Notes for a Talk on Evolution and Creationism
All Souls Unitarian Church, Indianapolis
Sunday, June 6,
2004
Hubble discovered (ca. 1929) that galaxies are receding, inferring that universe is expanding.
Big Bang cosmology originated by George Gamow and Ralph Alpher (1948)
Going backward leads to a singularity. Avoided by inflation, devised by Allan Guth. Universe may be the ultimate free lunch.
Best evidence for big bang: the Cosmic Background Radiation.
Alternative: Ekpyrotic theory, “the Big Splat”
Iron-sulfur world: high temperature, pressure. Explains sulfur in amino acids.
Darwin Redux
Materialism is the key
What is darwinism?
n Variation followed by natural selection
n No knowledge of why variation
n Speculation got him in trouble
Mendel’s discovery led to split in evolution, eclipse of embryology
Embryology returns as developmental biology
“Soft-core” creationism; “Creationism in a cheap tuxedo”
From The Discovery Institute:
"The theory of intelligent design holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection."
The Players
Phillip Johnson – retired law professor.
Apologia: “Lawyers are tried to evaluate evidence and arguments.” Popular impression: Lawyers twist arguments.
Religious epiphany, argues that naturalistic
philosophy is the root of all our problems.
Johnson uses a lot of legal analogies, without
realizing that a legal proceding is different from a scientific inquiry
n The
purpose of a legal proceeding is to settle an issue as finally as possible.
n The
nature of the proceeding depends on whether it is civil or criminal.
n The
trial court is considered the “trier of fact”, usually without review.
n Juries
are expected to have no knowledge of the case, and take no part in arguments.
William
Dembski – Explanatory filter; NFL – “written in Jello”
Michael Behe – Darwin’s Black Box -- irreducible
complexity: immune system, clotting cascade, bacterial flagellum. Out of date
when written, moreso now. Two of three explained before publication, third has tentative explanation.
Jonathon Wells – doctorate in theology; Father
Moon told him to get a doctorate in embryology. Thesis on fertilization of frog
eggs, a good research topic.
Author of Icons
of Evolution, a dishonest book
n Icons:
Haeckel’s
embryos, peppered moths, etc.
“Teach the controversy” is a political agenda,
not scientific. Real biological controversies are at a higher level.
“What kind of evidence would persuade you of
design?” That’s backwards.
School board in several states. Defeated in
Montana; partial victory in Ohio.
Indiana’s standards are straightforward.
What is design theory?
Key observation: ID advocates aren’t interested
in biology, and it shows.