A New Front in the War on Creationism
"Just because we have the same enemy does not mean we are on the same side," says the character William Tyndale in the drama "To Serve a Higher King." Biblical creationists may need to say the same thing to an eclectic group of scientists and philosophers who have, over the last two decades, found that natural laws and chance alone cannot explain everything in nature.
Biblical creationism has long been the target of attack by evolutionary scientists. But a new movement, called intelligent design (ID), has recently drawn fire for questioning the almost inviolable sanctity of Darwinism. It would seem then, at first glance, that biblical creationism has a new ally.
True, both creationists and ID followers agree that some biological processes are so functionally complex that astronomical odds would prevent their development. They also see the "irreducible complexity" of certain living systems; for example, structures such as the human eye and the flagellum that propels some single–celled organisms have so many interdependent parts that they could not have developed in gradual steps by evolutionary processes.
And both creationists and ID proponents agree that nature abounds with evidence of design—and not the result of chance mutations as evolutionists maintain. Instead, it calls for some intelligent force or being with a plan. Unfortunately, the ID movement is so broad in its ranks that its supporters range from biblical creationists to agnostics. The designer could be the God of the Bible, or it could be Gaia, Mother Nature, or some unspecified life force.
The ID movement has certainly caught the attention of the science establishment and has drawn fire from many of the same scientists opposed to a literal interpretation of Genesis. Simultaneously, it has fueled a more serious reappraisal of Darwinism among nonbelievers. The movement has caused many states to reevaluate their state science standards and has even influenced textbook adoption.
Because most ID adherents refuse to defend any sacred text or even to claim the identity of the designer, they have been granted more license than creationists have to question the status quo of modern science education. And their impact is significant. A recent issue of the National Science Teacher Association’s periodical, The Science Teacher (November 2003), dealt almost entirely with helping teachers understand the nature of the intelligent design movement as well as scientific creationism and the "threats" they pose to "real" science.
The research and scholarship of the ID camp can certainly provide critical ammunition for our fight against the threats of evolution. A few of their writers are not only sympathetic with but also promote a literal interpretation of Genesis. However, many others share few of our convictions. While we benefit from many of their efforts and face some of the same foes, should we form alliances and fight from the same trenches? Some suggest that we should.
Just as the Apostle Paul used the words of Greek poets (Acts 17:28) to direct his hearers toward the true Source of life, we have the opportunity to confront our culture, using the scholarship of some who might not be in total agreement with us. However, this must be done with caution. Romans 1:20 makes it clear that the "eternal power" of the real Designer is clearly seen in His creation. We must be careful not to become "intelligent fools" by not clearly giving God the glory for His works (vv. 21–22).
Brad Batdorf is a secondary science author for BJU Press. He has also served as a high school science teacher and as director of education at several zoos.