Darwin Endorsed Intelligent Design At One Time

Charles Darwin is credited for making evolution credible without the need of a creator God. There is a myth that Darwin repented of his views of God and evolution on his deathbed, but he died a self-proclaimed agnostic. Sadly Darwin admitted in his letters of a conviction of God’s existence in creation. From the book published by his son Francis Darwin, The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, he stated,

"Formerly I was led by feelings […] to the firm conviction of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul. […] I will remember my conviction that there is more in man than the mere breath of his body. But now the grandest scenes would not cause any such convictions and feelings to rise in my mind.”

Charles Darwin admitted that he held a view of an intelligent designer. By only considering natural options for life's origins he closed himself off to the notion of special creation. This inward compass Darwin had at one time focused his attention to the greatness of God. Scientific studies document observations at times through site, touch, hearing, and taste. Darwin admitted that there was an inward pull recognizing God.

Paul spoke in Romans about the existence of God being known to all. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools." Romans 1:19-22. NKJV.

Clay Farris Naff: Rocks in our Heads

Intelligent Design is not Intelligent Preservation

 A response to Clay Farris Naff: Rocks in our Heads

It is amazing the number of people who write articles about intelligent design without a clue on what it teaches. Take for example Clay Farris Naff: Rocks in our Heads in the Huffington Post who posted a photo of stars and a asteroid.

Did God make the little red dot in this picture? If you buy intelligent design -- the idea the God, oops, sorry, an intelligent designer to be named at a later date, created everything in the universe with a plan for human life in mind -- well, you'd have to say yes.

Scientists that work in conjunction with the Discovery Group do not focus on intelligent preservation but intelligent design. Creationist on the other hand like those scientist working with the Institute of Creation Research, ICR, have an answer to the asteroid question.

But that little red dot cries out for explanation. It is an asteroid whose orbit more or less intersects with ours, one of countless near-earth objects that potentially threaten civilization. A newly launched satellite called WISE discovered it earlier this month.

I do not have the habit of listening to asteroids as they pass by Earth. It goes without saying that their is obvious evidence of asteroids hitting the Earth and Moon. What does the existence of asteroid impacts have anything to so with intelligent design? It does not. Blogs like this Huffington Post article create a straw man argument for dismissing the study of intelligent design. Intelligent design does not suggest anything regarding preservation of life, just the existence.

Then ask yourself, why have we been so lucky? This is one of those places where science and religion intersect. You might be tempted to picture the hand of God swatting away killer asteroids to keep his favorite creatures safe. But why, we have to ask, would God need to do that? If he custom-built the universe, why didn't he simply make a cleaner job of it?

Most Scientists who advocate either intelligent design or evolution do not ask the question of Why? Religion takes information from scientists and then asks the question why. The Christian religion which is based on the Bible has an answer for why is there chaos. Sin. When sin entered the universe then humanity began to suffer. In Christian theology not only is their a need for humanity to be redeemed, but the universe as well.

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (Rom 8:20-22) NIV

When Adam and Eve sinned a chaos entered the world. They did not have the same physical benefits of longevity of life. Conservative theology teaches that humanity would experience suffering because of this sin. The Bible is primarly a book about redemption. Not only do humans need to be redeemed, there is scripture that tells of the universe needing to be changed.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (2Pe 3:9-10) NKJV

While their are certainly qualities of life that preserve life, it does not meet the original plan of God. Storms, earthquakes and even asteroid impacts are evidence that the universe is chaotic. While questions remain of why their are tragic losses of human lives due to nature, the Bible is clear that this world needs to be changed.