There is an intuitive analogy between the basic operation of an electric circuit and how intelligent design works. In an electric circuit, a current flows in a load only if a generator provides voltage. In a system, organization can increase only if a generator of information provides intelligence. Consider the figure:
On the left we have an electric circuit, on the right intelligent design applied on a system. In the electric circuit an active component is necessary (generator) to power the passive component (load). Similarly, in the ID schema, an active agent (designer) is necessary to organize a passive object and make it a designed system. More generally, this ID model applies as well as to a problem to solve, a topic to examine in depth, a message to elaborate… whatever intelligence can create and illuminate.
The electric generator, when is disconnected from the circuit, shows a voltage (difference of potential). The ID generator (also called “designer”) shows potential intelligence when is at rest. Only when they are in operation, i.e. applied to a load or work, they cause a visible effect (electric current produced by the former, information injection produced by the latter). The electric current is a flow of electrons, information is a flow of bits.
For the electric circuit the Ohm’s law holds: current = voltage / resistance. Something similar holds for the ID circuit: information = intelligence / problem. Given a certain problem or system, more intelligent the generator, more the information it is able to provide to solve / design the problem / system.
Moral: who denies the ID inference for the natural systems showing organization is like who denies the necessity of a generator in a electric circuit. To affirm that “ID is not science” is like to affirm that electrical circuitry and its laws is not science. Moreover, who claims naturalistic origin of organization is like one absurdly claiming that in an electric circuit without generator a current could flow (see the figure below).
It is obvious that a load connected this way is not powered. In fact the “ground” symbol means voltage equal zero. A load, whose two terminals are both connected to zero volt, has null potential difference applied, then zero current. Similarly, an organized system cannot arise when it is connected only to “chance and necessity”, represented by the “ground” symbol, which in this case means no intelligence. No intelligence, then organizational information=0. If there is no information there is no organization. As Norbert Wiener said, “The amount of information in a system is a measure of its organization”.