Of Pandas and People

In the famous Dover, PA Intelligent Design (ID) case, Of Pandas and People (OPAP) by Percival Davis and Dean Kenyon was at the center of attention.  It was recommended as a reference text for high schools.  It is an excellent book and suitable for homeschoolers and those who want a less technical presentation.  OPAP is the primary text covering the whole of ID.  Dembski and Wells have written something similar.  An episode of NOVA covered the Dover controversy.

Many hold that ID supporters oppose Young Earth Science (YES).  Creationist paleontologist Marcus Ross was at one time a Fellow with the Discovery Institute. [1]  Is this consistent with Jill Schneiderman’s (Prof. of Earth Science, Vassar) claim that, “the bulk of intelligent design creationists are old-Earth [support Old Earth Fallacies = OEF]…”? [2]  Does “bulk” mean 70%, 80% ?  Geologist Timothy Heaton holds that, “Most ID authors accept the antiquity of the Earth …” [3]  This would appear to mean at least 51% of ID advocates are anti-YES.

The co-author of OPAP, Dean Kenyon, accepts YES.  The “Critical Reviewers” of OPAP include such pro-YES scholars as John Baumgardner and Kurt Wise.  Nancy Pearcey holds to fixity of kinds (see how this connects with YES below) and is one of OPAP’s “Editors and Contributors.” [4] 

OPAP seems to favor fixity of kinds: 

“… speciation represents only limited change. … Speciation is a means of creating diversity within types of living things …” [5]

“Many scientists conclude that there never was a progression from one cluster [of organisms] to another – that each really did originate independently.  This idea accords with the theory of intelligent design.  Design theories suggest that various forms of life began with their distinct features already intact:  fish with fins and scales, birds with feathers and wings …” [6]

Man is an intelligent designer and makes kinds of things: chairs, tables, portraits, clocks, doors, ovens et cetera.  People don’t take a clock and “evolve” it into a toaster!  By the laws of thermodynamics, one creation is implied, so all kinds of life began at the beginning.  Given this assumption, the only interpretation of the rock record that appears likely is a Global Catastrophe.  Fixity of Kinds è Global Flood è YES.  OPAP points out that fossilization requires rapid burial. [7] 

Davis and Kenyon reveal that, “Some [design proponents] take the view that the earth’s history can be compressed into a framework of thousands of years …” [8]

Stephen Meyer (Signature in the Cell) co-wrote the “Afterword” for OPAP, but fails to realize the movement of ID towards YES, despite his B.S. in Geology:

“… design implies absolutely nothing about beliefs normally associated with Christian fundamentalism, such as a young earth, a global flood, or even the existence of the Christian God.” [9]

Quite the contrary, philosopher Mortimer Adler (d. 2001) opposed evolution and concluded that the Intelligent Designer must be the personal Creator who made the cosmos.  He also shows that it is reasonable that one of the major world religions is true (Judaism, Christianity or Islam).  Based on Adler’s tests (world evangelism, salvation, immanence v. transcendence and mystery), clearly Christianity wins. [10]  Adler himself became a committed believer at the age of 82 in 1984. 

Listen to this erudite insight from philosopher, mathematician and Global Flood supporter, William Dembski:  “It is no longer credible to conflate informed criticism of Darwinism [or OEF] with ignorance, stupidity, insanity, wickedness, or brainwashing.” [11]

The back cover of OPAP is blank – what does that tell you?  For a hint, read here and here.  Feedback welcome ±   Contact info is in my profile (top right).  The choice is yours – intelligent purpose or pandemonium.

Notes:

1) For the Rock Record ed. by Jill Schneiderman and Warren Allmon (Univ. of Calif. Press, Berkeley, CA, 2009), p. 86.
2) Ibid., p. 12.
3) Ibid., p. 31.
4) Of Pandas and People by Percival Davis and Dean Kenyon (Haughton Pub., Dallas, TX, 1993, 2^nd ed.), p. iii.
5) Davis and Kenyon, p. 19.
6) Ibid., p. 25.
7) Ibid., p. 21.
8) Ibid., p. 92.
9) Ibid., p. 161.
10) Truth in Religion:  The Plurality of Religions and the Unity of Truth by Mortimer Adler (Macmillan Pub., NYC, NY, 1990), pp. 101-110.
11) “The Myths of Darwinism” by William Dembski in Uncommon Dissent ed. by William Dembski (ISI Books, Wilmington, DE, 2004), p. xxxvii.