Was Darwin's theory an intelligent design?

By GERRY WARNER
Cranbrook Daily Townsman
Feb. 13, 2009
This month marks the 200th birthday of arguably one of the most important human beings in history. We still argue about this man's theories today. To scientists, he's a towering figure of intellectualism and rational thought, but many religious people regard him as the devil incarnate.The first live broadcast of a court trial in history (The Scopes Monkey Trial) was based on this man's theories and it was also made into a famous movie. (Inherit the Wind) Thanks to him, a bus poster campaign just ended in London declaring the unlikelihood of God. A similar campaign is set to start in Vancouver soon.
We are talking, of course, about Charles Robert Darwin born Feb. 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England and author of "On the Origin of Species" and the Theory of Natural Selection which is the foundation stone of biological science today and evolutionary theory. Darwin's theories and publications literally shook the world and are still shaking it today. Name another person whose discoveries and theories are still being argued over as passionately and vehemently as Darwin's more than 100 years after his death? You can't.
And the debate continues. There are still deniers of evolutionary theory today and school systems that won't teach it. Intelligent Design, a counter theory to evolution has developed and has numerous supporters, especially in faith circles. It's especially ironic that while some religious leaders have done everything in their power to keep evolution out of the classroom, scientists have waged similar campaigns to keep teachers from bringing up Intelligent Design. Shouldn't children be exposed to both theories?
Personally, I have no problem with Intelligent Design or creationism being part of the curriculum as long as evolution is also taught. Keep in mind that Darwin's seminal Origin of Species was followed by publication of his "Theory of Natural Selection." That's "theory" as in we don't know if this is fact or truth. It seems likely to be true. There's lots of evidence for it. But when push comes to shove, we still don't really know. Just like we don't really know about the various creation myths that exist among the different peoples of the world. Therefore a modern, liberal education should teach both. It's only fair.
Going a little further, and I know I'm getting on thin ice here, I'm not entirely convinced that the theory of evolution is out and out scientific fact and something that can't be questioned or argued over. A big part of the theory is that the environment modifies species and the modifications help certain species to survive and are passed down to their descendents who prosper and thrive and eventually "mutate" into other more successful species through natural selection and survival of the fittest. Or so they taught me in Biology 91 many years ago.
But where are these "magic mutations" biologists are always talking about? Or "transmutations" as Darwin called them? They just never show up. Birds, for instance, are supposed to be descended from dinosaurs. So what was the transitional species here? An ostrich? I don't think so. And remember Piltdown Man? He was supposed to be the link between the Great Apes and the first human knuckle-draggers. But Piltdown man turned out to be a hoax and many scientists were embarrassed.
Intelligent Design theorists hold that that the millions and millions of species on earth and their mind-boggling complexity and diversity cannot be explained by a theory that's based on species being created by accident (mutations) and random chance. British physicist, note "physicist," and author David Tyler says an extraordinary fact about the universe is it's "uncannily" suited for life. ""There are many such examples of the universe's life-friendly properties - so many, in fact, that physicists can't dismiss them all as mere accidents."
Einstein himself is famous for declaring, "God doesn't play dice with the universe." Einstein wasn't religious, but in his later years admitted quantum physics didn't have all the answers for the mysteries of space. Today's greatest physicist, Stephen Hawking, author of a Short History of Time (yes, I tried to read it too) said the same thing about the mysteries of life.
Perhaps I'm descended from a frog, but I'd like to think differently and I'm open to Intelligent Design and creationist belief just as I am to the theory of evolution. And being the good soul that I've always been, I would much prefer to walk through those pearly gates than just to become another piece of random matter rotting in the ground.
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