Theology with a paint job

By Steve Grimes
department of Earth sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland

St. John's -- Jonathan Wells is absolutely correct when he says that the
concept of Darwinian evolution is in deep trouble these days. However,
it's not failing under scientific scrutiny; it's in deep political trouble
due to the unceasing campaign of misinformation being waged by generously
funded groups such as Dr. Wells's Discovery Institute. The "intelligent
design" school isn't focused on original scientific research that suggests
a designer; instead, its members criticize other scientists, write
anti-evolution books for lay audiences, and wage legal and political
campaigns.

The political approach comes through in his article: He defends the
Biblical literalism of (potential ally) Stockwell Day, and he repeatedly
complains about critics who associate anti-Darwinism with Biblical
literalists. He can't have it both ways.

Dr. Wells twice states that scientists questioning evolution are
increasing
in number, and then comes up with a depressingly predictable list of the
usual suspects: Dembski, Behe, himself. In reality, the intelligent-design
researchers are few enough that they would be hard pressed to get a
softball game together. That doesn't make them wrong, but it doesn't make
them look like a scientific revolution, either.

*

The Globe and Mail, Tuesday, November 21, 2000

Theology with a paint job

By Adam Monahan
 

Berlin -- Huzzah to Messrs. Wells and Day for their unflagging opposition
to the whiggish suppositions of the Scientifick Establishment! Would that
they might also importune the Doctors of Physick to redouble their efforts
towards understanding the maintenance of harmonious balance between the
four Bodily Humours. I myself have suffered of late from an excess of
Black Bile, and know not what manner of poultice, unguent or salve may
best be used to restore equilibrium.

*

The Globe and Mail, Wednesday, November 22, 2000

Reading the fossil record

By Robert de Chazal
 

Edmonton -- Stockwell Day and Jonathan Wells (In Defence Of Creationism --
Nov. 17) wrap themselves in the trappings of science because invoking
science invests their arguments with instant gravity. Dr. Wells said a
"growing number of biologists" question whether Darwinism can provide us
with an adequate explanation for the appearance and evolution of life on
this earth. He did not say a growing number of lay preachers, or
astrologists.

Though Dr. Wells invokes the power of science, he fails to exhibit its
discipline. Three biologists yesterday and four today is a "growing
number," though not an impressive one.

So here is a little discipline for Dr. Wells. Among millions of fossils,
we find what appear to be stone butchering tools amid animal bones with
butchering marks that match the tools. We find human remains alongside
them, geologically speaking. It happens with mammoths and recent prey
species in the African Rift, but does not happen with dinosaurs, with
which the creationists say we coexisted; this despite thousands of
geologists and fossil hunters, and more than a century of looking.

A designer who created all the world must have also created the fossil
record. So is the designer a being who toys with creationists for reasons
they do not understand, or one who just enjoys jerking us all around? My
teenager likes this line of thought because, as he says, it means at least
that "God might be having some fun."

*

The Globe and Mail, Wednesday, November 22, 2000

Alliance's tipping point

By Colin D. Nicholson
 

Ottawa -- That Stockwell Day and his fellow evangelicals espouse
creationism is not merely an incidental quirk of personal belief.
Evangelicals believe that having creationism in the school curriculum is
the best way to "witness" their beliefs, save souls and thereby lubricate
their own passage to heaven (talk about hidden agendas!).

But why pick the creaky vehicle of creationism for this purpose? Because,
among the three hoary "proofs" of God's existence -- the ontological
argument, the argument from first causes, the argument from design -- only
the argument from design has withstood the assaults of pure logical
reasoning. By contrast, the tenets of evolution are the product of
rational thought applied to verifiable observations. But the list of
instances of denial of observed evidence by Christian churches is long and
venerable (think of Galileo and Jupiter's moons).

Shame is, Stockwell had my vote until this bracing wake-up call.