"Outsiders" always have the potential to cause open-minded (whatever that
means) "insiders" to evaluate the logic of their stance, particularly when
this position is dictated not by the data, but by the model, as is most
certainly the case in thinking about origins. Thus, even the Phil Johnsons
of the world can fulfill a valuable role in science. If he is right, then
hopefully, the self-corrective nature of science will kick in at some point
and realign us. If he is wrong, then his focusing attention on the
weaknesses of evolutionary theory can only help those practitioners who
care about evolutionary theory to tighten up their model. So, bring on the
Philip Johnsons. The only people who have anything to fear are those with
a vested interest in evolutionary theory as a world view. In that case,
Johnson is attacking your religion, and that is another issue altogether.
Art
http://geology.swau.edu