Intelligent Design vs. Evolution
I suppose I could have sat down at my keyboard and randomly banged on letters until a page or two was filled up. I mean, given enough time and chance, don’t you think eventually I would have a coherent article that somehow evolved from a lower literary form to a more complex collection of words and phrases?
Nah- neither did I. But I guess I must be quite the simpleton to think that behind each reasoned and rational piece of writing was some form of intelligent design. Almost as if the thing that was created had a creator.
Which reminds me of a hot topic that is sweeping through the media like a worldwide flood. Eighty years ago, our culture debated the legality of teaching evolution as a viable explanation for the origin of humankind. Now the dispute rages over the appropriateness of offering intelligent design as a feasible alternative to the now ingrained theory of evolution taught in public schools.
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See how far we’ve fallen from the tree! We’ve gone from a nation founded on and secure in its Christian principles to a society paranoid over and steeped in political correctness.
So my question is this: what are the opponents of intelligent design afraid of? Oh I know, because I’ve read at least a dozen diatribes that see this as a preposterous move for education that will take us down the slippery slope to a resurgence of the Inquisition.
But could there be something else behind it? It just may be possible that there are some who see the scientific solidarity coming apart like a massive continental drift- and this move bringing another threat to the ever-shrinking evolutionary turf. Intelligent design has been called “Creationism in a tuxedo suit”, but gee, could we not say that evolution is nothing more than atheism in a gorilla suit? It’s clear that we are talking about fundamentally opposing worldviews here, so why not get both in the ring and see who’s left standing?
The fact is, Intelligent Design has some serious intelligent thought behind it. My suspicion about those who claim it has no basis in science have made little to no effort in researching their position. And, of course, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. If we want to be taken seriously in the arena of public debate, we had better do our research as well.
It seems to me that that the real issue here is less about the weight of evidence, and more about the weight of the implications. We’re not talking about meaningless debate here…this is a contest involving the answer to one of the biggest questions in the universe:
“Where did I come from?”
Think about it- this is not a matter of “what should I wear today?”, “paper or plastic?”, or even “where’s the remote?” This is the foundational stuff of existence; because the way one answers this question has enormous and far-reaching implications that spill over into every area of life.
For example, if it is a core belief of mine that I exist because of a series of fortuitous desultory accidents (i.e. from the goo to the zoo to you and me too!), then I have set myself up for a serious identity crisis! In this scenario, on what exactly am I to base my value and worth? What kind of feeling does it give me knowing that if I go far enough back in my ancestral chain, I find a relative who was at the bottom of the food chain?
Compare that to the foundational conviction that my value and worth comes the idea that I am descended from a fully developed human being made in the image of God, and that the Creator of the universe created me. Here’s how David put it in Psalm 139: “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.
This belief caused David to cry out in praise: “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--and how well I know it.” (Psalm 139:14).
Going through life with a basic sense of value and worth that is rooted in an eternal God is critical to making good choices. Conversely, if my self-image is built on the shifting sand of a shifty theory, what then is my motivation to deny selfishness and serve my fellow humankind?
Don’t believe me? Then ask yourself this question: has society gotten better or worse since God was transferred from the public schools and Darwin was given untouchable tenure? It’s pretty difficult to argue that our culture has evolved much towards a place where people treat others the way they would like to be treated. In other words, what a huge shock that when we started convincing people that they evolved from animals, they started acting like animals!
On another front is the whole idea of accountability. If evolution is true, then perhaps at death we just go six feet under with no repercussions for our earthly actions. So then, what’s to stop me from acting on every urge that urges me on? On the other hand, recognizing an intelligent design leads to a belief in an intelligent Designer. Push this belief to its logical conclusion and uh oh! I may now have to give an account for my actions. This is yet another reason why evolutionists are so disinclined to disavow a theory that essentially preaches that “anything goes”.
There are many other far-reaching implications to this issue, but the bottom line is that we realize this debate is not going away soon. This is why it is vital that Christians arm themselves for the battle of ideas that is coming down the pike.
Lane Palmer is the Youth Ministries Specialist for Dare 2 Share Ministries in Arvada, Colo., where he works with youth leaders and students, equipping them to be effective in sharing the gospel. For more information on Dare 2 Share Ministries, please visit www.dare2share.org. Find out how Dare 2 Share Ministries and Focus on the Family® are working together to capture the hearts of this generation of teenagers, visit www.capturetheirhearts.com Send feedback to [email protected]. Original source: Dare2Share.org.
