11.28.08
Ayala’s brand of apologetics
Darwin’s Gift to Science and Religion
By Francisco J. Ayala
Joseph Henry Press
ISBN 978 0 309 10231 5
A$40.99
256 pages
Francisco J. Ayala argues that Darwinian evolutionary theory is a gift not only to science, but also to theology. According to Ayala, it absolves God of responsibility for the cruelty, misery, destruction and poor functional design in the natural world. He also claims that evolution is consistent with orthodox Christian belief in an omnipotent, benevolent deity while creationism and intelligent design are not, because evolution accounts for these natural evils with clumsy adaptation, rather than the specific design of a creator.
What a truly worthless argument! ‘God’ interferes in history, is the object of myriad prayers, but with evolution he didn’t interfere.
These hybrids are holding up the progress of social thought to a more reasonable view of evolution and theology.
James McGrath said,
November 28, 2008 at 10:33 pm
You seem to be missing the point. The universe we inhabit does not feature regular interventions to tweak the orbits of planets, or to stoke the fires of the sun. I sincerely doubt that you can be unaware of the difference in worldview that exists between yourself and anyone else alive today, creationist or not, religious believer or not, and ancient peoples of a pre-scientific age, whoever they might be.
nemo said,
November 29, 2008 at 2:31 pm
You accuse me of what I criticize. I haven’t said that interventions occur or not, only that Ayala seems inconsistent.