Re: [asa] Review of Behe in Books and Culture

I first came across Behe when I was asked to review Darwin's Black Box for
Science and Christian Belief. I only agreed as I found some YECs were
quoting and was intrigued.

Despite his acceptance of common descent I found his arguments inconsistent
and naive and basically Godofthegaps. His treatment of blood-clotting was
very dodgy. I don't retract any of my review which resulted in a flurry of
complaints to the editor.

I would not see Behe as TE like Asa Gray, who has a directed evolution and
does not appeal to gaps , or like James Orr et al who argued for
intervention for life, sentience and humanity. To me DBB is simply confused.

I am aware as I was not then that his arguments for blood-clotting and the
flagellum have been largely met.

I agree that BEhe has not been involved in the political activism of much ID
(but why did he put his nose in at Dover or support "science" texts from
BJU?) or the sheer nastiness of Uncouth Dissent which is a better name for
Uncommon Descent, or the spiritual on-up-man-ship of Nelson or inaccuracies
of Johnson, but he identifies himself with them.
It is that type of thing which makes ID so unacceptable and has made many
dismiss ID out of hand rather than listen to any possible good arguments

The whole ID movement has got more raucous and more identified with YEC and
simply has produced no scientific arguments

I suppose I ought to read Behe's new volume, but I cant say I am challenged
to and wont part with hard cash to buy the book

I do wish ID types could consider the damage they have done to the church

Michael

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ted Davis" <TDavis@messiah.edu>
To: "asa" <asa@calvin.edu>; "Louise Margaret Freeman" <lfreeman@mbc.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 3:10 PM
Subject: Re: [asa] Review of Behe in Books and Culture

> Louise,
>
> Mike Behe surprises me all the time--except what he writes in his books
> and
> says in his formal talks, which is always consistent and (IMO) responsible
> and thoughtful. The "political" side of his ID involvement, if I may call
> it that, is much less predictable than the "intellectual" side. It's the
> political aspects of ID, incidentally, which are major factors in keeping
> a
> lot of ID sympathizers from "outing" themselves as open ID advocates. I
> base that comment on conversations with quite a few such people.
>
> Ted
>
> To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
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>

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Received on Wed Jul 11 02:44:08 2007