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>>>ID is for people who insist that there is some sort of purpose woven into the history of Nature.
> >No. The modern IDers insist that there are some features of life
> >(bacterial flagella, metabolic pathways etc) or the Universe
> >(supposedly fine-tuned for life) that can not be explained by
> >evolution/naturalism. Therefore, "True" science must include
> >supernaturalism.
The current ID movement insists on the impossibility of evolutionary continuity (at least most of the time; consistency is not a priority). Thus, they generally reject the claim that there is a purpose woven into the history of nature; rather, they claim that there is a purpose inserted into or imposed on nature.
In contrast, a view more in accord with traditional Christianity sees God working out purpose through both natural and supernatural events. Coming from this viewpoint, one could accept all of evolution as a natural process, while believing that God is in control of the process. Also, this view does not necessarily imply that the purpose or control will be accessible to scientific investigation, contrary to the claims of modern ID.
Ironically, the ID phenomenon shows that science can examine certain claims of supernatural action. ID claims can often be shown to be scientifically wrong. The claim "supernatural action takes place" cannot be tested scientifically, but the claim "supernatural action occurs in a certain repeatable way with such and such physical consequences" can be.
Dr. David Campbell
Old Seashells
University of Alabama
Biodiversity & Systematics
Dept. Biological Sciences
Box 870345
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0345 USA
bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at Droitgate Spa
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