Atheist in the Links

A short response to god of the gaps criticism

Evolutionists point to natural selection of favorable chance mutations over numerous generations as the secret to biological evolution. More specifically this refers to Darwinian evolution. This process takes incremental changes in DNA (genotype) to create observable changes (phenotype) in biological organisms.

ID scientists maintain that all of biological life cannot be explained by this definition of evolution. Dr. Michael Behe (right photo) coined the phrase ‘irreducible complexity’ to show that some (or many) features in biological systems cannot be explained this way. For example Behe speaks of bacterium flagella’s tail motor as irreducibly complex. This motor assembly is extremely complex on the molecular and cellular level. If any of the parts of this assembly were removed than the entire feature would be useless.

Intelligent Design proponents will always face the ‘God of the gaps’ criticism. The phrase god of the gaps is given to ID scientist and creationists who point to the lack of empirical evidence in points of evolutionary assumption. In Behe’s example of bacteria flagella, critics debated in several ways of how the flagella could be created but ultimately accused Behe of invoking a god of the gaps argument.

The mantra god of the gaps is made loud and repeatedly by ID critics. Beyond the naturalistic methodology that is promoted in public schools, god of the gaps points to the religious implications of ID. Religion cannot be tolerated in public schools not just because of the pluralism of society but because of Humanism’s tenants in not only biology, astronomy, social science but also in social sciences.

The antithesis of god of the gaps would be a phrase like atheism in the links. It appears that this would be a fitting phrase for at least the severest critics of special creation and intelligent design. The arrogance of anti-creationist expressed in forums and letters to newspaper editors show a hidden agenda. We do not only want creationism in society we do not want God either.