Intelligent Design?????

[kittylover0991]

I am sorry, I keep hearing about this thing called "Intelligent Design". I hear about it in school, it has been on the news, and my pastor made a small comment about it. What on earth is it????

[nebula]

Hey - don't appologize for the questions! It gives us more to argue - errr - discuss - yeah, discuss, that's it!

OK, for your question, I found a web site that would probably explain it best:

Intelligent Design Network

The theory of intelligent design (ID) holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause rather than an undirected process such as natural selection. ID is thus a scientific disagreement with the core claim of evolutionary theory that the apparent design of living systems is an illusion.

In a broader sense, Intelligent Design is simply the science of design detection -- how to recognize patterns arranged by an intelligent cause for a purpose. Design detection is used in a number of scientific fields, including anthropology, forensic sciences that seek to explain the cause of events such as a death or fire, cryptanalysis and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). An inference that certain biological information may be the product of an intelligent cause can be tested or evaluated in the same manner as scientists daily test for design in other sciences.

ID is controversial because of the implications of its evidence, rather than the significant weight of its evidence. ID proponents believe science should be conducted objectively, without regard to the implications of its findings. This is particularly necessary in origins science because of its historical (and thus very subjective) nature, and because it is a science that unavoidably impacts religion.

Another good reference site, which will provide you with research articles and speeches and essays, if you desire to delve into what it's all about and advocatesa nd argues can be found here:

Center for Science and Culture

Hope this helps!

[kittylover0991]

Hey - don't appologize for the questions! It gives us more to argue - errr - discuss - yeah, discuss, that's it!

lol ... yeah.. I know what you mean.. I have just been curious about it..

Thankyou for all the information. It does help a lot. So is "intelligent design" basically saying that science.. such as evolution.. is the only factor for our existence.. and the design of some higher power(intelligent) made it all happen?

[nebula]

I had connection problems after I gave a resonse, so this is take 2.

So is "intelligent design" basically saying that science.. such as evolution.. is the only factor for our existence.. and the design of some higher power(intelligent) made it all happen?

I don't think that's an accurate way to express what the ID'ers are saying.

First we have to understand what is meant by "evolution." You see, the science of evolution, that organisms change to adapt to their environment, is a scientific fact. You can see this easiest in bacteria. This type of evolution is why we now have a problem with drug-resistanc bacteria; the bacteria have "evolved" this adaptation, if you will (without going into the details of the process).

This type of evolution on the large scale - well, that's not something that we can observe, as Evolution as the theory of origins claims this takes place over millions of years.

Evolutionary theory in this regards claims that evolution is all there is, and that it just "happens". I'm not sure if or what they claim as a source.

ID'ers claim a source. "If there's a design, there's a designer."

I have not looked into things enough to determine if ID'ers have proposed the method by which the Intelligent Designer caused things to be as they are. However, they do acknowledge the process of evolution - just that the Intelligent Designer had a guiding hand and influence in how it came about. So, instead of a random mutation making a creature more "fit" than others and thus its gene succeeded in the line of succession, as Evolutionists claim, the ID'ers see the Designer putting it all together - somehow.

Now, ID'ers do not hold to "6-day Creation" nor do they attempt to put an identification to the Intelligent Designer. This is why many Christians tend to oppose them. My take is that looking to a Creator is a step-up from atheistic evolution. But that's me!

(Somehow, I thought my first writing made more sense, but I can't seem to bring it back up right - oh well, hope this answers your question. )

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

By saying that the Earth was created by an I.D says fill in the blank with your own god.It's science's way of appeasing the Christian public but it doesnt fly with me.It still denies that JEHOVAH GOD created this planet.

[st. Worm]

ID seems to be a generic form of creationism that indicates that someone other than no one has a hand in the design of creation and life. Although it does not present the account of Genesis, it does not necessarily deny it either. It is clearly an answer to the false Darwinism without being religious. It simply says that it is not random chance that creates.

Evolution is taught as something that occurrs within species which is obviously the case. I don't understand why a court would say that ID is the government promoting religion. Liberals definitely do not want any view other than Darwinism taught and therefore show they are not really into educating as much as indoctrinating.

[Guest stevej]

Thank you kitty for the question..and thank you nebula for the explanaton and websites to look at. This appears to be another attempt on the part of some folks who are attempting to explain creation without having to recognize the Creator directly.

[kittylover0991]

I had connection problems after I gave a resonse, so this is take 2.

So is "intelligent design" basically saying that science.. such as evolution.. is the only factor for our existence.. and the design of some higher power(intelligent) made it all happen?

I don't think that's an accurate way to express what the ID'ers are saying.

First we have to understand what is meant by "evolution." You see, the science of evolution, that organisms change to adapt to their environment, is a scientific fact. You can see this easiest in bacteria. This type of evolution is why we now have a problem with drug-resistanc bacteria; the bacteria have "evolved" this adaptation, if you will (without going into the details of the process).

This type of evolution on the large scale - well, that's not something that we can observe, as Evolution as the theory of origins claims this takes place over millions of years.

Evolutionary theory in this regards claims that evolution is all there is, and that it just "happens". I'm not sure if or what they claim as a source.

ID'ers claim a source. "If there's a design, there's a designer."

I have not looked into things enough to determine if ID'ers have proposed the method by which the Intelligent Designer caused things to be as they are. However, they do acknowledge the process of evolution - just that the Intelligent Designer had a guiding hand and influence in how it came about. So, instead of a random mutation making a creature more "fit" than others and thus its gene succeeded in the line of succession, as Evolutionists claim, the ID'ers see the Designer putting it all together - somehow.

Now, ID'ers do not hold to "6-day Creation" nor do they attempt to put an identification to the Intelligent Designer. This is why many Christians tend to oppose them. My take is that looking to a Creator is a step-up from atheistic evolution. But that's me!

(Somehow, I thought my first writing made more sense, but I can't seem to bring it back up right - oh well, hope this answers your question. )

Thanks neb, that actually makes sense now. So far, no one else has been able to explain it in a way I understand. The media is so careful as to their wording that they wont' just put it into simple english. Thankyou so much

By saying that the Earth was created by an I.D says fill in the blank with your own god.It's science's way of appeasing the Christian public but it doesnt fly with me.It still denies that JEHOVAH GOD created this planet.

As for you oh dear bb *mad grin* Just kidding. Thankyou also for your "imput". That is exactly what my pastor said the other day as a side comment in his message saying that "It isn't just intelligent design. It's God, amen?"

ID seems to be a generic form of creationism that indicates that someone other than no one has a hand in the design of creation and life. Although it does not present the account of Genesis, it does not necessarily deny it either. It is clearly an answer to the false Darwinism without being religious. It simply says that it is not random chance that creates.

Evolution is taught as something that occurrs within species which is obviously the case. I don't understand why a court would say that ID is the government promoting religion. Liberals definitely do not want any view other than Darwinism taught and therefore show they are not really into educating as much as indoctrinating.

Thankyou worm It makes complete sense now Thankyou so very much

Now.. is it just me... is this whole idea whacked? It is weird.. at one point there are trying to appease the Christians by saying that it is some form of intelligent design but satisfy the liberals and the "Be Respectful" people by saying to fill in the blank.. First.. did I get this right? Second, I can't figure out if this is whacked, wrong.. or right.. it is just weird..

[st. Worm]

'Now.. is it just me... is this whole idea whacked? It is weird.. at one point there are trying to appease the Christians by saying that it is some form of intelligent design but satisfy the liberals and the "Be Respectful" people by saying to fill in the blank.. First.. did I get this right? Second, I can't figure out if this is whacked, wrong.. or right.. it is just weird.. '

I think its a great way to teach something other than Darwinism in a public school. You aren't really teaching Christianity because I believe the key writer of ID was a Jew. Darwinism has numerous flaws and therefore another theory needs to be taught. I think ID is certainly preferable to just teaching Darwinism. The Genesis account is never going to be allowed in public schools so if both ID and Darwinism were taught as possibilities that would clearly be preferable to Darwinism alone.

[nebula]

IIRC, the theory of Intelligent design wsn't about religion - it was just a scientist looking at the evidence and saying, "Wait a minute! There is just too much design her to have been some fluke or accident!" (paraphrase)

So, I'm not too keen on condemning the proponents because they don't jump over to Biblical Creationism.

Again, it's a step up from atheistic-evolution, and allowing schools to teach that it is just as valid to believe there is a Designer behind it all gives much more room for Christian students to breath than to shove "God" out entirely the way they are now.