Free Republic

Design and Darwinism From Design and Darwinism (1880), abridged, edited. James Carmichael A careful study of this argument from Design, as to a working, active God, is well worth the time and attention of the young, thoughtful minds of the day. In spite, however, of all this, there seems to be a vague notion abroad, that, within the last few years, there have been some grand discoveries in the Science of Nature, as well as in other sciences, which, only for the effects of prejudice, would overthrow the very basis of Religion itself. This vague notion would be dispelled...

What is Naturalism? From Principles of Natural Theology (1923), pg. 511--517. George Hayward Joyce, S.J. What then is naturalism? It is a system whose salient characteristics is the exclusion of whatever is spiritual, or, indeed, whatever is transcendent of experience from our philosophy of nature and of man. Huxley, for long its most prominent exponent in this country, expressed this in some often-quoted words: "Any one who is acquainted with the history of science, will admit that its progress has, in all ages, meant, and now more than ever means, the extension of the province of what we call...

The Plain Man's Argument from Design Charles J. Shebbeare Of the various arguments devised in past times to prove the existence of God -- and incidentally to refute a Naturalism like Mr. Russell's -- the clearest and simplest is the familiar "Argument from Design." This argument points to certain facts of Nature which look like evidences of design or arrangement; and draws the conclusion that the world is so like a plan that it must really be one; that is, that it resembles a work of intelligence in too many respects for this resemblance to be accidental. At the...

The Voices of Babel John Gerard S.J. IF one thing should be clearer than another to students of modern scientific literature, it is that the philosophers of our generation are in process of building an edifice more enduring than bronze, and more lofty, not only than the ancient pyramids of kings, but than anything that men or demigods ever yet contrived to rear upon the earth. The unceasing discoveries of science, not only give us knowledge of the facts of Nature, but, cemented and compacted by exact thought, grow into a stately pile which has already pierced the clouds...

Man as the Representative of the SupernaturalThe Duke of Argyll THE denial and exclusion of what is called "The Supernatural" in our explanations of nature, is the same doctrine in another form as the denial and exclusion of anthropopsychism. The connection may not be evident at first sight, but it arises from the fact that the human mind is really the type, and the only type, of that which men call the supernatural. It would be well if this word were altogether banished from our vocabulary. It is in the highest degree ambiguous and deceptive. It assumes that the...

A new book is out which may interest some Freepers: The Patristic Understanding of Creation, An Anthology of Writings from the Church Fathers on Creation and Designby Dembski, Downs, and Frederick. From Erasmus Press: The Patristic Understanding of Creation encapsulates what the Church Fathers had to say, in their own words, on the topic of creation. Going back to Roman and Byzantine times, the writings of the Church Fathers are basic to Christian theology and provide a benchmark for how Christians have traditionally understood creation. This understanding of creation, however, faces tremendous challenges in our day, especially in discussions at...

The time has come to be blunt. The problem with Intelligent Design is not that it is false; not that the arguments in its favor reduce to smoke and mirrors; and not that it's defenders are disingenuous or even duplicitous. The problem with Intelligent Design is that it is dumb. I would contend that ID is dumb biology; even if it is on to something, what it is on to has no connection and does no meaningful work in biology (or physics). However, and more significantly, ID is dumb philosophy. First, and despite the claims of its defenders, ID is...