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Intelligent Design

Either I have lost my mind, or materialists have lost theirs

With what is now known about the fine-tuning of the laws of physics for the production of a universe that “knew” we were coming (Freeman Dyson), and with what is now known about the sophisticated information-processing systems and technology found in even the simplest living cell (not to mention the human mind), it is incomprehensible to me that this evidence would lead any rational person to the conclusion that it all came about by chance and necessity, and not by design. Either I have lost my mind, or materialists have lost theirs. There is no third option.

ID Foundations 15(c) — A FAQ on Front-Loading, thanks to Genomicus

Onlookers, Geno concludes for the moment with FAQ’s: ____________________ Geno: >> A Testable ID Hypothesis: Front-loading, part C In the last two articles on front-loading, I explained what the front-loading hypothesis is all about and some research questions we can ask from a front-loading perspective. This article will be an FAQ about the front-loading hypothesis. So, without further introduction, let’s begin (note: some of the content of this FAQ can be found in the previous two articles). What is front-loading? “Front-loading is the investment of a significant amount of information at the initial stage of evolution (the first life forms) whereby this information shapes and constrains subsequent evolution through its dissipation. This is not to say that every aspect of Read More ›

The Evolution of Evolution: Are Living Things Intelligently Designed to Evolve?

In his recent review (Genome Biology and Evolution, first published online January 24, 2012, doi:10.1093/gbe/evs008) of Professor James A. Shapiro’s new book, Evolution: a view from the 21st century (2011, FT Press: Upper Saddle River, N.J.), Adam S. Wilkins expresses his disagreement with Shapiro’s decidedly un-Darwinian view that natural selection’s importance for evolution has been hugely overstated: My final disagreement with Jim [Shapiro]’s general argument concerns a truly fundamental point, however: the dismissal of natural selection as a shaping force in evolution. Thus, it is stated, at the very start of the book (top of p. 1): “Innovation, not selection, is the critical issue in evolutionary change. Without variation and novelty, selection has nothing to act upon.” While all evolutionists Read More ›

Engineering and Metaphysics Conference – Last Day for Early-Bird Pricing

I’ve mentioned the Engineering and Metaphysics conference a few times before. Basically, it is a conference dealing with the interaction between the nature of nature, and the nature of engineering. How does the nature of nature affect engineering? What does engineering tell us about the nature of nature? It’s somewhat of a practical followup to Baylor’s 2000 Nature of Nature conference. Well, today is the last day to register at the Early Bird price! To register or find out more information about the conference, see: http://www.eandm2012.com/ Walter Bradley, the author of the book that started the ID movement (The Mystery of Life’s Origin) will be the plenary speaker for the conference. Come and see the great research underway! Or, come Read More ›

It’s all about information, Professor Feser

Over at his blog, Professor Edward Feser has been writing a multi-part critique of Professor Alex Rosenberg’s bestselling book, The Atheist’s Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life without Illusions. Rosenberg is an unabashed defender of scientism, an all-out reductionist who doesn’t believe in a “self”, doesn’t believe we have thoughts that are genuinely about anything, and doesn’t believe in free will or morality. Instead, he advocates what he calls “nice nihilism.” In the last line of his book, Rosenberg advises his readers to “Take a Prozac or your favorite serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and keep taking them till they kick in.” Edward Feser has done an excellent job of demolishing Rosenberg’s arguments, and if readers want to peruse his posts from start Read More ›

Teaching evolution as an act of faith in Darwinism: Why that ol’ “gut feeling” matters so much

Essentially, as forced on students in school, “evolution” has about the same teaching value as hip hop, Star Trek,, self-esteem courses, The Lord of the Rings, or teen vampire films. The thing either grabs your gut or it doesn’t. Read More ›

Shermer vs. Flannery debate: Shermer actually conceded that Wallace, Darwin’s co-theorist, was a design pioneer

When Darwin’s lobby needed to denigrate Wallace, in order to support Darwin, they made his ID-type commitments explicit. Now, with ID's greater cultural confidence, they need to confuse and efface them. Read More ›