Saturday, December 03, 2005
How intelligent is intelligent design?
Are you getting as tired as I am of creationists trying to hide under the cover of intelligent design? The most sensible approach to the topic that I've read lately is in an essay by Eric Ringham in today's Star Tribune. A few quotes:
Here's the problem with intelligent design theory: It attempts to define, and limit, the mind and power of God.
Once you accept that God is the creator of the universe, you've accepted an absolute. After that, whatever we discover about the process of creation is secondary, and subject to change as our knowledge grows.
The progress of science doesn't have to interfere with faith, unless we draw boundaries around what we believe God can do and how he can do it. If we say that evolution isn't a tool of God's creativity, we're imposing a law of our own making on a universe that is not ours, but God's.
In our schools, let's let science do its best to explain how creation came about. And in our homes and places of worship, let's do our best to understand why.
Here's the problem with intelligent design theory: It attempts to define, and limit, the mind and power of God.
Once you accept that God is the creator of the universe, you've accepted an absolute. After that, whatever we discover about the process of creation is secondary, and subject to change as our knowledge grows.
The progress of science doesn't have to interfere with faith, unless we draw boundaries around what we believe God can do and how he can do it. If we say that evolution isn't a tool of God's creativity, we're imposing a law of our own making on a universe that is not ours, but God's.
In our schools, let's let science do its best to explain how creation came about. And in our homes and places of worship, let's do our best to understand why.
