Rough conversations on Evolution and Intelligent Design
By Scott Vigil
Abstract
In his new online book, Scott Vigil
delves into the minds of two public speakers on Intelligent Design as he challenges
them to defend their theory and to address the evidence for Evolution.
Ever since Charles Darwin
proposed that life came about by a process of evolution by natural selection in
his book, Origin of Species, there has been an
intellectual wrestling match with those that believe in some sort of divinely
inspired and purposeful genesis. This internet book continues the match. In it,
I attempt to capture two spirited discussions I have had with two public
speakers on Intelligent Design. I have given them the best chance to convince
me their claims are true. Now, I hope others, including my son, will be
enriched by observing how they respond to the roughest questions I know how to
ask. Hopefully the reader isn’t looking for the intellectual equivalent of a
gentleman’s game of backgammon. I assure you, that won’t be found here.
These electronic pages contain
discussion that occasionally becomes lively, passionate and rough. Everybody
tried to behave, but nobody fully succeeded. My father took state in Washington
and wrestled for the Huskies. He taught me and my brother to wrestle and we
nearly tore up the house. I also wrestled in school and played football as a
kid. I was taught how to hit and play football in the mud. It was so great to
knock somebody into the mud. And I didn’t even mind getting knocked into the
mud myself every once in a while.
I recall hitting a big stocky
fullback from Tillicum Jr. High as he swept around the end. I chopped his knees
out from under him and down he went. Two plays later, I couldn’t believe my
luck when he came around for the very same play. So, I hit him again! Only this
time, I hit him about two inches higher and the physics was very different. I
hit his core and bounced right off. When I got up, I saw stars for the very
first time. Dave Sargent later played for the Seattle Seahawks.
And I remember weighing in and my
opponent looked at me condescendingly. We both knew he was the stronger of us
two—I was afraid. But Mr. Talbert told me before the match, “Scott, don’t try
to muscle him. He’s too strong. Wrestle him!” And so I used my best moves. Before
the first period was up, there was the slam of the referee’s hand on the match,
the whistle and I jumped up and my teammates cheered. I’d pinned the guy! Wow,
what a rush!
Later, I earned an electrical
engineering degree and became passionate about the scientific method. As a
Christian for approximately thirty-five years, I gained a deep passion for
truth. Each of these threads of my character all play a part in everything I
do. Just as my buddy in sixth grade was surprised when he forgot about the play
after the ball snapped and didn’t realize I was coming to flatten him, I think
my discussants were caught off guard. My poor buddy had his father to chew him
out as he was picked up off the field, trying to cry and get the air back into
his lungs. But nobody was around to do the same for Bryan and Casey. I don’t
think they realize that they were smashed into the mud. However, I feel the
rush of victory. It is a crazy and jubilant feeling! But maybe I was the one
that was downed. As the reader, you be the judge.
Since ID has a deity as its
central feature and since it is impossible to disprove God, it becomes religion
to me. In contrast, because of its falsifiability, the theory of evolution
appears a true scientific theory and a superior model for how life has
developed on this planet. The idea of finding the signature of a designer in
life that we see is a beautiful thing. I would be overjoyed reporting the
existence of such a designer. Instead, I report my awe of the natural world we
have discovered.
I hope that after reading this
work, the reader will agree with my conclusion: ID should be re-christened, “In
Denial”. By reading this book, the reader might gain more of an understanding
of evolution, ID or even our conception of the deities. However, my greatest
hope is that this book and these conversations leave the reader with an
excitement about discovering truth, even if it takes a bit of a wrestling match
to find it.
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Bryan Hunt
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I dedicate this e-book to my son,
Scotty, who is the one I wrote this for and who thinks Intelligent Design is
true, and to my daughter, Destiny, who experienced a moment of brilliance,
clarity and realization. She said, “It all fell like a house of cards.” I love
you both.
Discussions with Bryan Hunt
Bryan Hunt lectures on
Intelligent Design (ID) and his belief in the falsity of Evolution to churches
near Indianapolis, Indiana.
Above is a picture of Bryan Hunt
in the upper middle and myself, Scott Vigil, on the left with some workmates
from the medical equipment manufacturer, Beckman-Coulter. We just finished
lunch at the Delhi Palace Restaurant in Indianapolis. Click here
to see twelve seconds of me trying to assure the photographer that his thumb is
not in the way of the camera and us trying to show our best poses. While I was
working at the company, Bryan challenged me to think more logically and
scientifically about my beliefs in evolution. He felt that if I accepted his
alternative to Evolution, Intelligent Design (ID), my Christian salvation would
remain intact. Don’t think about this to carefully. Your brain might seize. In
any case, this conversation is presented below.
The first chapter of this
conversation is entitled, Hit and Run.
Discussions with Casey Luskin of The Discovery Institute
As my conversation with Bryan
Hunt closed, he challenged me to contact the think tank, Discovery Institute,
for a more robust presentation of the Intelligent Design theory. So, I surfed
onto the web site and asked for information. This request and many others were
kindly fielded by Casey Luskin, the Research Coordinator, Center
for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute.
After my discussion with Bryan,
we launch into my conversation with Casey with our discussion on Transitional Forms.