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To: Rudder

Ah, good. A conversation. I think, and I'll clarify my thoughts, that you and the the judge are still misunderstanding whether or not Behe "blew it".

ID proponents do not argue to exclude the supernatural. ID proponents would argue that if a Designer (of a system, in this case the "natural" world) exists, that designer must be transcendant from the system (or in this case, super-natural).

Behe's point, was that if you are to examine if a Designer exists you have to have a thought system that allows for the supernatural to exist.

ID proponents argue that it is in fact scientists who assert that the supernatural cannot be examined in science based on their definition of science as only including within it's realm of study (possiblity?) the "natural". Judge Jones discusses and accepts that argument in his decision. He rules that if you are talking about "supernatural" then you are talking about religion. If you are talking "science", then you can only talk about "natural".

That's the only point I was making, and I think it's a critical point. In other words, Behe didn't blow it and expose himself. He merely stated the ID position that for us to examine the evidence for a Designer, you have to allow for the possibility of transcendancy, or the supernatural - which the Judge's accepted definition of science doesn't allow for.

Read the parts of the Judge's decision where he discusses this definition of science and tell me what you think.


159 posted on 12/23/2005 11:42:20 AM PST by News Junkie (Awed by science, but open to transcendancy.)
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To: News Junkie
which the Judge's accepted definition of science doesn't allow for.

Behe and the ID crowd can't get ID accepted as science unless they change the definition of science. The Intelligent Design proselytizers are kind of like the gay marriage people. They want to redefine words and practices to accomodate and include their personal beliefs. Who'd have thought the gay marriage proponents and the ID proponents would use the exact same tactics...and have so much in common?

163 posted on 12/23/2005 11:53:53 AM PST by jess35
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To: News Junkie

You really should read Behe's testimony (it's here at FR). In the beginning of this trial the defendants took the position that ID was not proposing anything to do with the supernatural. It seemed clear that position was designed to ward off any conclusion that might view ID as a religious concept. Any way, Behe's statements while on the stand are very interesting to read...he simply gets befuddled and is his own worst enemy.


171 posted on 12/23/2005 12:28:03 PM PST by Rudder
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To: News Junkie
Behe's point, was that if you are to examine if a Designer exists you have to have a thought system that allows for the supernatural to exist.

"I wouldn't have seen it if I hadn't believed it!"

175 posted on 12/23/2005 2:58:11 PM PST by Oztrich Boy (so natural to mankind is intolerance in whatever they really care about - J S Mill)
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