Please note, other sites will open up as frames within this
site in many instances. These will not have the same blue background.
This site is best viewed with Internet Explorer at 1024x768 screen resolution with page set to 100%.
"Half
of British adults do not believe in evolution,
with at least 22% preferring the theories of
creationism or intelligent design to explain how the world came about, according
to a survey....... Half of the 2,060 people questioned were either
strongly opposed to the theory or confused about it." Guardian
newspaper 1st February 2009. The survey was conducted by the
respected polling firm ComRes.
Background. Charles
Darwin published his book "The
Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" in 1859. Although
the theory has been modified since Darwin's original theory (for example neo-Darwinism), he is still
considered a major originator of the theory of evolution as it stands
today. Although still a theory, nowadays the theory of evolution tends to
be accepted largely as fact in most schools and universities across the world
and by most of the media.
However, since the theory of evolution was first put
forward, scientific knowledge has progressed enormously. One major area of
scientific progress since Darwin's day concerns DNA. The structure of DNA, the way in
which DNA replicates and codes for proteins
and the genes involved in coding for specific proteins were unknown in
Darwin's day. Also, in Darwin's day there was little known about the intricate
and highly complexinner
workings of cells, they were thought to be relatively
simple.
Indeed, there are many well qualified scientists and academics who are writing
books that question
the science behind the theory of evolution or have publicly declared
dissatisfaction with the theory of evolution.
+ Many other books and authors. Over
800 Scientists with at least a PhD have signed a dissent from Darwinism
statement.
"Darwinian evolutionary theory was my field of specialization in biology. Among other things, I wrote a textbook on the subject thirty years ago. Meanwhile, however I have become an apostate from Darwinian theory and have described it as part of modernism’s origination myth. Consequently, I certainly agree that biology students at least should have the opportunity to learn about the flaws and limits of Darwin’s theory while they are learning about the theory’s strongest
claims." Dr. Stanley Salthe, Professor Emeritus, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Professor Michael
Behe comments that there have always been since the time of Darwin, well
informed and respected scientists who have found Darwinism to be inadequate (Darwin's
Black Box, page 30) and Michael Denton also makes a similar comment in his
book Evolution: A Theory In Crisis.
Anatomical homology
(e.g. similar limb bone structure between species) does not always relate to similar
genes, suggesting no common descent.
Mutations
tend to lead to slight changes in function or loss of original function,
but not novel function.
Mutations do not lead to larger and more
complex genomes.
The evidence for early man
can be considered inconclusive.
So, does current scientific knowledge try to fit to an old
theory that is no longer viable? Is there any scientific justification to
believing in Creation
or is belief in Creation an outdated belief like the old
belief held by Eighteenth century scientists that phlogiston
was released into air by
combustion?
It is accepted that even amongst Christians who believe
that God "Created" there are different ideas of "how" God
created and some different ideas are briefly explored on the viewpoints
page.
"The
percentage of people in the country who accept the idea of evolution has
declined from 45 in 1985 to 40 in 2005. Meanwhile the fraction of Americans
unsure about evolution has soared from 7 per cent in 1985 to 21 per cent last
year." Science 2006, vol. 313 p765.
BBC news, January 26th 2006.
"Just under half of Britons accept the theory of evolution as the best
description for the development of life," according to arecent
MORI opinion poll. "Furthermore, more than 40% of those questioned believe
that creationism or intelligent design (ID) should be taught in school science
lessons" - see Britons
unconvinced on evolution
"Seventy-one
percent of adult Americans think that the
evidence against Darwin should be taught in schools."
The Spectator 24th October 2003.
"A fair result can be
obtained only by fully stating and balancing the facts and arguments on both
sides of each question."
Darwin, Origin of the species.
"Darwinists this month are celebrating the
80th anniversary of the Scopes trial. But critics of evolution note an
irony lost on the Darwinists in the midst of their celebrations, namely,
that they now behave exactly like the silencers of science they once
reviled.
Desperate to shut down debate that exposes their evolutionary theory as
unsustainable conjecture, the Darwinists are using the incantations of an
ideology they call science and the power of law to prevent the teaching of
any concepts besides random variation and natural selection. While
Darwinists still pose as champions of free inquiry, they actively suppress
it in the name of their scientific dogmatism." American
Spectator 29th July 2005
A
few weeks ago I was talking to a friend, a man who has more postgraduate degrees
than I have GCSEs. The subject of Darwinism came up. ‘Actually,’ he said,
raising his eyebrows, ‘I don’t believe in evolution.’
I reacted with incredulity: ‘Don’t be so bloody daft.’
‘I’m not,’ he said. 'Many
Scientists
admit that the theory of evolution is in trouble these days. There are too many
things it can’t explain'.
‘Oh, that old chestnut!’ My desire to scorn was impeded only by a gap in my
knowledge more glaring than that in the fossil record itself.
Last Saturday at breakfast with my flatmates, there was a pause in conversation.
‘Hands up anyone who has doubts about Darwinism,’ I said. To my surprise all
three — a teacher, a music agent and a playwright — slowly raised their
arms. One had read a book about the inadequacies of Darwin — Michael
Denton’s Evolution: A Theory in Crisis; another, a Christian, thought that
Genesis was still the best explanation for the universe. The playwright blamed
the doctrine of survival of the fittest for ‘capitalist misery and the
oppression of the people’. Nearly 150 years after the publication of Charles
Darwin’s Origin of Species, a taboo seems to be lifting.
Until recently, to question Darwinism was to admit to being either a religious
nut or just plain thick. ‘Darwin’s theory is no longer a theory but a
fact,’ said Julian Huxley in 1959. For most of the late 20th century Darwinism
has seemed indubitable, even to those who have as little real understanding of
the theory as they do of setting the video-timer. I remember a recent
conversation with my mother: ‘Do you believe in evolution, Mum?’ ‘Of
course I do, darling. If you use your thumbs a lot, you will have children with
big thumbs. If they use their thumbs a lot, and so do their children, then
eventually there will be a new sort of person with big thumbs.’
The whole point of natural selection is that it denies that acquired
characteristics can be inherited. According to modern Darwinism, new species are
created by a purposeless, random process of genetic mutation. If keen Darwinians
such as my mother can get it wrong, it is perhaps not surprising that the theory
is under attack.
The current confusion is the result of a decade of campaigning by a group of
Christian academics who work for a think-tank called the Discovery Institute in
Seattle. Their guiding principle — which they call Intelligent Design theory
or ID — is a sophisticated version of St Thomas Aquinas’ Argument from
Design.
Over the last few years they have had a staggering impact. Just a few weeks ago,
they persuaded an American publisher of biology textbooks to add a paragraph
encouraging students to analyse theories other than Darwinism. Over the past two
years they have convinced the boards of education in Ohio, Michigan, West
Virginia and Georgia to teach children about Intelligent Design. Indiana and
Texas are keen to follow suit. They sponsor debates, set up research
fellowships, publish books, distribute flyers and badges, and conduct polls, the
latest of which shows that 71 per cent of adult Americans think that the
evidence against Darwin should be taught in schools.
To
top.
Each page has suggested books, either as images or as text at
the bottom of the page and both of these should hyper-link to the relevant book
in the shop. Please see below a list of most of the books recommended by this
site.
PLEASE
HELP THIS SITE GET KNOWN. IF YOU HAVE APPRECIATED THE SITE, THEN PLEASE E-MAIL
ITS ADDRESS (WWW.WASDARWINRIGHT.NET)
AND BRIEF DETAILS TO THOSE IN YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS BOOK. THANK YOU.
Professor
Norman Nevin (OBE, Professor of Medical Genetics), RT Kendal and several
other authors on 'Should Christians embrace evolution'.
Dr John
Lennox asserts in his book 'God's undertaker, has science buried
God' that science and philosophy show evidence design.
DVD
- Ben Stein examines the issue of academic freedom with respect to
intelligent design. Includes an interview with Richard Dawkins - see
trailer.
