CounterWedge: On Intelligent Design
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'Intelligent Design' has become a hot topic recently and a surprisingly large number of otherwise competent and well meaning people have been deluded into thinking that it is an idea with intellectual merit that provides a viable alternative to evolutionary theory. It is not and does not. At best, from a scientific standpoint it is nothing more than an argument from personal incredulity. As this evolving site and its linked resources clearly demonstrate, it is instead a deceitful and maliciously cynical tactic in larger enterprise designed (intentionally if not intelligently!) to impose a Christian fundamentalist theocracy in the United States. Masquerading behind so-called 'irreducible complexity' -- the unsupported assertion that some as-yet-unexplained molecular structures and processes cannot, in principle, be explained -- shameless hucksters sell a gullible public a sham bit of pseudo-science that is appealing because it appears to offer an easy means to reconcile science and religious faith. |
To understand the real agenda of 'intelligent design' advocates you should first read the "The Wedge Strategy [pdf]," an honestly conspiratorial internal publication of the Center for (Renewal of) Science and Culture affiliated with the Seattle-based Discovery Institute. Pay particular attention to the three phases of the strategy and note that despite no success in Phase I, Phases II and III are being vigorously pursued. It is important and useful to learn a bit about the who pays the bills (see also). A recent editorial [pdf] and article [pdf] published in Nature provide additional background. For a more detailed and painstakingly documented account see Forrest and Gross (2004) Creationism's Trojan Horse: the Wedge of Intelligent Design (a must read for all interested in ID; for an overview see this conversation with Barbara Forrest). When some apostolic ID salesman starts blathering on in willfully ignorant 'regurgitation mode' about the inexplicability of the Cambrian "explosion" tell them to read Mattick (2004; noting especially the figure on page 67) [pdf] before continuing the conversation. Irreducible complexity of bacterial flagellum? Have them take at look at Miller's dismantling of Behe's sham argument. |
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A few possible "CounterWedge" activities...
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Some pro-Wedge people and organizations to know: Phillip Johnson | Michael Behe | William Dembski Coming soon to a campus near you...
Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness (IDEA) Chapters | IDEA Advisory Board Some CounterWedge allies and resources |
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| This site is intended to provide a succinct compilation of resources for understanding and countering the Wedge strategy. If you have suggestions for resources to include here please email them to dsiems@bemidjistate.edu. Fair Use Notice: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am posting this material to advance understanding of scientific, political, economic, cultural, historical, and philosophic issues related to the intelligent design conspiracy. I interpret this as a "fair use" copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without charge or profit to those who have an interest in viewing the included information for research and educational purposes. Should you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use," you should obtain permission from the copyright owner | ||||