question we always ask of Darwinists: If the scientific discovery of a 'blueprint' (in a signal from space) would justify the design inference, then why is it unreasonable to infer that the genetic code was designed?

The answer to the question is easy, "it isn't." Aren't they looking for the Truth, instead of trying to argue for a teetering worldview?

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ENV has a link to the raw footage of Richard Dawkins trying to answer the question of where genetic information came from. To say he was flummoxed would be an understatement.

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Anna Grasza, of the Yale Daily News, reported on a talk given by Yale Professor Fred Sigworth, who has taught and done reasearch in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology since 1991.

Grasza reported that "Sigworth launched into a lecture that stressed the compatibility of science and faith by focusing on the idea of the 'unexpected vista,' the discovery or witnessing of a unique occurrence, a phenomenon which he said was common to science and religion."

"Sigworth's talk spanned the foundations of modern science and the debate over evolution and intelligent design, with ample reference to philosophy and the Bible."

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As blogged by Casey Luskin at ENV, this past spring, anti-ID faculty at Southern Methodist University (SMU) refused to engage in a debate over intelligent design. Now that Discovery Institute's activities on the SMU campus are over, some of these faculty are sponsoring a course entitled "The Scientific Method - Critical and Creative Thinking (Debunking Pseudoscience)." The course has a clear bias against ID, as the course website has a page devoted to ID titled "(Un)Intelligent Design."

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ScienceDaily reports that scientists have shed light on how our bodies convert vibrations entering the ear into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. Exactly how the electrical signal is generated has been the subject of ongoing research interest.

After reading the brief article, it seems impossible that this could have evolved by random mutation and natural selection. Yet, the Darwinists always seem to fall back on the "creative power" of millions of years.

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Erin Roach, of the Baptist Press, reports that Baylor University officials ordered the shutdown of a personal website of one of a handful of the school's distinguished professors because of anonymous concerns that the site, hosted on the university's server, supported Intelligent Design.

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John Humphrys wrote In God We Doubt - Confessions of a Failed Atheist.

Immanuel Kant, perhaps the greatest philosopher of the modern era, did not believe any of the proofs of the existence of God. But he was a believer and his evidence was the "moral sense within", conscience. That is exactly what Humphrys concludes.

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This...from the Lebanon (PA) Daily News...

The Spiritual Brain is a new Harper Collins book that addresses the timely question "Did God create the brain, or does the brain create God?". Drawing on cutting-edge research in brain imaging done on Carmelite nuns, neuroscientist Mario Beauregard and award-winning writer Denyse O'Leary examine the latest scientific evidence that flies in the face of current materialistic explanations of our existence.

Here's a few endorsements:

"If you have a mind, you will find The Spiritual Brain a refreshing antidote to the strange arguments offered by some scientists ... that their minds, and yours, are meaningless illusions." - Dean Radin, PhD, Senior Scientist, Institute of Noetic Sciences and author of The Conscious Universe

The Spiritual Brain offers a unique perspective to the ongoing dialogue between science and religion. This book is a necessary read for both the scientist and the religious person.
-Andrew Newberg, M.D. , co-author of Why We Believe What We Believe

"The Spiritual Brain is a very important book. It clearly explains non-materialist neuroscience in simple terms appropriate for the lay reader, while building on ... academic publications."
- Jeffrey Schwartz, neuropsychiatrist, author of The Mind and the Brain

"I truly was bowled over by the book, ... In The Spiritual Brain neuroscientist Mario Beauregard and science writer Denyse O’Leary push back hard."
- Michael Behe, author of Edge of Evolution

I've just finished reading The Spiritual Brain. It's superb, and is a milestone in what I think is going to be a 'long twilight struggle' against materialist neuroscience.
- neurosurgeon Mike Egnor

Regular visitors to Evolution News & Views know well the recent trials and tribulations of astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez, who was denied tenure in spite of his stellar credentials. Now it seems the rest of the world will learn about Gonzalez' persecution for being a proponent of intelligent design.

Expelled, the forthcoming film that explores the academic persecution of pro-ID scientists, apparently will be featuring some of Gonzalez's story. After his tenure was denied earlier this year, a faculty member at ISU on the tenure committee admitted he voted against Gonzalez because of his support for, and research into, intelligent design theory.

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In The Guardian Unlimited, John Cornwell struggled with his faith for two decades before finally returning to Christianity. Here he explains why Richard Dawkins, and all those who believe religion is the root of all evil, completely fail to understand what it means to believe.

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