What the designer designed is the random-design process

[Lewis Wolfgang]

Hi Folks,

Here's an interesting article about a professor teaching evolution
at a fundi Christian college.  The Prof says, among other interesting
things, "denying science makes us (Christian conservatives) look
stupid."

Regards,
Lew

** Nazarene professor has faith in his religion - and evolution

*By Sharon Begley*
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

December 4, 2004

Professional danger comes in many flavors, and while Richard Colling doesn't
jump into forest fires or test experimental aircraft for a living, he does do
the academic's equivalent: He teaches biology and evolution at a
fundamentalist Christian college.

At Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., he says, "as soon as you
mention evolution in anything louder than a whisper, you have people who
aren't very happy."

And within the larger conservative Christian community, he adds, "I've been
called some interesting names."

But those experiences haven't stopped Colling ? who received a doctorate in
microbiology, is chairman of the biology department at Olivet Nazarene and is
himself a devout conservative Christian ? from coming out swinging.

In his new book, "Random Designer," he writes: "It pains me to suggest that my
religious brothers are telling falsehoods" when they say evolutionary theory
is "in crisis" and claim that there is widespread skepticism about it among
scientists.

"Such statements are blatantly untrue," he argues. "Evolution has stood the
test of time and considerable scrutiny."

His is hardly the standard scientific defense of Darwin, however.

It's his central claim that both the origin of life, from a primordial goo of
nonliving chemicals, and the evolution of species, according to the processes
of random mutation and natural selection, are "fully compatible with the
available scientific evidence and also contemporary religious beliefs."

In addition, as he bluntly says, "denying science makes us (Christian
conservatives) look stupid."

Colling is one of a small number of conservative Christian scholars who are
trying to convince biblical literalists that Darwin's theory of evolution is
no more the work of the devil than is Newton's theory of gravity.

They haven't picked an easy time to enter the fray. Evolution is under assault
from Georgia to Pennsylvania and from Kansas to Wisconsin, with schools
ordering science teachers to raise questions about its validity and, in some
cases, teach "intelligent design," which asserts that only a supernatural
tinkerer could have produced such coups as the human eye.

According to a Gallup Poll released last month, only one-third of Americans
regard Darwin's theory of evolution as well supported by empirical evidence;
45 percent believe God created humans in their present form 10,000 years ago.

Usually, the defense of evolution comes from scientists and those trying to
maintain the separation of church and state. But Colling has another
motivation.

"People should not feel they have to deny reality in order to experience their
faith," he says. He therefore offers a rendering of evolution fully compatible
with faith, including his own.

The Church of the Nazarene, which runs his university, "believes in the
biblical account of creation," explains its manual. "We oppose a godless
interpretation of the evolutionary hypothesis."

It's a small opening, but Colling took it. He finds a place for God in
evolution by positing a "random designer" who harnesses the laws of nature he
created.

"What the designer designed is the random-design process," or Darwinian
evolution, Colling says. "God devised these natural laws, and uses evolution
to accomplish his goals.

"God is not in there with a divine screwdriver and spare parts every time a
new species or a wondrous biological structure appears."