"... I do not see a way to avoid the identification of ID with
the concept of imposing form by an extranatural act in which some
specific structure is assembled from subunits that are themselves
incapable of achieving that structure by the employment of their
own dynamic capabilities."
Agreed. I think that Behe implicitly says this when he writes:
"The philosophical argument (made by some theists) that science
should avoid theories which smack of the supernatural is an
artificial restriction on science. Their fear that supernatural
explanations would overwhelm science is unfounded". (p.251)
"Perhaps if Behe and others in the ID camp would make their
theological vision of divine action more explicit we could avoid
misunderstandings. I believe that I have given them ample
opportunity to do so, but I am still waiting for that vision to
be articulated."
My personal "vision" involves a created richness of information
in mature organisms. Behe seems happy to keep his options open,
saying on page 231 that:
"... the simplest possible design scenario posits a single cell -
formed billions of years ago - that already contained all
information to produce descendant organisms, ..."
The "ID camp" does not have a part line on this! There is a
commitment to "seeing design in nature", and a commitment to
getting the principle accepted in the world of scholarship. Let
each individual (or group) develop their ideas within that
framework.
My personal view is that this concept of "created richness" is
the most productive for further debate and research. Does
information arise via the "dynamic capabilities" of matter/life?
Is information a gift of God to created entities, which is
subsequently expressed in innumerable ways as history unfolds?
Best wishes,
David J. Tyler.