In the News
Archives for: 2009
12/16/09
Signature in the Cell, "A Landmark Assault on Scientific Naturalism"
Want to know more about the Amazon.com bestselling book that made the Times Literary Supplement's Top Books of 2009? Robert Deyes has a review of Stephen Meyer's Signature in the Cell.
Click HERE for review.
"Daniel of the Year"
WORLD Magazine's 12th annual Daniel of the Year does not save lives abroad, as Britain's Caroline Cox and Sudan's Michael Yerko do. Nor does he regularly save lives of the unborn, as Florida's Wanda Cohn does through her pregnancy center work. No, Stephen C. Meyer, director of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, fights to show that those lives have eternal value because they are the work of a Creator and not the product of chance.
This fall Meyer came out with a full account of what science has learned in recent decades: Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design (Harper One, 2009) shows that the cell is incredibly complex and the code that directs its functions wonderfully designed. His argument undercuts macroevolution, the theory that one kind of animal over time evolves into a very different kind. Meyer thus garners media scorn for raining on this year's huge celebration of the birth of Charles Darwin 200 years ago and the publication of On the Origin of Species 150 years ago.
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More later from the magazine's December 19th release date.
11/26/09
Signature in the Cell Named One of Top Books of the Year by Times Literary Supplement
ENV reports that Stephen Meyer's Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design is being named one of the top books of 2009 in the prestigious Times Literary Supplement (TLS) annual "Books of the Year" issue.
The selection was made by prominent philosopher (and noted atheist) Thomas Nagel at New York University. The books issue is not online yet, but the TLS website has posted a preview of Nagel's endorsement of the book.
11/24/09
California Science Center Sued for Cancelling Screening of Intelligent Design Video
A lawsuit has been filed against the California Science Center by the American Freedom Alliance (AFA) for cancelling the AFA's contract to screen the Darwin's Dilemma documentary on October 25th.
Children who front Richard Dawkins' atheist ads are evangelicals
The TimesOnline reports that two children chosen to front Richard Dawkins's latest assault on God could not look more free of the misery he associates with religious baggage. With the slogan "Please don’t label me. Let me grow up and choose for myself", the youngsters with broad grins seem to be the perfect advertisement for the new atheism being promoted by Professor Dawkins and the British Humanist Association.
Except that they are about as far from atheism as it is possible to be. The Times can reveal that Charlotte, 8, and Ollie, 7, are from one of the country's most devout Christian families.
Pro-Darwin consensus doesn't rule out intelligent design
Stephen Meyer op-ed appears on CNN's Web site.
Click HERE to read...
Rare Charles Darwin Book Found on Toilet Bookshelf
A first edition of Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species," which had been kept in a bathroom bookcase in England for years, fetched 103,250 pounds ($171,000) at auction Tuesday, around twice its pre-sale estimate.
Christie's auctioneer offered the book at a sale held in London on the 150th anniversary of the evolutionary work's original publication.
The copy was bought by the family of the current owners for "a few shillings" (dollars) over 50 years ago, the auctioneer said.
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It will be interesting to see what else is underneath their "Holiday Tree" this December 25th.
11/18/09
The Darwin Debates - November 30
The American Freedom Alliance will sponsor The Origin of Life Debates at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, California on December 30th.
This will be a Public Debate featuring...
Stephen Meyer, Rick Sternberg, Michael Shermer and Don Prothero
Two advocates for Intelligent Design; Two advocates for Evolution
Meyer on Miller last month
The audio of this interview is on this LINK.
And Stephen Meyer will be on the Dennis Miller Show again on December 2nd. Here's the LINK.
11/16/09
Intelligent Design Book Cracks Bestseller List at Amazon.com
Today Amazon.com announced their bestselling books of 2009 and Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design (HarperOne) by Dr. Stephen C. Meyer made the top ten in the science category.
11/14/09
3M - Meyer, Mooney on Medved
Monday, November 16th, Stephen Meyer and Chris Mooney will be on The Michael Medved Show (second hour, 1pm PT/4pm ET).
Mooney is a diehard Darwin defender that various Fellows here at the CSC have debated in the past, and he is someone we have reported about over the years. His view of science is elitist and arrogant, and he has recommended such things as suppressing dissenting views from the media, to spinning science in such a way as to manipulate public opinion.
Casey Luskin: Let's restore civility to the debate on evolution and intelligent design
Casey's op-ed piece in the Washington Examiner.
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Ad hominem attacks do serve as conversation stoppers when the other side has nothing to offer. Well done Casey!
Post-mortem on Craig-Ayala debate at Indiana University
A description of the Craig-Ayala debate was provided by Bradley Monton, moderator of the debate, which you can access HERE.
In Thinking Matters you can access the audio of the debate, and William Lane Craig's take on the debate. Click HERE.
Should Intelligent Design Be Taught In The Schools?
Ask PZ Myers. Next Monday, November 16th in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Dr. Jerry Bergman and Dr. PZ Myers will be debating the topic: "Should Intelligent Design Be Taught In The Schools?"
This event is sponsored by the Christian Student Fellowship and Campus Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists.
The event is held at the North Star Ballroom, St. Paul Student Center (Buford Ave. near Cleveland Ave.) 7:30 to 9:30 PM, student center, St. Paul campus.
11/09/09
University of St. Thomas to host fall symposium on intelligent design
The symposium will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Frey Moot Courtroom of at the School of Law, located on St. Thomas' downtown Minneapolis campus.
The symposium, free and open to the public, will bring together scholars to debate and analyze various constitutional and philosophical issues surrounding evolutionism and intelligent design, particularly as they affect U.S. public schools.
Among the speakers will be Casey Luskin of the Discovery Institute.
11/07/09
The Berlinski Bundle
Today Tom Woodward interviews Dr. David Berlinski on our Darwin or Design radio show. You can listen live via the Internet on Saturday mornings (10AM E.T.) at The BridgeFM. To celebrate the occasion we are offer The "Berlinski Bundle" of books and DVDs by Dr. Berlinski.
The Devil's Delusion: Atheism and its Scientific Pretensions by Dr. David Berlinski has just been released in paperback after the hardback edition sold out in weeks. ARN is offering the Berlinski Bundle at a 20% discount off our regular prices which includes Devil's Delusion, his new collection of 32 stunning essays, The Deniable Darwin & Other Essays, and the entertaining and informative interview DVD, The Incorrigible Dr. Berlinski. Individually these items normally cost $70, but you can buy the Berlinski Bundle for a limited time for only $50 which includes free shipping anywhere in the US.
11/04/09
Intelligent Design: Is it Viable?
A reminder that the Indiana University debate between Dr. William Lane Craig and Francisco J. Ayala will place on Thursday, November 5th.
Film uses science, not religion, to debate Darwin
Sophia Lee, of the USC Daily Trojan, reports that with nothing but a projector screen and folding chairs, the tiny Embassy Auditorium of the Davidson Conference Center is a far cry from the 50-foot-high IMAX theater where Darwin's Dilemma was originally scheduled to be screened. Even though the California Science Center recently backed out of its contract to host the film's Los Angeles premiere, the tensions created by the controversial documentary's release followed the event to its new location.
The final installment of Illustra Media's long-planned Intelligent Design trilogy, this documentary brings to light the contradiction between the fossil record and Darwin's theories. It focuses on the Cambrian explosion, a time period in the earth's history in which there was a sudden "explosion" of complex species without any ancestral trace.
Though unmistakably pro-intelligent design, Darwin's Dilemma takes on a purposefully secular stance. The word "God" is never mentioned. Instead, less threatening euphamisms like "information source" and "designer" are used. In fact, post-screening panelist and anti-evolution activist Jonathan Wells emphasized that intelligent design is not creationism or natural theology.
"Intelligent design is not a random, convenient solution to evolution," Wells said. "In fact, it actually opens more doors to scientific research and investigation."
11/02/09
Report on the Castle Rock Intelligent Design Conference
What I consider a fair and balanced report on the Castle Rock Intelligent Design Conference was offered by Bradley Monton.
Epperson v. Arkansas: It's Illegal to Ban Evolution, How About Intelligent Design?
In ENV, Casey Luskin writes on the landmark Epperson v. Arkansas, the first case regarding the teaching of evolution to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision was handed down in 1968, where the Court effectively declared it illegal to ban the teaching of evolution.
An informative summary and commentary can be viewed by clicking HERE.
10/28/09
A debate between Dr. Francisco J. Ayala and Dr. William Lane Craig
There is a Web site of the upcoming event "Intelligent Design: Is it Viable?" It will be a debate between Dr. Francisco J. Ayala and Dr. William Lane Craig. Moderated by Dr. Bradley Monton. The debate will occur on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 7 p.m. EST at Indiana University Auditorium.
Here you will find all of the information you need to attend the event.
Mantis Shrimp Eyes Could Show Way To Better DVD And CD players
In ScienceDaily, it is reported that thhe mantis shrimps in the study are found on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and have the most complex vision systems known to science. They can see in twelve colours (humans see in only three) and can distinguish between different forms of polarized light.
Special light-sensitive cells in mantis shrimp eyes act as quarter-wave plates -- which can rotate the plane of the oscillations (the polarization) of a light wave as it travels through it. This capability makes it possible for mantis shrimps to convert linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light and vice versa.
Dr Nicholas Roberts, lead author of the Nature Photonics paper said: "Our work reveals for the first time the unique design and mechanism of the quarter-wave plate in the mantis shrimp's eye. It really is exceptional - out-performing anything we humans have so far been able to create."
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And how did this evolve through only natural processes? Given enough time anything can happen?
The Dawkins Transcript from the Hugh Hewitt Show
On October 21st Richard Dawkins appeared on the syndicated Hugh Hewitt talk show to promote his new book, "The Greatest Show on Earth".
It was a lively and interesting discussion...
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Cornelius Hunter blogged on Dawkins afterwards. Here is the link.
10/27/09
Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design
Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design by Bradley Monton is a breakthrough book in the origins debate. Why? Because an atheist professor of philosophy at a secular university has written a book to defend intelligent design. As Monton would admit, it's a partial defense, as he does not find ID arguments overwhelmingly convincing, but he also does not find them trivial, and he believes they should be allowed on the table and in the classroom for discussion. He even went so far as to defend ID in a public debate in 2008, and his position as a true educator seeking truth has brought the wrath of Darwinists and fellow atheists down on his head. Welcome to the club Dr. Monton!
His work on a rigorous definition of intelligent design in chapter 1 is worth the price of the book alone. While most ID proponents use sound byte definitions to communicate the essence of ID to the public, Monton develops a rigorous definition that he feels will help in testing ID theory. We wouldn't expect any less of a philosophy of science professor and we think his definition will generate a more meaningful dialogue. But don't worry, you don't have to be a philosopher to understand this book. Monton has done a great job of making his arguments accessible to the general reader. This book is now available at ARN.
ID Conference in Castle Rock Colorado Oct 30-31
Stephen Meyer, Michael Behe, David Berlinski and John West are all featured speakers at The Legacy of Darwin Intelligent Design Conference to be held at the Douglas County Event Center in Castle Rock Colorado this weekend October 30-31. The Conference fee is $10. For more information visit www.shepherdproject.com/idconf/notabene.html or call 1-800-253-1869. Registrations will also be taken at the door. The conference begins 7 pm Friday night.
10/24/09
ARN Specials for Darwin or Design Radio Listeners
ARN launched its Darwin or Design Radio Broadcast today The Bridge FM family of stations in the New York and New Jersey area. The show airs each Saturday morning at 10 A.M Eastern time and ARN shares hosting duties with Dr. Tom Woodward with the C.S. Lewis Society. Those outside the broadcast area can listen in on the streaming web broadcast available at www.BridgeFM.org.
For the most recent broadcast with Dennis Wagner (October 24th), we've put together two extraordinary offers. Keep in mind that we can only promise to keep these offers posted through Thursday, October 29th!
OFFER #1:
(V070SK): This is the Phillip Johnson DVD Collection. Ten of the best of Phillip Johnson videos produced by ARN, including interviews, lectures, debates and a special tribute to Phil from his friends and foes. Normally these videos sell for $25 each, but you can save 50% when you purchase the entire collection of ten DVDs for only $125 U.S ($175 Foreign). To purchase this special offer, go to the following link: http://www.arn.org/arnproducts/videos/v070sk.htm. And remember - you can't get these videos anywhere else because they were produced by ARN.
The Phillip Johnson DVD collection includes:
V001 - Focus on Darwinism: An Interview with Phillip Johnson
V002 - Darwinism on Trial, Lecture at UC Irvine
V004 - Darwinism: Science or Naturalistic Philosophy: Debate with William Provine at Stanford University
V008 - Can Science Know the Mind of God? Lecture at Princeton University
V009 - Blind Watchmaker: Lecture at the University of Wales
V028 - How Darwinists Think: Lecture at Northern Michigan University
V029 - Raising Questions about Evolution in the Schools: Lecture at Northern Michigan University
V036 - The Right Questions: An Interview with Phillip Johnson
V040 - An Evening with Phillip Johnson: A Tribute to Phil from his Friends and Foes
V057 - One Nation Under Darwin: Lecture by Phillip Johnson
OFFER #2:
(B037) ARN is offering 45% discount off Phil Johnson's The Wedge of Truth hardback book. Dr. Phillip Johnson is one of the founding fathers of the intelligent design movement and there is no better place to start learning about ID than this book. Normal price is $18 US $28 Foreign. Sale price for this hardback edition is only $10 U.S which includes FREE shipping! ($20 Foreign). To view this offer, please visit the following link: http://www.arn.org/arnproducts/php/book_show_item.php?id=38
10/19/09
Los Angeles Premiere of Intelligent Design Film Moves to USC
Those who live in the Los Angeles area are invited to attend a gala premiere screening of Illustra Media's new documentary, Darwin's Dilemma: The Mystery of the Cambrian Fossil Record next Sunday, October 25th at 7:00 pm at the University of Southern California. The event is sponsored by the American Freedom Alliance.
This premiere was originally scheduled for the California Science Center, but the Center canceled the event just a few days ago, leaving the organizers virtually no time to find a new location. If you live in the Los Angeles area, you can show your support for free speech to debate the evidence for intelligent design by attending this important event!
10/09/09
Cancellation of Darwin film creates uproar
As reported by Troy Anderson, for the Los Angeles Daily News, a brouhaha has erupted in Los Angeles County over a planned series of events exploring the conflict between his theories and "intelligent design" advocates.
A group that favors "intelligent design" had planned to premier a new documentary film at the California Science Center in Los Angeles later this month, but the center later canceled the event.
The group claims the cancellation was an act of censorship, made after the center was pressured by the Smithsonian Institution, but the center chalked it up to a contract issue, without elaborating.
Coined "The Darwin Debates: A Forum for Dialogue," the nonprofit American Freedom Alliance had planned to premier a new Illustra Media documentary, "Darwin's Dilemma: The Mystery of the Cambrian Explosion," at the California Science Center on Oct. 25.
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Troy Anderson's definition of ID at the very end of the article, is really quite lame, and shows his lack of understanding of the scientific endeavours of pursuit of ID.
Leading Darwinist Richard Dawkins Dodges Debates, Refuses to Defend Evolution as The Greatest Show On Earth
As reported in ENV by Anika Smith, Richard Dawkins, the world's leading public spokesman for Darwinian evolution and an advocate of the "new atheism," has refused to debate Dr. Stephen C. Meyer, a prominent advocate of intelligent design and the author of the acclaimed Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design.
"Richard Dawkins claims that the appearance of design in biology is an illusion and claims to have refuted the case for intelligent design," says Dr. Meyer who received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge in England.
"But Dawkins assiduously avoids addressing the key evidence for intelligent design and won't debate its leading proponents, adds Dr. Meyer. "Dawkins says that there is no evidence for intelligent design in life, and yet he also acknowledges that neither he nor anyone else has an evolutionary explanation for the origin of the first living cell. We know now even the simplest forms of life are chock-full of digital code, complex information processing systems and other exquisite forms of nanotechnology.
10/06/09
Nature magazine publishes paper on the edge of evolution...pt. 2
Michael Behe posts on ENV that Nature has published an interesting paper recently which places severe limits on Darwinian evolution.
Behe comments that "Before reading their paper, even I would have happily conceded for the sake of argument that random mutation plus selection could convert an MR-like protein to a GR-like protein and back again, as many times as necessary. Now, thanks to the work of Bridgham et al (2009), even such apparently minor switches in structure and function are shown to be quite problematic. It seems Darwinian processes can't manage to do even as much as I had thought."
10/02/09
Dawkins to speak at Indiana University
The Indiana Memorial Union Board and the Secular Alliance of Indiana University will present a lecture by evolutionary biologist, author and atheist Richard Dawkins, titled "The Greatest Show On Earth: The Evidence for Evolution," Monday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. at IU Auditorium.
The event is free and open to the public. No ticket is required, and doors will open at 6 p.m.
Nature magazine publishes paper on the edge of evolution...pt. 1
Michael Behe posts that Nature has published an interesting paper recently which places severe limits on Darwinian evolution.
The manuscript, from the laboratory of Joseph Thornton at the University of Oregon, is entitled "An epistatic ratchet constrains the direction of glucocorticoid receptor evolution". The work is interpreted by its authors within a standard Darwinian framework. Nonetheless, like the important work over the years of Michigan State's Richard Lenski on laboratory evolution of E. coli, which has shown trillions of bacteria evolving under selection for tens of thousands of generations yielding just broken genes and minor changes, the new work demonstrates the looming brick wall which confronts unguided evolution in at least one system. And it points strongly to the conclusion that such walls are common throughout all of biology.
Craig / Ayala debate at Indiana University
A debate between Dr. Francisco J. Ayala and Dr. William Lane Craig. Moderated by Dr. Bradley Monton. The debate will occur on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 7 p.m. EST at Indiana University Auditorium.
More coverage on Stephen Meyer at OU
Intelligent design is the most likely explanation of the origin of life, an author and speaker at the University of Oklahoma said Monday night.
The way Stephen C. Meyer came to that conclusion, was using Charles Darwin's own scientific method of determining which cause to accept for scientific questions in the remote past.
"The irony of that is that a conclusion that points to intelligent design" is reached by Darwin's own methods, Meyer said.
Stephen Meyer at Oklahoma University
The news out of Oklahoma about Stephen Meyer's intelligent design presentation at the University on Sept. 28th is quite encouraging. Over three hundred people reportedly turned out for the lecture and discussion following. For all the potty mouthed bluster that local Darwin activists offered up ahead of time, almost everyone in attendance, whether for or against ID, was civil and respectful during the presentation and discussion.
08/27/09
Michael Behe Censored at Bloggingheads
Yesterday an interview between John McWhorter and Michael Behe about Behe's recent book The Edge of Evolution appeared on bloggingheads.tv. Within hours the interview disappeared with this message "from" McWhorter posted by the administator: "John McWhorter feels, with regret, that this interview represents neither himself, Professor Behe, nor Bloggingheads usefully, takes full responsibility for same, and has asked that it be taken down from the site. He apologizes to all who found its airing objectionable."
Fortunately someone archived the interview and it has reappeared in several places on the internet. Take a look for yourself and see if you think this interview represents McWhorter, Behe or Bloggingheads, especially given Bloggingheads' claim of being an open forum below. Just another example of the "Expelled Factor" at work.
Michael Behe reports on the incident himself here.
UPDATE 8-31-09: It appears cooler heads have prevailed at Bloggingheads and the Behe interview has been reposted with an explanation.
From the Bloggingheads web site:
"Bloggingheads is in some ways a classic expression of the Internet: the ever-dropping cost of information-processing allows people to interact in new ways, and a whole new tribe-the Bloggingheads tribe-is formed. But we hope to be in one sense an unusual expression of the Internet. Almost all blogs have a dominant ideology and a fairly homogeneous comments section to match. We pride ourselves on having a diversity of views in our diavlogs and an accordingly diverse comments section, where thoughtful disagreement is expressed in civil terms. (OK, usually thoughtful, and usually civil.) We thank our commenters-and for that matter our less-vocal viewers, and of course all the bloggingheads-for making this website a place where great minds don't think alike."
08/24/09
Evolution Of The Human Appendix: A Biological 'Remnant' No More
Reported in Science Daily, the lowly appendix, long-regarded as a useless evolutionary artifact, won newfound respect two years ago when researchers at Duke University Medical Center proposed that it actually serves a critical function. The appendix, they said, is a safe haven where good bacteria could hang out until they were needed to repopulate the gut after a nasty case of diarrhea, for example.
Now, some of those same researchers are back, reporting on the first-ever study of the appendix through the ages. Writing in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Duke scientists and collaborators from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University conclude that Charles Darwin was wrong: The appendix is a whole lot more than an evolutionary remnant. Not only does it appear in nature much more frequently than previously acknowledged, but it has been around much longer than anyone had suspected.
"Maybe it's time to correct the textbooks," says William Parker, Ph.D., assistant professor of surgical sciences at Duke and the senior author of the study. "Many biology texts today still refer to the appendix as a 'vestigial organ.'"
James-Michael Smith, reports in the Examiner, that University of Colorado Professor of Philosophy Bradley Monton has openly criticized the decision in the famous Dover case over Intelligent Design.
He has also argued that Intelligent Design is a valid form of philosophical and scientific inquiry that should be undertaken rather than dismissed.
He is also an Atheist.
08/11/09
New Video Shows DNA Evidence for Intelligent Design
Animation Gives Unique Look Inside the Cell
A new short animated video, Journey Inside The Cell, launched this week which dramatically illustrates the evidence for intelligent design within DNA, as described in Stephen C. Meyer's book, Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design (HarperOne 2009).
The original animation by Light Productions reveals in intricate detail how the digital information in DNA directs protein synthesis inside the cell, revealing a world of molecular machines and nano-processors communicating digital information.
"This video is going to make things worse for critics of intelligent design," Dr. Meyer explains. "They will have more difficulty convincing the public that their eyes are deceiving them when the evidence for design literally unfolds before them in this animation."
Narrated by Stephen Meyer, the video is a brief tour of the molecular labyrinth, the cell's sophisticated information-processing system, which not only produces machines, but also reproduces itself. The three minute animated video is available for viewing online in the ARN Molecular Machine Museum. For public use copyright permissions, contact cscinfo@discovery.org.
08/08/09
The Spleen Gets Some Respect
Just another example of the power of Darwinism to slow down life science discoveries...
Natalie Angier, for the NY Times, reports that scientists have discovered that the spleen, long consigned to the B-list of abdominal organs and known as much for its metaphoric as its physiological value, plays a more important role in the body's defense system than anyone suspected.
Reporting in the current issue of the journal Science, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School describe studies showing that the spleen is a reservoir for huge numbers of immune cells called monocytes, and that in the event of a serious trauma to the body like a heart attack, gashing wound or microbial invasion, the spleen will disgorge those monocyte multitudes into the bloodstream to tackle the crisis.
"The parallel in military terms is a standing army," said Matthias Nahrendorf, an author of the report. "You don't want to have to recruit an entire fighting force from the ground up every time you need it."
08/02/09
Darwin's Dilemma DVD Available for Pre-Order at ARN
The final film in Illustra Media's long-planned Intelligent Design trilogy, Darwin's Dilemma, is scheduled for release September 15, 2009 and is currently available for pre-order at ARN at a special introductory price.
This documentary will examine what many consider to be the most powerful refutation of Darwinian evolution-the Cambrian fossil evidence. Charles Darwin realized that the fossil evidence did not support his theory of gradual, step-by-step evolutionary development. He hoped that future generations of scientists would make the discoveries necessary to validate his ideas. Today, after more than 150 years of exploration fossil evidence of slow, incremental biological change has yet to be excavated. Instead, we find a picture of the rapid appearance of fully developed, complex organisms during the outset of the Cambrian geological era. Organisms that embody almost all of the major animal body plans that exist today. This remarkable explosion of life is best explained by the existence of a transcendent intelligence.
Filmed on four continents, this fascinating documentary examines some of the most important fossil discoveries ever made... and, with them, a mystery deeper than Darwin ever imagined. The Cambrian explosion was actually an explosion of biological information: assembly instructions in DNA and embryonic blueprints that directed the development of the first complex animals...information that points unmistakably to foresight, purpose and intelligent design.
Darwin's Dilemma is a high-quality documentary that includes interviews with world-class paleontologists Simon Conway Morris and James Valentine, as well as leading intelligent design theorists and scientists Paul Nelson, Jonathan Wells, Stephen C. Meyer, Paul Chien, Doug Axe, and Richard Sternberg.
Several messages come through loud and clear in the documentary:
1. Paleontologists freely admit the Cambrian Explosion evidence presents a problem for Darwin's theory
2. The fantastic animations communicate visually the complexity of the Cambrian creatures
3. The complexity graphs shown make it abundantly clear that Darwin's predictions do not match the evidence and in fact the evidence is almost the complete opposite
4. The relative time frame of the biological big bang (2 minutes late in the 24 hour clock of earth history) make it virtually impossible for random mutations and natural selection to produce the complexity and information content found in the Cambrian in such a late and short time frame
5. Even Chinese scientists are turning against Darwin's theory based on the Cambrian Explosion evidence found in their own country (which is some of the best)
As with the first two Illustra Media ID documentaries, Unlocking the Mystery of Life and The Privileged Planet, Darwin's Dilemma is full of high quality animations to help the viewer visualize the amazing complexity and design of the Cambrian creatures. You can watch a trailer for Darwin's Dilemma is here.
07/17/09
The evolution of intelligent design in Texas schools
Sean P. Harris, for the Austin Independent Examiner, reported that Governor Rick Perry announced his appointment of board member Gail Lowe to replace Don McLeroy as chairperson of the Texas State Board of Education. Gail Lowe is a Lampasas newspaper editor and has been a member of the State Board of Education since 2002. She is also a proponent of Intelligent Design.
Stephen Meyer op-ed in Boston Globe
In the battle over how to teach evolution in public schools, Thomas Jefferson's demand for a "separation between church and state" has been cited countless times. Many argue that the controversial alternative to Darwinian evolution, intelligent design, is an exclusively religious idea and therefore cannot be discussed under the Constitution. By invoking Jefferson's principle of separation, many critics of intelligent design assume that this visionary Founding Father would agree with them. But would he?
Would you like some cheese with your whine?
In the LA Times, Charlotte Allen gives her take on the New Atheists.
"My problem with atheists is their tiresome - and way old - insistence that they are being oppressed and their fixation with the fine points of Christianity. What - did their Sunday school teachers flog their behinds with a Bible when they were kids?"
"Read Dawkins, or Hitchens, or the works of fellow atheists Sam Harris ("The End of Faith") and Daniel Dennett ("Breaking the Spell"), or visit an atheist website or blog (there are zillions of them, bearing such titles as "God Is for Suckers," "God Is Imaginary" and "God Is Pretend"), and your eyes will glaze over as you peruse - again and again - the obsessively tiny range of topics around which atheists circle like water in a drain."
07/09/09
Nature: Evolution Wins Out in Hong Kong Curriculum Dispute
Cornelius Hunter blogs on "Evolution Wins Out in Hong Kong Curriculum".
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Darwinists believe that all they need to do to dispatch with ID is to assert it is not science. They may think, "There...now that was easy." I suppose the historic sciences (forensic, SETI, etc.) are not science either. You can't have it both ways, yet they get away with it all the time.
Stephen Meyer on Michael Medved: Information, DNA and Intelligent Design
Listen to Dr. Stephen C. Meyer's interview on the nationally syndicated Michael Medved Show. Meyer and Medved discuss the information revolution and the challenge it presents for Darwinism, as well as the argument for intelligent design from information.
Go to the ENV Web page to LISTEN...
Leading Advocate of Intelligent Design Challenges Criticism of Science Exam in Britain
In ENV...a science test given last month to thousands of teenagers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. One question asked students to compare Darwinian evolutionary theories with Lamarckian evolutionary theory, the theory of intelligent design and Biblical creationism.
"Unlike creationism, intelligent design is an inference from scientific evidence, not a deduction from religious authority," countered Meyer. "Intelligent design proposes that certain features of the universe and life are best explained by an intelligent cause rather than an undirected process such as natural selection."
07/02/09
Richard Dawkins launches children's summer camp for atheists
As reported by Beb Leach in the London Telegraph, Prof. Richard Dawkins, the prominent atheist, has helped set up an atheist summer camp where children will be taught rational scepticism and sing John Lennon's Imagine...
The author of "The God Delusion", who stepped down from his post at Oxford University last year, has subsidised the five-day camp in Somerset.
Camp-goers will be given lessons in rational scepticism, as well as sessions in moral philosophy and evolutionary biology.
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Now, let me get this straight...according to the atheist, when Christians "propagandize" children regarding God, it's a form of child "abuse", but when Richard Dawkins propagandizes children regarding atheism, it is just wonderful "truth-telling".
New Zogby Poll Reveals Majority Support for Intelligent Design
As reported by ENV...the American public overwhelmingly rejects Darwinian theory in favor of intelligent design. When asked if life developed "through an unguided process of random mutations and natural selection," a standard definition of Darwinism, only 33 percent of respondents said they agreed with the statement. But 52 percent agreed that "the development of life was guided by intelligent design."
06/25/09
Climate Change Reconsidered: 880 Page Report Released
On June 2, 2009 as Congress debated global warming legislation that would raise energy costs to consumers by hundreds of billions of dollars, the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) released an 880-page book challenging the scientific basis of concerns that global warming is either man-made or would have harmful effects. In "Climate Change Reconsidered: The 2009 Report of the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC)," coauthors Dr. S. Fred Singer and Dr. Craig Idso and 35 contributors and reviewers present an authoritative and detailed rebuttal of the findings of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The scholarship in this book demonstrates overwhelming scientific support for the position that the warming of the twentieth century was moderate and not unprecedented, that its impact on human health and wildlife was positive, and that carbon dioxide probably is not the driving factor behind climate change. The full 880 page report, Climate Change Reconsidered, can be downloaded for free, along with a 48 page downloadable summary, Nature, Not Human Acivity, Rules the Climate, which is the recommended place to start for those who want a quick overview or the evidence and arguments.
Links to these reports have been added to the ARN resource page on global warming, which provides viewpoints from both the Alarmists and the Skeptics, a great place to start for those trying to sort out the facts.
06/20/09
Stephen Meyer scheduled for Laura Ingraham Show
Tuesday, June 23rd at 11am EDST Stephen Meyer will be a guest on the Laura Ingraham Show (http://www.lauraingraham.com/site) to discuss his new book "Signature in the Cell." This is the third hour of the program.
Laura and Steve will be joined by Francis Collins of Biologos.
Find a station that carries the program here: http://www.lauraingraham.com/stationfinder
06/16/09
"Signature in the Cell" tour
June 23, 2009
Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design
The Heritage Foundation and Discovery Institute invite you to hear Dr. Stephen Meyer speak from his new book Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design.
Tuesday, June 23
Noon EST
Allison Auditorium
The Heritage Foundation
Washington, D.C.
For more information and to register for this event visit: http://www.heritage.org/press/events/ev062309a.cfm
June 25, 2009
McLean Bible Church Presents:
"Signature In The Cell" -- An Evening with Dr. Stephen C. Meyer
Come spend an evening with Dr. Stephen C. Meyer - a leading voice in the national discussion over intelligent design (ID). Dr. Meyer will present his brand new book "Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design."
Date: Thursday, June 25th , 2009
Location: McLean Bible Church's Tysons Campus
Community room C
Time: 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Cost: $10 for Adults or $5 for students
Visit http://www.mcleanbible.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=72084 for more information and registration.
05/31/09
Texas Senate rejects confirmation of conservative education board chief Don McLeroy
Terrance Stutz, for the Dallas Morning News, writes that the Senate rejected Republican Don McLeroy's nomination as chairman of the State Board of Education on Thursday after Democrats decried his lack of leadership and "endless culture wars" over evolution and other volatile topics.
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte said that the State Board of Education has become a 'laughingstock of the nation' under nearly two years of Don McLeroy's leadership.Along strict party lines, the Senate voted 19-11 for McLeroy, but a two-thirds majority was required. One Democrat abstained from the vote.
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Apparently, the way you end the culture war is to "eliminate" the enemy, silencing all dissent to your worldview. Hardly the American Way.
05/30/09
Listen to Interview with Phillip Johnson May 30 at 5pm ET
Kevin Wirth, ARN Director of Product Development, will be interviewing Dr. Phillip Johnson Saturday May 30th at 5 PM E.T. on Station WTBN 570 AM
Tampa Bay, Florida. You can listen in at www.bayword.com by clicking on the "Listen Live" link at the top of the page. Johnson will discuss challenges facing the ID movement and an upcomming book on the New Atheists he is co-authoring with Biola Professor John Mark Reynolds.
Rumors are that this may be the last media interview given by Dr. Johnson. To celebrate the occasion we are offering our web visitors two Phil Johnson specials for a limited time. You can grab a hardback copy of his classic Wedge of Truth book for 45% off and the ARN collection of The Best of Phil Johnson DVDs which includes ten lectures, interviews and debates for 50% off.
05/27/09
Collins, Gene-Mapper, Said to Be Choice for U.S. Research Head
Francis Collins, the geneticist who led the Human Genome Project, is close to taking over the top spot at the National Institutes of Health, according to a report by Bloomberg News.
Collins, who was the director of the NIH's National Human Genome Research Institute from 1993 to 2008, is in the final stages of being screened by the administration of US President Barack Obama, an unnamed source told Bloomberg.
Elias Zerhouni, Collins' would-be predecessor, voiced his approval for the pick, telling Bloomberg that Collins has "done things many scientists wish they could do once in their lifetime, and he's done it repeatedly."
Collins recently unveiled a new foundation, BioLogos, that promotes "the search for truth in both the natural and spiritual realms, and seeks to harmonize these different perspectives," according to the organization's Web site. Collins, who is an evangelical Christian, has said that his new foundation is an attempt to resolve Christian faith with scientific evidence, especially with regard to evolution. In 2006 he published a bestselling book, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, that stirred some controversy in the scientific community.
Faith and Evolution: Friends or Foes? Find out at FaithandEvolution.Org
In recent years, debates over faith and evolution have continued to intensify. On the one hand, "new atheists" like Richard Dawkins have insisted that Darwinian evolution makes it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist. On the other hand, "new theistic evolutionists" like Francis Collins have assured people that Darwin's theory is perfectly compatible with faith and need have no damaging cultural consequences.
Who is right? And why does it matter?
You can find out at FaithandEvolution.Org a new website being launched today by the Center for Science and Culture at Discovery Institute.
"FaithandEvolution.Org is for anyone who wants to dig deeper into the scientific, social, and spiritual issues raised by Darwin's theory, but who is tired of the limited options they are currently being offered by the media," says Dr. John West, Associate Director of the Center.
05/14/09
The Third Side by Thomas Vaughan May 14-30 in Houston
Thomas Vaughan has written a play that takes a critical look at both intelligent design and evolution.
The character Henry Darden's views are based on the ideas of well-qualified scientists. These professionals are not creationists, and they do not believe in Intelligent Design. Their credentials and their motives are impeccable. As a dramatist, I am not qualified to have a worth-while opinion on who exactly is right in this scientific debate, but it was the blistering, often personal attacks on these individuals by their colleagues that inspired this play.
The hostility these men and women received, however, is nothing compared to the vitriol directed towards Dr. William Dembski, a leading advocate of Intelligent Design (ID). I want to personally thank Dr. Dembski here. Knowing full well that I did not agree with his views, Dr. Dembski still took the time to read the play to help assure the accuracy of how the ideas behind ID were portrayed. He even suggested a fine story note that I used and I think the play is better for it. I am very grateful for his trust, his generosity, and most of all his open-mindedness.
This stands as a stark contrast to some of those that I communicated with in the same capacity who hold the more mainstream view of evolution. They were openly hostile to not just the play but the very notion that these minority views should be given a voice at all. The interviews with the notable scientists these ideas are based on were attacked without being read. One individual even suggested that the interviews were probably just made up and not worth reading in the first place.
While this hostility came from only a few, and only from the academics, it was enough to assure me that the basic thrust of the play was essentially correct. It is worth noting that many more people have helped tirelessly with this production who still disagree with the arguments presented by Henry Darden. I thank each and every one of them.
Learn more about the play by clicking HERE...
05/12/09
Homo Floresiensis: The Flower That Is Shaking The Human Evo Tree
By Robert Deyes
ARN Correspondent
What should we truly expect from the human lineage? What should ancestral species look like on an evolutionary road driven by the slow turning of the wheels of natural selection? Surely if we subscribe to the idea that at the base of our intellectual richness existed a primitive 'brute', as Darwin's 'bulldog' Thomas Henry Huxley once quipped (Ref 1), then at least brain size should be one aspect of our anatomy that we would expect to increase with time? With such expectations, we can truly understand the confusion that arose from the finding of a 12,000 year-old, tool-bearing species of Homo in the Indonesian island of Flores (Portuguese for 'flowers') that would have had a brain size equal to that of the smallest early hominins (Refs 2-3). The television documentary Alien From Earth referred to the new specimen as "an elf like creature with over-sized feet" (Ref 4).
In his controversial paper Peter Brown, together with his colleagues from the University of New England in Australia, described the Flores specimen as a small bipedal man that displayed, "endocranial volume and stature...similar to, or smaller than, Australopithecus afarensis" (Ref 3). Its tiny brain was smaller than that of a chimpanzee's and only one third the size of a human's (approximately 400 cubic centimeters, compared to 1350 cubic centimeters seen on average in living humans, Refs 2,5,6). One Scientific American report gave the following description of this extraordinary find:
"The specimen appears to have belonged to an adult female who stood barely a meter tall and had a skull the size of a grapefruit--the smallest member of the human family yet. Although closer in overall size to the much older australopithecines...the new hominid apparently resembles members of the genus Homo in features related to chewing and upright-walking." (Ref 7)
Touted by the same report as, "one of the most spectacular paleoanthropological finds of the past century", H. floresiensis, or 'the hobbit' as it is now affectionately known, is believed to have existed between 95,000 and 12,000 years ago (Refs 5,7). Twelve individuals have so far been unearthed in the remote cave of Liang Bua alongside items that demonstrate that they would have been skillful tool makers. (Refs 2,4,8). Archaeologist Carol Lentfer believes the tools of the Flores site might have been used to "craft spear shafts of wood or bamboo or items like traps- a tool kit for making other tools" (Ref 5). Others contest the idea that these tools were really that sophisticated preferring to see them as nothing more than "simple stone artifacts" (Ref 5).
Placed into the overarching view of human evolution, the brain size of H. floresiensis does not fit into the expected sequence of evolutionary intermediates (Ref 4). In fact some experts have claimed the H. floresiensis challenges the idea that bigger brains and bodies were necessarily the critical elements that allowed humans to colonize the world (Ref 4).
Skeptics have taken Peter Brown to task by inferring that the small heads of H. floresiensis were nothing more than than the bi-product of microcephaly- a disorder that produces the shrinking of the brain (Refs 6,8). Alan Thorne from the Australian National University for example commented that H. floresiensis was a 'pathological specimen'- a human individual adversely affected by serious disease (Ref 10). But anthropologist Dean Falk has compared the brain of H. floresiensis and microcephalics through Computed Tomography and found dramatic differences between them (Ref 11). Based on their own findings on the relative proportions of the head and body size, Peter Brown's team likewise dismissed the assertion that the small size of H. floresiensis was merely a manifestation of some growth disorder (Refs 2,3,12). Nevertheless their own alternative postulates appeared to be nothing more than speculative musings about how selective pressure might have contributed to the small size of these island people . Indeed they conclude that,
"the location of these small hominins on Flores makes it far more likely that they are the end product of a long period of evolution on a comparatively small island, where environmental conditions placed small body size at a selective advantage" (Ref 3).
How long such a period of evolution would have needed to be is today a matter of deep debate (Ref 6). John de Vos and his team from the National Museum of Natural History in the Netherlands have been outspoken in their view that H. floresiensis evolved from the much larger H. erectus and shrunk once it took on the challenges of island living (Ref 12). According to de Vos strange things happen on islands. With few predators and limited resources animals often grow or shrink and this is what might have happened to H. floresiensis (Ref 12). To buttress his arguments de Vos has cited well-documented cases of giant island rats and pygmy elephants (Ref 5). And yet like most other aspects of the Flores debate, such 'island dwarfing' is not without its own doubters (Ref 2). Indeed what distinguishes H. floresiensis from other cases is the extent of brain shrinking that would have followed from, say, a much larger-brained H. erectus- a point that, in the eyes of Field Museum paleoanthropologist Robert Martin, represents a major stumbling block for protagonists of the dwarfing hypothesis (Ref 5).
Stony Brook University's Bill Jungers and Australian National University's Debbie Argue assert that ancestral links go back much further than H. erectus to perhaps two million year old H. habilis or even three million year old Australopithecus (Refs 4,5,8,9). The implications of such a position are enormous since it suggests that larger brains and body sizes were not necessarily the outstanding features that lead to the conquest of our planet by humans (Ref 4). Moreover, an Australopithecine origin would invoke a period of approximately 3 million years of undetected evolution between H. floresiensis and his first known ancestors.
Where does the Flores debate stand today? The most recent anatomical results are being used to embrace the idea of a deep evolutionary origin (Ref 2, 9). The island dwarfing hypothesis has also gained traction following discoveries of dwarf hippos on Madagascar that display notable differences in brain size from those of their mainland counterparts (Ref 2, 13). If the hippo scaling model is applied to a hypothetical African H. erectus, an endocranial capacity close to what we see in H. floresiensis could be achieved (Ref 13). That at least is how London Natural History Museum scientists Eleanor Weston and James Lister have interpreted their most recent findings (Ref 13).
Regardless, what is becoming clear from these studies is that in many aspects of its anatomy H. floresiensis presents us with a clear 'misfit' for the human evolutionary sequence. In the words of one review "[H. floresiensis] threatens to overturn our understanding of where we come from and the type of ancestors that have shared the human family tree" (Ref 4). Chief Nature science editor Henry Gee had this to say on the ongoing Flores enigma and the consternation it has caused amongst human anthropologists:
"Despite decades of patient work we still know rather little about the evolution of humanity...the remains we have are very scarce and very meager and that means that there are probably lots of different species that existed, lived for hundreds of thousands of years and then became extinct and we know nothing about them...All you need is just one to completely blow apart your well entrenched comfortable idea of the linear progress of evolution" (Ref 4).
While Gee's wild speculation over missing species seems undeserved of the title of objective science, his concerns do tell of a crisis for evolutionary biologists. In short, H. floresiensis has today become the flower that is shaking the human evolutionary tree. Findings such as these turn our cherished notions of human evolution upside down since they show tool-making, small-brained hominin species living alongside humans as recently as 12,000 years ago.
One 'escape chute'-style answer to this paradox assumes that specimens such as H. floresiensis are exactly what one would expect if nature were to be constantly experimenting with alternative evolutionary solutions in the face of rapidly changing selective pressures (Ref 4). Of course such an exit pre-supposes rather than demonstrates that all hominins are part of an all-encompassing lineage of diverging branches. Moreover, we still lack any understanding of how evolution might bring about the dramatic changes we see in any of the hominin remains (Refs 14,15).
Literature Cited
1. Roger Lewin (1987), Bones of Contention: Controversies in the Search for Human Origins, Published by Simon and Schuster, New York, p.309
2. Daniel Lieberman (2009), Palaeoanthropology: Homo floresiensis from head to toe, Nature Vol 459, pp.41-42
3. P. Brown, T. Sutikna, M. J. Morwood, R. P. Soejono, Jatmiko, E. Wayhu Saptomo; Rokus Awe Due (2004), A new small-bodied hominin from the Late Pleistocene of Flores, Indonesia, Nature Vol 431, pp.1055-1061
4. Alien From Earth, Aired On Wisconsin Public Television on the 29th of April, 2009, See transcript at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/3515_hobbit.html
5. Elizabeth Culotta (2007), The Fellowship of the Hobbit, Science Vol 317, pp.740–742
6. Rex Dalton (2009), 'Hobbit' was a dwarf with large feet, Nature, 6 May 2009, See http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090506/full/news.2009.448.html
7. Kate Wong (2004), Mini Human Species Unearthed, Scientific American, October 27th, 2004. Access article on http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000B7CEA-EA31-117E-AA3183414B7F0000
8. Andy Coghlan (2005), New "hobbit" bones bolster separate species claim, October 11th, 2005. See article at http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8128
9. W. L. Jungers, W. E. H. Harcourt-Smith, R. E. Wunderlich, M. W. Tocheri, S. G. Larson, T. Sutikna, Rhokus Awe Due, M. J. Morwood (2009), The foot of Homo floresiensis, Nature Vol 459, pp.81-84
10. John Vidal (2005), Bones Of Contention, The Guardian, 13th January, 2005, See http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2005/jan/13/research.science
11. Dean Falk, Charles Hildebolt, Kirk Smith, M. J. Morwood, Thomas Sutikna, Jatmiko, E. Wayhu Saptomo, Herwig Imhof, Horst Seidler, and Fred Prior (2007), Brain shape in human microcephalics and Homo floresiensis, PNAS, Vol 104, pp.2513-2518
12. G.A. Lyras, M.D. Dermitzakis, A.A.E. Van der Geer, S.B. Van der Geer, J. De Vos (2008), The origin of Homo floresiensis and its relation to evolutionary processes under isolation, Anthropological Science, See http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ase/advpub/0/0807280043/_pdf
13. Eleanor M. Weston, Adrian M. Lister (2009), Insular dwarfism in hippos and a model for brain size reduction in Homo floresiensis, Nature Vol 459, pp.85-88
14. Robert Deyes (2008), Turbulent Times Amidst The Desperate Maneuverings Of Human Evolutionary Theory PART I, See http://www.arn.org/blogs/index.php/2/2008/07/12/turbulent_times_the_desperate_maneuverin
15. Robert Deyes (2008), Turbulent Times Amidst The Desperate Maneuverings Of Human Evolutionary Theory, PART II, See http://www.arn.org/blogs/index.php/2/2008/07/14/turbulent_times_the_desperate_maneuverin_1
05/05/09
Student Wins Suit After Teacher Says Creationism 'Superstitious Nonsense'
Fox News Reports that a federal judge ruled that a public high school history teacher violated the First Amendment when he called creationism "superstitious nonsense" during a classroom lecture.
U.S. District Judge James Selna issued the ruling Friday after a 16-month legal battle between student Chad Farnan and his former teacher, James Corbett.
Farnan sued in U.S. District Court in 2007, alleging that Corbett violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment by making repeated comments in class that were hostile to Christian beliefs.
The lawsuit cited more than 20 statements made by Corbett during one day of class, all of which were recorded by Farnan, to support allegations of a broader teaching method that "favors irreligion over religion" and made Christian students feel uncomfortable.
During the course of the litigation, the judge found that most of the statements cited in the court papers did not violate the First Amendment because they did not refer directly to religion or were appropriate in the context of the classroom lecture.
But Selna ruled Friday that one comment, where Corbett referred to creationism as "religious, superstitious nonsense," did violate Farnan's constitutional rights.
05/02/09
Ohio scholar reports bias against 'Darwin doubters'
The Toledo Blade reports that Jerry Bergman is a mild-mannered, soft-spoken, college professor, author, and member of Mensa - a group of people whose IQs are in the top 2 percent of the population.
He also is a man on a mission, going about his task with the same tenacity as a pit bull in attack mode.
For the last 30 years, Mr. Bergman, 62, has interviewed hundreds of people in academia and documented cases in which he contends that careers were derailed because of doubts about evolution.
"In 1979, I was let go by Bowling Green State University openly due to my increasing disillusion with Darwinism," he said in a lecture Monday night at WLMB-TV, Channel 40.
You can order Dr. Bergman's book Slaughter of the Dissidents here
04/24/09
10% Off Everything in ARN Store Until April 30
ARN Economic Stimulus Plan: 10% Off Everything until April 30! We are not going to leave it up to President Obama, Congress, or GM to get our economy going again. We are putting our money on you! Literally. To help you get out your wallet and start spending to bring our economy back we are offering our ARN friends 10% off everything in our store. Hurry though, the sales ends April 30th. Check out our books, videos and Real Science 4 Kids Curriculum. Enter the code "APR09" in the Coupon field when you check out and the 10% discount will be applied to everything in your shopping cart.
These discount coupons are sent out periodically to those on our ARN Announce email list. If you would like to be notified about our sales, as well as new resources posted to our web site, be sure to sign up for ARN Announce. Some of our closeout sales are up to 50% off and only our email members are notified about these specials.
04/10/09
Scott to be featured on NPR Friday
Eugenie Scott is scheduled to be on NPR this Good Friday, with host Ira Flatow to discuss the Texas education situation. For more information,
For a list of stations to listen in nationwide,
04/02/09
Texas Evolution-Lobby Dealt Another Blow With Dismissal of Chris Comer Lawsuit
In ENV...Casey Luskin reports on Chris Comer's lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency (TEA), a lawsuit which has been highly touted by the NCSE and other evolution-lobbyists as purported evidence of discrimination against evolutionists. As TBSE's timeline of Chris Comer's disciplinary problems observed, "News reports of Comer's departure have parroted the claim that Comer was 'fired' because she opposed teaching 'creationism' and 'intelligent design' and supported evolution." The reality is that Comer was not "fired" and her resignation came because, "TEA documents ... show that Comer had a long history of disciplinary problems at her agency that had nothing to do with evolution." TBSE rightly observed that "[i]f Darwinists want to create a scandal and invent a martyr for their cause, they appear to have picked the wrong case." This week Comer's lawsuit was dismissed, further showing the baselessness of her claims of discrimination.
03/28/09
Texas board comes down on 2 sides of creationism debate
The CNN report on the decisions by the Texas State Board of Education exhibited some "charged" language in favor of the Evolution side, but still contained some good, solid information.
A final 13-2 vote approved language that will be printed in textbooks beginning in 2011 and remain there for 10 years, CNN affiliate KPRC-TV in Houston reported:
"In all fields of science, analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental observation and testing, including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those explanations so as to encourage critical thinking by the students."
"This debate will impact whether students are taught to think critically and scientifically when you learn about evolution. It's important for students to learn how to think like scientists and not be forced to treat these controversial topics like a dogma," Casey Luskin, a policy analyst with the Discovery Institute, a group that questions the theory of evolution, said in an article in the San Antonio Express-News.
There is a general critical thinking standard that applies across the board to all scientific subjects:
"in all fields of science, analyze, evaluate and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those scientific explanations so as to encourage critical thinking by the student."
Also, each of the individual evolution indicators require students to "analyze and evaluate" evolution, including to "analyze and evaluate" core evolutionary claims like "natural selection," "mutations," and "common ancestry."
Language was adopted to "analyze and evaluate scientific explanations concerning any data of sudden appearance, stasis, and sequential nature of groups in the fossil record."
Language was adopted to "analyze and evaluate scientific explanations concerning the complexity of the cell."
Language was adopted to "analyze and evaluate the evidence regarding formation of simple organic molecules and their organization into long complex molecules having information such as the DNA molecule for self-replicating life."
03/26/09
Darwin's Dilemma DVD Coming this Summer
The final film in Illustra Media's long-planned Intelligent Design trilogy, Darwin's Dilemma, is scheduled for release this summer and will be available for purchase at ARN.
This documentary will examine what many consider to be the most powerful refutation of Darwinian evolution-the Cambrian fossil record. Charles Darwin realized that the fossil evidence did not support his theory of gradual, step-by-step evolutionary development. He hoped that future generations of scientists would make the discoveries necessary to validate his ideas. Today, after more than 150 years of exploration fossil evidence of slow, incremental biological change has yet to be excavated. Instead, we find a picture of the rapid appearance of fully developed, complex organisms during the outset of the Cambrian geological era. Organisms that embody almost all of the major animal body plans that exist today. This remarkable explosion of life is best explained by the existence of a transcendent intelligence.
As with the first two Illustra Media ID documentaries, Unlocking the Mystery of Life and The Privileged Planet, Darwin's Dilemma is full of high quality animations to help the viewer visualize the amazing complexity and design of the Cambrian creatures. You can watch a trailer for Darwin's Dilemma is here.
03/24/09
San Antonio Express Article Misstates Facts on Texas Board of Education and Kansas
ENV reports that an article in the San Antonio Express misstates some facts in its coverage of this week's upcoming Texas Board of Education vote on evolution. The article isn't all bad: It allows Discovery Institute's Casey Luskin to offer an opposing view, and Luskin's views are described accurately.
The article also erroneously claims that in 2005 the Kansas Board of Education "approved new science standards allowing the teaching of intelligent design, which posits that a supernatural creator is required to explain life's complexity."
03/23/09
March Madness Sale: 40% off Phillip Johnson Blind Watchmaker DVD
March Madness Sale!! The Darwin Bicentennial Celebration and the NCAA March Madness Tournament have us worked up into a frenzy. Now until the end of this month you can order Phillip Johnson's classic lecture "The Blind Watchmaker: A Skeptical Look at Darwinism" on DVD for only $15 including US shipping ($25 Foreign). That's a 40% discount off the retail price. Professor Johnson delivers this indictment on Darwin's theory at the University of Wales. This is a great time to add this memorable lecture to your personal collection and share it with family and friends during the 2009 Darwin Celebrations. Hurry though, the sales ends March 31. Order today.
03/20/09
New Face for ARN Homepage
No, you did not type the wrong URL to get to ARN. As you may have noticed we have redesigned the home page. The old page was a bit dated and cluttered. So we commissioned our webmaster to come up with a new clean look that would be easy to navigate. We hope the new tab design helps you find what you are looking for quickly. We have also upgraded our search engine at the top to help you find what we have to offer on a particular topic. If you have trouble finding something you use to visit on the old page, or find links that don't work, please let us know. The initial feedback has been very positive as revealed one of our web visitors below.
Having visited arn.org just yesterday morning, I was very pleasantly surprised this afternoon with the transformation. The new format's feel and function are nicely meshed, giving a compact homepage with edifying explorations beckoning at every turn. (I followed my mouse into some of those branching cyber-hallways and thoroughly enjoyed the tours.)
Quite beautiful! Fittingly indicative of very intelligent design!
03/10/09
OESE helps bring controversial figure to campus, sparking debate
Janice Francis-Smith, for the Journal Record, reports that Victor Hutchison, George Lynn Cross Research Professor Emeritus at the University of Oklahoma, said he doesn't agree with everything Richard Dawkins says.
But Hutchison and his colleagues fought to make sure Dawkins and other controversial figures are allowed to share their views at universities throughout Oklahoma. Ten years ago, Hutchison helped found Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education Inc., a nonprofit educational organization.
It was expected that someone would protest Dawkins' appearance, but unexpected that that protest would result in a $5,000 donation to OESE.
03/07/09
State lawmaker files evolution resolutions
As reported by AP in the Tulsa World, resolutions filed in the Oklahoma House are critical of plans by a renowned British evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins, to speak at the University of Oklahoma.
Richard Dawkins, a retired professor at Oxford University and author of "The God Delusion," was scheduled to speak March 6th as part of OU's Darwin 2009 Project to observe the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, a British naturalist who introduced the theory of evolution 150 years ago.
Resolutions filed earlier this week by Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada, say the state House "strongly opposes" the invitation and that Dawkins' published statements on evolution and opinions about those who do not believe it "are contrary and offensive to the views and opinions of most citizens of Oklahoma."
They also urge the university "to engage in an open, dignified and fair discussion of the Darwinian theory of evolution and all other scientific theories."
03/05/09
Rome meeting snubs intelligent design
Nicole Winfield, for AP, reports that a Vatican-backed conference on evolution is under attack from people who weren't invited to participate: those espousing intelligent design.
The Discovery Institute, the main organization supporting intelligent design research, says it was shut out from presenting its views because the meeting was funded in part by the John Templeton Foundation, a major U.S. nonprofit that has criticized the intelligent design movement.
Organizers of the five-day conference at the Pontifical Gregorian University said Thursday that they barred intelligent design proponents because they wanted an intellectually rigorous conference on science, theology and philosophy to mark the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species."
While there are some Darwinian dissenters present, intelligent design didn't fit the bill, they said.
02/25/09
Iowa educators respond to evolution bill
Kathy Hanson, for the Ames Tribune, reports that some representatives from Iowa's regent universities are calling for the state Legislature to kill "The Evolution Academic Freedom Act," introduced Feb. 3 by Rep. Rod Roberts, R-Carroll.
A statement released Tuesday includes a petition with more than 200 signatures by faculty opposing HF 183 from Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa, as well as from 17 other Iowa universities, colleges and community colleges, seven primary and secondary schools, and three research organizations.
According to the statement, HF 183 is one of many "academic freedom" bills that have been introduced in the last year that are sponsored and supported by the Discovery Institute, a "Seattle-based anti-evolution organization." Similar bills have been introduced in several states, including Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma. One such bill passed and was signed into law in Louisiana.
Robert Crowther Jr., Discovery Institute's communications director, said the Discovery Institute has not been directly involved in writing HF 183 but thinks it is likely Roberts crafted the bill's language along the lines of the institute's "model legislation."
"That's what we hoped would happen," Crowther said. "We want anyone interested in furthering academic freedom to use our resources."
ID in Schools in Hong Kong?
David Cyranoski, for naturenews, reports that a debate over the teaching of intelligent design in schools is raging in the unlikely battleground of Hong Kong.
The controversy is affecting all levels of education. In the latest episode, a dean of science at one of Hong Kong's premier universities backed out of a radio show earlier this month after finding he was being set up to debate with an advocate of intelligent design within his faculty.
Live Webcast of Darwin's Legacy: The Hiden Story
The C. S. Lewis Society of Tampa, Florida which is the lead sponsor of the educational event "Darwin's Legacy: The Hidden Story" at the University of South Florida this Thursday, February 26th, just announced that the two hour program would be broadcast live on 860AM WGUL in Central Florida, and streamed live across the US on their station's website, 860wgul.com.
The event, which will run from 7:05 pm to 9:00 pm Eastern time, will feature three speakers:
1) Michael Medved is a Yale graduate with honors, and a culture critic who hosts a daily talk show that attracts over 2 million listeners, has written ten non-fiction books, including several New York Times bestseller.
(2) Dr. Steve Fuller, the renowned sociologist of science at the University of Warwick in the UK and founder of the "Social Epistemology" subfield, has been noted for an unusual analysis of the "design controversy" which is sympathetic of intelligent design, even though he approaches the topic with the perspective of a self-described "leftist" and "secular humanist." His newest books, which deal with this topic head-on, are Religion vs. Science? and Dissent over Descent.
(3) Dr. Tom Woodward, who completed his Ph.D. in the Rhetoric of Science field at the University of South Florida, is research professor at Trinity College of Florida and has written two books tracing the intellectual controversy raging between "Darwinism vs. Design": Doubts about Darwin and Darwin Strikes Back. He is the founder and director of the C. S. Lewis Society.
WGUL's technical directors have confirmed that by Saturday, Feb 28th, the program will become an archived audio file, and thus will be available from 860wgul.com as a podcast.
02/16/09
Oklahoma bill to promote intelligent design talk fails
Ron Jenkins, for AP, The Senate Education Committee on Monday narrowly defeated legislation to allow classroom discussion of alternative theories to evolution, along with other topics where science conflicts with religious or moral viewpoints.
The vote was 7-6 against Sen. Randy Brogdon's Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act.
Brogdon, R-Owasso, said science teachers in his district fear retribution for bringing up alternative theories on a wide range of subjects, such as evolution and stem cell research.
02/11/09
Discovery Institute Responses to PBS/NOVA's "Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial" Movie
As their birthday gift to Charles Darwin, yesterday many PBS stations re-aired the "Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial" movie that they first released in November, 2007. The "documentary" purports to re-tell the story of the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial, but it portrays an extremely inaccurate, biased, and one-sided view of the case.
Happy Birthday Darwin!
On February 12, 2009 we celebrate Charles Darwin's 200th birthday. At ARN we would like to celebrate his birth with an often overlooked quote from Darwin's Introduction to his famous book On the Origin of Species,
"I am well aware that scarcely a single point is discussed in this volume on which facts cannot be adduced, often apparently leading to conclusions directly opposite to those at which I have arrived. A fair result can be obtained only by fully stating and balancing the facts and arguments on both sides of each question, and this cannot possibly
be done here."
Just what opposite conclusions did he have in mind? Did natural selection prevent major evolutionary change from occurring on a gradual step-by-step basis thus accounting for stasis and the conservation of the basic body plans of life since the Cambrian Explosion? Why are the pervasive patterns of natural history essentially backwards to Darwinian predictions?
There's a birthday party being thrown at www.charlesdarwin.org.
Surprise!
02/10/09
New Zogby Poll shows overwhelming support for teaching strengths and weaknesses of evolution
A new Zogby poll on the eve of Charles Darwin's 200th birthday shows a
dramatic rise in the number of Americans who agree that when biology
teachers teach the scientific evidence for Darwin's theory of evolution,
they also should teach the scientific evidence against it. Surprisingly,
the poll also shows overwhelming support among self-identified Democrats
and liberals for academic freedom to discuss the "strengths and
weaknesses" evolution.
Over 78% of likely voters agree with teaching both the evidence for and
against Darwin's theory, according to the new national poll.
New Zogby Poll shows overwhelming support for teaching strengths and weaknesses of evolution
A new Zogby poll on the eve of Charles Darwin's 200th birthday shows a
dramatic rise in the number of Americans who agree that when biology
teachers teach the scientific evidence for Darwin's theory of evolution,
they also should teach the scientific evidence against it. Surprisingly,
the poll also shows overwhelming support among self-identified Democrats
and liberals for academic freedom to discuss the "strengths and
weaknesses" evolution.
Over 78% of likely voters agree with teaching both the evidence for and
against Darwin's theory, according to the new national poll.
Vatican conference will give intelligent design critical study
Carol Glatz, for Catholic News Service, reports on an upcoming Vatican-sponsored conference on evolution will include critical study of the theory of intelligent design, which, organizers said, represents poor theology and science.
While proponents of intelligent design were not invited to give presentations at the March 3-7 international conference, organizers agreed to discuss how it appeared and developed as a cultural ideology, not as science.
-----------------------------------------------
Odd how no ID folks were invited!?
02/08/09
Wise to introduce bill in Florida on intelligent design
Matt Soergel in Jacksonville, Flordia writes that State Sen. Stephen Wise, a Jacksonville Republican, said he plans to introduce a bill to require teachers who teach evolution to also discuss the idea of intelligent design.
Wise, the chief sponsor of the bill, expects the Senate to take it up when it meets in March. He said its intent is simple: "If you're going to teach evolution, then you have to teach the other side so you can have critical thinking."
Wise said that if the Legislature passes the bill, he wouldn't be surprised if there's a legal challenge.
02/06/09
Howard Dean is UVM's Commencement Speaker
WCAX-TV reported that a familiar face will give this year's commencement speech at the University of Vermont...Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean has been chosen.
Dean replaces Ben Stein as this year's commencement speaker. He withdrew his name earlier this week after faculty and others raised concerns about his controversial views on evolution and the role of science in the Holocaust.
----------------------------------------------------
Let me get this straight...controversial views on evolution get you booted from the platform, but just being controversial in general gets you the microphone. Oh, that's right, Howard Dean is mainstream at UVM. Got it.
02/03/09
Darwin Defenders Get Ben Stein Expelled from University of Vermont's Commencement Address
In ENV, Casey Luskin provides the best overview and analysis of the Ben Stein affair with UV. This story was picked up by AP as well.
02/02/09
2009 Summer Seminars on Intelligent Design
Mark your calendars university students: July 10-18 in Seattle, WA
The Center for Science and Culture at Discovery Institute announces an extraordinary opportunity for college students in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to participate in an intensive nine-day seminar that will prepare them to make research contributions advancing the growing science of intelligent design (ID).
Intelligent Design in the Natural Sciences is designed for college-level juniors, seniors, and first-year graduate students who intend to pursue graduate studies in the natural sciences or the philosophy of science.
Intelligent Design in the Social Sciences and Humanities is designed for college-level juniors, seniors, and first-year graduate students who intend to pursue graduate studies in the social sciences (including law) or the humanities (including theology).
Both seminars will run concurrently and explore cutting-edge ID work in molecular biology, biochemistry, embryology, developmental biology, zoology, paleontology, computational biology, ID-theoretic mathematics, cosmology, physics, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, evolutionary ethics, bioethics, criminology, law, education, and economics. Each seminar will also include frank treatment of the academic realities that ID researchers confront in graduate school and beyond, and strategies for dealing with them.
Poll reveals public doubts over Charles Darwin's theory of evolution
Jonathan Wynne-Jones, for the Telegraph, reports that more than half of the public believe that the theory of evolution cannot explain the full complexity of life on Earth, and a "designer" must have lent a hand, the findings suggest.
And one in three believe that God created the world within the past 10,000 years.
The survey, by respected polling firm ComRes, will fuel the debate around evolution and creationism ahead of next week's 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.
Richard Dawkins, the evolutionary biologist and author of The God Delusion, said the findings revealed a worrying level of scientific ignorance among Britons.
01/25/09
Texas Mandates Teaching "The Trade Secret of Paleontology"
In Uncommon Descent, Dave Scot writes that Stephen J. Gould, perhaps the most famous paleontologist of the 20th century, wrote:
The extreme rarity of transitional forms in the fossil record persists as the trade secret of paleontology. The evolutionary trees that adorn our textbooks have data only at the tips and nodes of their branches...in any local area, a species does not arise gradually by the gradual transformation of its ancestors; it appears all at once and fully formed.
The evolution section of the biology textbooks includes this "trade secret."
Surprise of the Week: New York Times Gets the Real Story on Texas Evolution Standards
ENV gives kudos to the New York Times for filing a story on the actions of the Texas State Board of Education that actually describes what happened.
Unlike much of the rest of the newsmedia, the New York Times does not tell only half of what happened or play up the hysterics. The story's even-handed title is telling: "Split Outcome in Texas Battle on Teaching of Evolution."
01/22/09
New Web site: Darwin's Predictions
A new Web site, by Cornelius Hunter is up and running.
01/20/09
Texas State board to hear testimony for and against evolution
Matt Frazier, for the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, writes that the next skirmish in the long-running dispute about the teaching of evolution in Texas public schools is set for Wednesday.
That is when scores of people, including six appointed curriculum reviewers, are expected to testify before the State Board of Education on a proposal for the next decade's science curricula.
Scientists, educators and advocacy groups say creationists are trying to water down science education by calling for students to study the "strengths and weaknesses" of scientific theories such as evolution.
01/17/09
Justin Brierley hosts a British Radio show Unbelievable. Its available to listen back and as a podcast from
http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable
The show won a New York Radio Festivals Gold Award for an edition of the programme titled "Intelligent Design vs. Evolution" in 2006, and regularly features program discussing ID and creation-evolution.
For example, in the archive see...
Unbelievable? 30 Aug 2008
Darwin vs Design - Dr. Tom Woodward & Peter Hearty or
Unbelievable? 13 Oct 2007 Has science buried God? With John Lennox and Robert Stovold
Justin also had an interview with Richard Dawkins. To listen
click HERE.
01/15/09
Big Bang Evidence for God
Popular writer Frank Turek writes in townhall.com on the fine-tuning of the universe.
"When I debated atheist Christopher Hitchens recently, one of the eight arguments I offered for God's existence was the creation of this supremely fine-tuned universe out of nothing. I spoke of the five main lines of scientific evidence."
01/14/09
More on the LA School Committee decision on new administrative handbook
KSLA-TV, Shreveport, reports that A state education committee adopted a new administrative handbook Tuesday, as part of the recently passed Louisiana Science Education Act.
The handbook does not specifically ban teaching Creationism or Intelligent Design. Supporters say it doesn't need to because teaching religion in public schools is already banned, which is why opponents say this entire debate is a costly distraction from the real issues facing state public schools.
01/13/09
BESE OKs rules on teaching "controversial" science
Mike Hasten, for the Shreveport Times, reports that Louisiana's top school board today approved rules implementing a law intended to give teachers more freedom in discussing controversial issues in science classes.
BESE members unanimously approved them, minus a section that specifically excludes materials promoting "creationism or intelligent design or that advance the religious belief that a supernatural being created humankind."
The legislation, authored by Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa, with the support of the Louisiana Family Forum, began as a way to teach scientific design. But Act 473 was amended during the 2008 legislative process to encourage "critical thinking" in science classes and although teaching the textbook, allow supplemental materials that discuss alternatives.
01/12/09
Twin Lakes Church (CA) hosting "Dedicated to the Truth"
Is there a difference between faith and knowledge? If so, what is it? These questions will be investigated, "How do we know anything at all?" "Why should we want to or care?"
Twin Lakes Church talks will look at the differences between science and philosophy and the alleged battle between science and Christianity. We will ask the questions, "Was Darwin being scientific?" "Do we have good reasons to question the evolution of all species from a universal common ancestor or are we merely operating on blind faith?"
Phillip Johnson, Paul Nelson, and Greg Koukl will be featured speakers from February through March.
01/11/09
UC Berkeley Website Case Heads to U.S. Supreme Court
A lawsuit challenging a government-funded website that promotes the harmony of religion and evolution is being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The website at the center of the controversy, operated by UC Berkeley and funded by a federal grant, is aimed at public school teachers. The website urges teachers to challenge students' religious beliefs that evolution contradicts their faith. Moreover, the site points teachers to statements from religious groups and denominations that support evolution, while ignoring religious groups that believe in a literal creation.
Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, stated, 'We have been committed to this case from the start, because we believe government has no place decreeing that some religious views are more correct than others.
01/04/09
Producer defends anti-Darwin movie
Douglas Todd, for the Vancouver Sun, writes about Walt Ruloff, a 44-year-old Canadian high-tech mogul, who explained why he came up with the idea to finance Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.
"We wanted to generate anger," Ruloff said.
"We always knew we'd get extreme anger on the one side and extreme support on the other. We also think we got extreme interest in the middle."
--------------------------------------------------
Comments on the sotry are, as usual, mixed...from the thoughtful, to the shallow.
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Links - Groups and Organizations
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Evolution has become a favorite topic of the news media recently, but for some reason, they never seem to get the story straight. The staff at Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture started this Blog to set the record straight and make sure you knew "the rest of the story".
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A blogger from New England offers his intelligent reasoning.
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We are a group of individuals, coming from diverse backgrounds and not speaking for any organization, who have found common ground around teleological concepts, including intelligent design. We think these concepts have real potential to generate insights about our reality that are being drowned out by political advocacy from both sides. We hope this blog will provide a small voice that helps rectify this situation.
- The Design Inference - The Writings of William A. Dembski
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- www.themonkeytrial.com
Website dedicated to comparing scenes from the "Inherit the Wind" movie with factual information from actual Scopes Trial. View 37 clips from the movie and decide for yourself if this movie is more fact or fiction.
Links - Of General Interest
- A Brief View of Time and Those That Live There
Don Cicchetti blogs on: Culture, Music, Faith, Intelligent Design, Guitar, Audio
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- Creation/Evolution Quotes
Australian biologist Stephen E. Jones maintains one of the best origins "quote" databases around. He is meticulous about accuracy and working from original sources.
- CreationEvolutionDesign
Most guys going through midlife crisis buy a convertible. Austrialian Stephen E. Jones went back to college to get a biology degree and is now a proponent of ID and common ancestry.
- Darwinian Fairytales by David Stove
Complete zipped downloadable pdf copy of David Stove's devastating, and yet hard-to-find, critique of neo-Darwinism entitled "Darwinian Fairytales"
- ID The Future
Intelligent Design The Future is a multiple contributor weblog whose participants include the nation's leading design scientists and theorists: biochemist Michael Behe, mathematician William Dembski, astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez, philosophers of science Stephen Meyer, and Jay Richards, philosopher of biology Paul Nelson, molecular biologist Jonathan Wells, and science writer Jonathan Witt. Posts will focus primarily on the intellectual issues at stake in the debate over intelligent design, rather than its implications for education or public policy.
- John Mark Reynolds Blog
A Philosopher's Journey: Political and cultural reflections of John Mark N. Reynolds. Dr. Reynolds is Director of the Torrey Honors Institute at
Biola University.
- NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
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