AUGUST 22, 2005

INTELLIGENT DESIGN
by Pastor George Van Alstine

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. His unique genius and intuition have unlocked the door of knowledge about our universe, its nature and its history. Many inquisitive scientists have walked through that door and made thousands of expanding discoveries over the past century, aided by complex new technology, unbelievably powerful telescopes, and the NASA space program.

Most people are unaware that Einstein had two extended stays in Pasadena, where he made Cal Tech his base of investigation. Some of today’s Cal Tech scientists are personal disciples of Einstein and see themselves as continuing his work. Here we are at ABC, a ten-minute ride from both Cal Tech and Jet Propulsion Lab, and many of us still live with a pre-Einstein view of the universe. This distance in understanding not only limits us, by diminishing our view of God and his majesty, but it also limits these investigative scientists, because they don’t have the help of the Biblical self-revelation of the Creator God.

Of course, we didn’t start this problem in understanding. The late 19th century battle over Darwin’s Theory of Evolution left science and religion on two widely separated mountain tops. Neither of them can completely be themselves as long as this chasm between them exists.

I see the current discussion about Intelligent Design as a great opportunity for bridging the gap. Einstein said, “We all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper.” He saw that the universe he was uncovering could not be the result of haphazard, irrational events. He was curious about the “piper” who composed the beautiful music that emanated from the unfolding universe.

Many other scientists have seen that the universe is orderly, purposeful, even beautiful. Though they don’t usually use God-language, they seem to have come to the conclusion that there is a great Mind behind it all.

This is a wonderful opportunity for believers to connect. But unfortunately, the Christian community is not intellectually prepared. Those Christians who are pushing Intelligent Design are using it as a political tool. They are advocating teaching Intelligent Design in public school science curricula, as an alternative view of the universe. Scientists and educators have pushed back, saying this is not an issue of science, but of religious belief.

Actually, as Einstein’s statement indicates, science can lead to Intelligent Design. But the argument never gets that far in today’s discussion, because non-Christian science educators have rightly concluded that admitting Intelligent Design would be like letting the camel’s nose into the tent. Those Christians who are pushing it are also passionate about other issues: a literal six-day creation; a “young earth” (6000 years or so), against enormous scientific evidence that the earth has existed for billions of years; a firm belief that evolution cannot be harmonized with the Bible. As long as this is advocated as one inseparable package, the average scientist is never going to be open-minded to Intelligent Design arguments.

For me these are all open issues. The “young earth” and literal six-day creation are ideas I gave up long ago, and I believe the Bible is flexible on these matters. Evolution has a lot of baggage for Bible-believing Christians, but I personally feel that “evolution” (with a small “e”), in contrast to “Evolution” (with a big “E”), is compatible with belief in the Bible’s view of creation. (I’d be happy to talk with anyone who wants to hear more about this.)

The whole point of Genesis 1 is that God is the Intelligent Designer— “In the beginning God . . .” The rest of the Bible is a guide book telling stumbling humans how to become friends with the Intelligent Designer.

I think that if Christians showed a little more humility about what we know, some sincere, searching scientists would show humility about what they know . . . . and Whom they don’t know. That would give us a great opportunity to witness and to grow.