Book review Evolution and Intelligent Design

My earlier posts strongly criticized Intelligent Design theory, spawned from the worst of apologetics—lying for God. Many people not familiar with the underlying falsehoods accept it as an interesting and hopeful way of proving scientifically the existence of God. I consider it on a par with UFO abductions, and the search for Noah’s ark—ridiculous as science.  However, it’s also bad theology. John Haught, former department chair of the Georgetown theology department, thinks so, too, and obviously has a much better grip on the theology than I do. He has written a number of books on science and theology and is a vocal critic of Intelligent Design on theological grounds. He has written a very short (143 page) book, Responses to 101 Questions on God and Evolution.

The book is written in “apologetics” style with the promised 101 questions divided into six categories: Darwin’s Revolutionary Idea, Darwin and Theology, Creationism, Darwin and Design, Divine Providence and Natural Selection, Evolution, Suffering and Redemption, and Teillhard de Chardin and Alfred North Whitehead. The last two individuals are scientists who have a lot to say on theological aspects of evolution. Answers to each page are about a page long. Obviously, a one page answer cannot do more than summarize the fundamental issues he raises. Nevertheless, this is a great “starting” book for those interested in this areas who want to approach the issue from a religious perspective.

Apologetics style question and answer books often fail because the “questions” are straw man type questions, easily demolished in the answers.  Such books are not very convincing. Here, though his questions are very thoughtful and go right to the heart of the matter. Some samples:

1. Is Evolution merely a theory
2. Doesn’t it render the idea of a God superfluous?
3. What significance does evolution have for theology today?
4. Can evolution be reconciled with the doctrine of original sin?
5. Can the God who suffers along with evolution also be powerfully redemptive?
6. What reply can I give specifically to the atheistic evolutionary claims of Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett?

I recommend the book as a thoughtful, understandable and short read.

Comments

[Elena]

It was the apologetics of Scott Hahn and his wife Kimberly that brought my husband and I back into the heart of the Catholic church and renewed our Catholic Faith. Perhaps we found their particular style "convincing" because they peppered it with their stories of their own faith journey. Nonetheless I have since found apologetics books such as by Kreeft, Stravinskas etc. to be very helpful and educational.

[c matt]

I think a lot of the problem with ID is that it is largely seen and often argued as a default. That is, (macro)evolution is not proven, therefore ID must be true. The fact is that we just really don't know (something science types have a hard time saying). The big problem with macroevol is that it is based largely on projections from micro-evolution. Not a bad guestimate as far as guestimates go, but far from being conclusively established.

[Steven Riddle]

Dear Unapologetic and C-matt,

My primary difficulty with macroevolution is that there is simply no causitive mechanism. What selection mechanism is operative at a level above the individual or, very possibly the species? There isn't one. How do you evolve a phylum? You don't, you evolve a species that is recognized as a member of a new phylum later. So macroevolutionary mechanisms are simply hypothetical constructs. We see lacunae, therefore we posit this to fill them.

I have relatively little problem with the "holes" ID sees in evolutionary theory. They are really there, they presently have no explanation. That does not validate some of the asusmptions of ID theory. However, I must admit that I don't see the real problem with positing evolutionary mechanisms set in place by an intelligence that already knows what will happen. This is not ID, but rather how Evolution works when God has already set out the rules.

shalom,

Steven

[Unapologetic Catholic]

I certainly agree that God has worked a wonder in creation of life on earth. The more I read on evolutionary issues, I see that evolution is pretty complete in itself--something I would expect from a magnificent God. As I’ve written below, some aspects of the current “Intelligent Design” theory are simply bad science and worse theology. I would summarize my own belief as thinking God created life on earth through the mechanism of evolution.

The macro/micro evolution distinction appears to me to be artificial. Phylum refers to body type and is somewhat artificial.   This website has a series of fabulous interphyla examples, showing the artists conception and a photo of the fossil itself. 

A very interesting article!