Is There Intelligent Design in Nature?
Gerard M. Verschuuren, scientist, writer, speaker, and consultant, working at the interface of science, philosophy, and religion, explains the difference between intelligent design as a metaphysical concept and ‘ID’ as a scientific theory. He endorses the first, calling is ‘cosmic design’ and attributing it to God, the author of natural laws and creator of the world that is being investigated by natural sciences. He refutes ‘ID’ as a scientific theory which would lead to a ‘god of the gaps’. Nature, biological evolution includes, does not need the supernatural interventions to bring about complex structures. The metaphysical designer and his laws of nature, including natural selection, suffice.
Thomas Aquinas versus Intelligent Design: a Catholic Answer
Michael W. Tkacz, associate professor of philosophy at Gonzaga University, recounts that one day, he received a phone call from a professor of philosophy at a nearby private, religiously affiliated college who had just returned from an international conference devoted to challenges to evolutionary biology from intelligent design (ID) theory. He had something of a complaint to make about the absence of ‘Thomists’ and ‘Catholics’ in the ID movement and its challenge to Darwinism. Since the time of Charles Darwin there has been vigorous debate between Christian creationists and Darwinian evolutionists. Neither side has been especially interested in what Catholic Thomism might contribute to the discussion. Secular Darwinians often view Thomists as just another species of literalists attempting to substitute the Book of Genesis for good biology. On the other hand, Protestant creationists often have viewed Thomists as already halfway to secularism and naturalism, depending too little on a literal reading of Scripture and too much on philosophical reasoning.
Evangelic philosopher versus atheïst biologist: Craig – Dawkins
Fr. Barron comments on Misreading Genesis
Creation and Evolution – Seven Yoms Never Sounded So Good
Deacon John Nepil and Joe Doman comment on creation and evolution: seven ‘yoms’ and three key moments in the creation story of Genesis 1.
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