The Coming Revolution: It's Up to Us

In the final chapter of The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin wrote:
"Although I am fully convinced of the truth of the views given in this
volume I, by no means expect to convince experienced naturalists whose
minds are stocked with a multitude of facts all viewed, during a long
course of years, from a point of view directly opposite of mine But I
look with confidence to the future,--to young and rising naturalists, who
will be able to view both sides of the question with impartiality."
Intelligent design is in much the same position as evolution when Darwin
first proposed it in 1859. At that time, the immutability of the species
and divine supernatural creation were basic assumptions of the most in the
scientific community. These assumptions were engrained in students minds
throughout their formal education, and endorsed by the culture at large,
making it exceedingly difficult for "experienced naturalists" of that day
and age to fairly and objectively assess Darwin's ideas.

Similarly, and somewhat ironically, the veteran scientists of our day hold
Darwinian evolution as a fundamental assumption of biology. The idea of
descent with modification as an essentially non-teleological process
fueled by random mutations and natural selection has been engrained in
them early on in their education and is endorsed by the academy at large.
This makes it difficult for many of them to grasp the ideas and concepts
of intelligent design, or even see the evidence for it right under their
noses (or microscopes).

As Darwin foresaw for his theory, the hope for intelligent design as a
successful scientific research program lies in the hands of the youth,
because only those who have not yet been indoctrinated by the academy in
naturalistic and Darwinian group-think can view the evidence impartially.
The great physicist Max Planck (from whom we get "Plancks constant")
noticed that " a new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its
opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents
eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it."

The intelligent design movement is a movement of the youth. Although it
has its roots in the work done by those older and more experienced than
ourselves, it's ultimate triumph (or failure) will be the direct result of
the work done by our generation and the ones following. We have the rare
and thrilling opportunity to be on the forefront of a much needed and long
overdue revolution in scientific thought. I hope to be a part of that
revolution, and I hope you will be to. Let us continue to educate
ourselves, our friends, and even our teachers on the evidence for
intelligent design and the deficiencies of Darwinism. Let us shrug off the
naturalistic assumptions that so cloud the mind. Let us do scientific
research of the highest quality and objectivity. But most of all, let us
pursue the truth.

Copyright 2001 Jeremy Alder. All rights reserved. International copyright
secured.

Oryginal: http://www.idurc.org/swu/swu-051501.shtml