Science Vs. ReligionPolity Press, 2007 M10 8 - 179 pages For centuries, science and religion have been portrayed as diametrically opposed. In this provocative new book, Steve Fuller examines the apparent clash between science and religion by focusing on the heated debates about evolution and intelligent design theory. In so doing, he claims that science vs. religion is in fact a false dichotomy. For Fuller, supposedly intellectual disputes, such as those between creationist and evolutionist accounts of life, often disguise other institutionally driven conflicts, such as the struggle between State and Church to be the source of legitimate authority in society. Nowadays many conservative anti-science groups support intelligent design theory, but Fuller argues that the theory's theological roots are much more radical, based on the idea that humans were created to fathom the divine plan, perhaps even complete it. He goes on to examine the unique political circumstances in the United States that make the emergence of intelligent design theory so controversial, yet so persistent. Finally, he considers the long-term prognosis, arguing that the future remains very much undecided as society reopens the question of what it means to be human. This book will appeal to all readers intrigued by the debates about creationism, intelligent design and evolution, especially those looking for an intellectually exciting confrontation with the politics and promise of intelligent design theory. |
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Page 28
... deity - even when portrayed in superficially personal terms - does not operate in a way that affords detailed and ... deity is portrayed as an intelligent designer . The deity becomes an entity whose creative powers differ only in degree ...
... deity - even when portrayed in superficially personal terms - does not operate in a way that affords detailed and ... deity is portrayed as an intelligent designer . The deity becomes an entity whose creative powers differ only in degree ...
Page 31
... deity nugatory , unless science was kept from public view . Consider this personification of the problem : once an omnipotent , omniscient , and omnibenevolent deity had created the best possible world , what could the deity do that ...
... deity nugatory , unless science was kept from public view . Consider this personification of the problem : once an omnipotent , omniscient , and omnibenevolent deity had created the best possible world , what could the deity do that ...
Page 37
... deity , as we have seen , clearly trans- cends nature : God infuses an inherently unintelligent ( “ disor- dered " ) nature with intelligent design ( " order " ) . This was the original sense of the word " information , " i.e. God ...
... deity , as we have seen , clearly trans- cends nature : God infuses an inherently unintelligent ( “ disor- dered " ) nature with intelligent design ( " order " ) . This was the original sense of the word " information , " i.e. God ...
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Historical Bases for the Problem | 11 |
Ideological Dimensions of the Problem | 44 |
Copyright | |
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20th century animal appear believe biblical biological sciences biology Cambridge Christian cognitive common complexity context contrast creation creationist culture Darwin Darwinian Darwinists Dawkins deity Dembski differences Discovery Institute divine plan Dobzhansky E. O. Wilson empirical environment evolutionary evolutionary psychology evolutionists Fuller function Geddes and Branford geneticists genetics global God's Gould history of science human Huxley idea ideological IDT's inspired intellectual intelligent design intelligent design theorists Karl Popper Kitzmiller knowledge claims Kuhn Kuhn's Lamarck Marx Marxism matter ment metaphysical Michael Behe modern natural history natural selection neo-Darwinian synthesis neo-Darwinism Newton normative organisms Origin of Species paradigm perhaps phenomena philosophers physical political positivists Priestley principle proposed radical reality religious Ruse science and religion science's scientific inquiry scientists secular sense simply social sciences society sociology Stephen Jay Gould structure supernatural theology Thomas Kuhn tion today's ultimately University Press William Dembski world-view