Posted on 10/16/2005 1:28:00 PM PDT by PatrickHenry
Marginalized by his university colleagues, ridiculed as a quack by the scientific establishment, Michael Behe continues to challenge the traditional theory of how the world came to be.
For more than a decade, the tenured Lehigh University biochemistry professor and author has been one of the nation's leading proponents of intelligent design, a movement trying to alter how Darwin's theory of evolution is taught in school.
This week, Behe will testify in a federal courtroom in Harrisburg in a landmark case about whether students in a Pennsylvania classroom should be required to hear a statement before their evolution classes that says Darwin's theory is not a fact.
"The fact that most biology texts act more as cheerleaders for Darwin's theory rather than trying to develop the critical faculties of their students shows the need, I think, for such statements," Behe said.
In papers, speeches and a 1996 best-selling book called "Darwin's Black Box," Behe argues that Darwinian evolution cannot fully explain the biological complexities of life, suggesting the work of an intelligent force.
His life on the academic fringes can be lonely. Critics say the concept is nothing more than biblical creationism in disguise. He long ago stopped applying for grants and trying to get his work published in mainstream scientific journals. In August, his department posted a Web statement saying the concept is not scientific.
"For us, Dr. Behe's position is simply not science. It is not grounded in science and should not be treated as science," said Neal Simon, the biology department chairman.
Behe said he was a believer in Darwin when he joined Lehigh in 1985, but became a skeptic after reading Michael Denton's book "Evolution: A Theory in Crisis."
Behe's big idea, published in "Darwin's Black Box" and the one that catapulted him to academic fame, is irreducible complexity. It is the notion that certain biochemical systems are incapable of having evolved in Darwinian fashion because they require all of their parts working simultaneously.
Behe uses a mousetrap to illustrate the concept. Take away any of its parts - platform, spring, hammer, catch - and the mousetrap can't catch mice.
"Intelligent design becomes apparent when you see a system that has a number of parts and you see the parts are interacting to perform a function," he said.
The book "put the positive case for design on the map in a way that some of the (previous intelligent design) work had not done," said Steven Meyer, director of the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute [http://www.discovery.org]. Most of academia panned it.
Eugenie Scott, director of the National Center for Science Education [ http://www.ncseweb.org], said that he believes Behe thought he discovered something astonishing. "But no one is using irreducible complexity as a research strategy, and with very good reason ... because it's completely fruitless," he said.
Behe finds community in a Web group that he says includes like-minded faculty from other universities. Most keep their views to themselves, Behe said, because "it's dangerous to your career to be identified as an ID proponent."
He earned tenure at Lehigh before becoming a proponent, which lets him express his views without the threat of losing his job.
"Because of the immense publicity that's mushroomed around this issue in the past six months, more people are getting emotional about the topic," Behe said. "And it's generally not on my side."
Signing off for the night.
All this arguing about a book of fiction is boring.
Hey guys, I swiped the keys to the DC's helicopter hanger. Anybody want to go for a joyride in the new Blackhawk? We could go terrorize the AiG building or even check out DC HQ's new executive rooftop pool.
Whaddya say?
Psalm 103: "The Lord God laid the foundation of the earth, that it not be movedforever."
I am merely a laymen. Dear sir, please provide me with your creationist interpretation.
Another Ace.
"I will intensify the pangs of your childbearing; in pain shall you bring forth children. Yet your urge shall be for your husband..."
In this translation, the point appears to be that she will continue to desire sex despite the greater pain she will experience in childbirth.
Without going to the Hebrew, it is simply impossible to tell which translation is correct. I'm not a Hebrew expert, and I suspect you aren't either. I'll see if I can find an online resource that does an analysis of the Hebrew.
Unfortunately, our resident Hebrew expert, Shubi, was banned. Do you know any other Freepers knowledgeable in Biblical Hebrew?
Count me out - I'm stuck faking up more transitional fossils, and then I have to hang out by the playground and hand out some Anton LaVey stuff to schoolchildren.
I think you should check your facts.
All the serious scribbling of Marx and Engels was done before Darwin's "Origin", so thay can hardly be described as evolutionists.
Marx said squat about biology. Engels had a lot to say, all political. Lysenko used Engels as an expert on biology to push Lysenkoism. The methods, types of arguments and lies/distortions of Lysenko are eerily similar to the Creationist/Luddite attacks on biology and most other fields of modern science.
You dipped your finger in the statist/socialist pool and came up with evolution being communist which is logically laughable. The only difference between Creationists and Communists is that their authority figures are different. The methods, words, attacks, lies, innuendo and distortions are exactly the same. I guess when you use the same playbook, you can expect to accidentally slip up periodically and reveal just exactly what you really think.
Since you think God made you just the way you are, do you think he is disappointed? If I were God I would be.
My opinion of my fellow man has dipped below the radar screen. I'm going to sleep.
Hitler believe the Aryan race was the chosen race (I think there is something biblical about choses people also) but the gene pool had deteriorated (where have I heard about the human gene-pool deteriorating since the fall of man after eating the apple ...) and his goal was to re-purify the gene-pool. This is perfectly consistent with even the beliefs of the creationist - nothing to do with evolution. Nothing about mutations, evolution, Nothing.
Makes me wonder what some of these folks who take the Bible "literally" (which to me is superficially), would have done with any of Jesus' wonderful parables. Instead of getting THE POINT, they'd be arguing about the existence of a vineyard where the owner paid those who started at dawn, noon and near dusk the same pay...(one of my personal favorites).
Why? I always thought he added something to these threads.
I don't think he thinks that. I would guess that he believes, like Hitler, he is a product of a deteriorated gene pool.
Guess I'll start worrying when I'm required to teach "Creation physics" or "Biblical physics" alongside PHYS 101.
Do we have a chef on the board?
Actually it could be:
"BAM!" "BAM!" "BAM!"
Matchett-PI , radioman, Havoc
All wiped out after going all-in against me today.
Radioman was the best.
Wasn't aware he threatened with imprisonment or burning at the stake.
And it was all because he was dealing with totally egocentric people...that is, the typical scientific academic.
Well, no argument there
The Institure of Creation Research (I don't make this stuff up you know) has pointed out he was also a gun-nut who shot animals
He also wrote in his autobiography, "How I did enjoy shooting" (p. 55), and "If there is bliss on earth, that is it" (quoted in Browne, p. 109). He even declared: "My zeal was so great that I used to place my shooting boots open by my bed-side when I went to bed, so as not to lose half-a-minute in putting them on in the morning" (p. 54).
And AIG has pointed out how Natural Selection is bad because it justifies free-market capitalism.
And some FReepers think conservatism is supported, nay required, by Creationism
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.