Appendix D - Panicked Evolutionists: The Stephen Meyer Controversy
 
 
 
 
 
 

EYE DESIGN BOOK
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Curt Deckert - curt@cdeckert.com

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    For the past 40 years I have been involved in the creative application of optical and related technology. Over the past 26 years I have worked for more than 100 companies as a technical and management consultant. During the last 10 years, I have put considerable effort into researching all kinds of eyes. My R&D experience helps to bring some reality of eye design into focus. After seeing so much evidence for Intelligent Design, this research was used to develop the Eye Design Book Web site that answers and raises many Intelligent Design and Evolution questions about vision. To make this research more accessible to students, teachers, the home schooled, scientists, and others with an interest in eyes, it has been published on the Web as: eyedesignbook.com. It contains examples of scientific findings that indicate creative intelligent design in eyes of all kinds. Simply asking why and how we see can provoke thought in many people. Opinions and research are technology based for a better understanding of vision. This web site contains many links to helpful information about eye design, optics design, eye care, and intelligent design. It makes a case for a master eye designer who is our Creator God. Here one can enjoy almost 200 pictures and diagrams of many types of eyes. Besides containing many helpful illustrations, it asks many questions to challenge readers. It can be used to help people realize that we have a Creative God who is the Ultimate Intelligent Designer.

    Eyes provide a good example of intelligent design because there is a little of everything (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.). Eye design may help open the crack that will convince many that intelligent design should be taught our schools. From my study of eyes there seem to be a number of design themes that point to an all powerful creative and practical designer. How scientific are origins by evolution? Fortunately our relationship with God is not dependent on present-day science which is still evolving.
    Darwin did not have a complete theory that included detailed knowledge of eyes. And he certainly did not have a good explanation for evolution and reproduction of complex eye designs. Thus, it is probable that he knew very little about the complexity of vision and its reproduction, as we know it today. Most of the significant early physicists had no problems with a belief in the Creator. Infrastructures for simulation of evolution are far more advanced today than in Darwin's day so we should be able to offer some proof of difficulty.

    The following story may illustrate much of the present state of science:
    A group of scientists, including a physicist, biologist, biochemist, etc., approached God and said, "Listen, we've decided we no longer need you. Nowadays, we can extract stem cells, clone people, transplant hearts, build very large sources of energy, manufacture talking robots with eyes, build sensors of all types, and make biological changes that were once considered miraculous."
    God patiently heard them out, and then said, "All right. To see whether or not
    I am needed, why don't we have a little man-making contest!"
    "Okay," the scientists said.
    "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam,"  God said.
    "That's fine," replied the scientists and they bent down to scoop up some dirt.
    "Whoa!" God said, shaking his head in disapproval.
    "Not so fast! You get your own dirt!"

    Design is a word that infers intelligent input. In this story the scientists were going to supply a limited amount of intelligence. From an intelligent design perspective, design is also evident in the mix of elements within dirt (periodic table), life, DNA codes, total system design, orderly reproduction of life, healing, the biological tolerances that allow micro evolution, and the increasing human intelligence. We all know that there is a very low probability of life happening without a designer. Could we even invent and build a reproducible insect with eyes without using a part of existing life? (see web site)
    We also have to admit that man can invent characters or AI robots that can see and talk, but they do what they are told. Designing a person with free choice is a different issue with significant risk, but the potential rewards of that person showing regard for the Creator is significant. Eyes, other senses, and their software make life richer; but the spiritual dimension provides hope, purpose, and better explanations to students for life itself.
    Intelligence is required to control and process optical image information from the eyes of each creature, to be of any value to that creature. Genetic specifications or data codes will probably explain how information is used for reproduction and repair of eyes. Chemical processing provides for consistency in a wide variety of materials for different eye parts. Precision material variations, complex configurations, and orderly cell arrangements are necessary for image clarity. Even small material or shape deviations can cut down the eye's resolution by a significant amount. One has to understand detailed mathematical models of eye optics to appreciate this and the necessary complexity (see web site).
    The Biblical model provides an orderly explanation of origins that even children have been able to understand for years. We need to convey unity on major issues and reduce the priority of issues that do not have eternal implications. Ever since Adam and Eve, scientists (or man) have been trying to make a case against a creator God. Followers of Creator God, the master designer, have continued to survive every generation of scientists. Many scientists who presently follow God have truth, ethics, purpose, and hope for life beyond the limited dimensions that other scientists or people presently experience. This is evidenced by what is known about creation around us, early Biblical writings, traditions, other historical writing, and the large number of followers of God who have given, or are willing to give, their lives for His purpose. Over much of recorded history, this belief has cost millions of them their lives. This is strong evidence, and it agrees with evidence of intelligent design, changed lives, and hundreds of Biblical predictions that have come true throughout recorded history.
    Speculations before recorded history are difficult because of some possibility of changing parameters such as speed of light, weather, and other universe dynamics. These issues have little impact on our intelligent design discussions involving eyes. Although discussions on the age of the earth are interesting, they can deflect us from core issues that deal with the souls of many people.
    Present-day science and theology present different holographic images of creation so we need to resolve the differences. Both sides will provide more resolution as we learn more and future students will benefit. By human reasoning, the explanation of the digital nature of DNA will provide some encouragement to consider intelligent design in our schools. Evolution has an important, but limited role, with respect to the extent of life variations within the DNA codes. It is difficult to believe that natural selection would create new eyes, but it does allow science to study variations within created incremental limits. DNA programming of cells and materials indicates that very high intelligence is necessary for the total reproduction of eyes. Each fundamental basic visual system could be another case of irreducible complexity.
    When we consider the marvelous ability of the eyes of organisms to adapt to a wide variety of adverse circumstances, we ought to look at the positive intelligent design rather than looking at the negative reasoning of evolution. Could it be that many evolutionary scientists are neglecting the origin of intelligence? Why not call natural selection and mutations what they actually are, the more negative reasons why populations of organisms adapt to different environments. It seems that trusting the death, destruction, and competitive factors in adaptation is selling intelligence design short. Wouldn't it be more intelligent and wiser to concentrate on the creativity of positive life preserving forces present in living organisms? Are the forces that often oppose life, which are commonly called Natural Selection, really creative? These have more probability against life and survival and adaptation, yet they get credit while important design issues are neglected or ignored. We can suggest that intelligent design probability of advanced eye design is far higher than that of evolution. Common sense should make scientists think, "why are we are blindly going with the crowd, instead of researching the facts about microbiological machines, DNA, life, design, creation, reproduction, etc. Just the different design themes in eye design and construction should make scientists think about a singular intelligent designer. We should be emphasizing this wonderful thing called life, with its fantastic reproducible intelligent micro-biological machines and systems that allow us to see". ( ref: Warren Howard's www.amazingneauty.org)
    Perhaps there needs to be a joint effort, including engineers, scientists and theologians, to better understand origins. There is a broad range of creation interpretations and theories that need to be discussed by intelligent people. Then these interpretations need to be evaluated with respect to present teaching guidelines. Increasing the spiritual dimension by teaching intelligent design can add objective depth to the resultant creation/evolution discussions.
    Media such as newsletters, web sites, news releases, letters to editors, etc can be used to get the word out. At a higher level, lobbying at the state and federal levels could also pay off. Here we should call on strategic partners of like mind to help convey our message. Depending on our strategic partners, there may be some cost in doing this because there is a very wide spectrum of beliefs in the Christian and other communities. This may require us to build bridges for better understanding. By doing this we provide a bigger net to capture more people.
    Those in the academic community have a responsibility and a great opportunity to create a foundation for more intelligent design discussion. Issues of sharing our faith along with intelligent design need to be addressed. Here humility is an important issue. We must respect the other persons reasoning, but provide a bridge to intelligent design. This is going to take some investment. We need to ask what in intelligent design is beyond the normal power of reason. Here it may be helpful to have market research or polling information. This could lead to intelligent networking with a variety of approaches used for news releases, announcements, and findings.
Curt Deckert
Ph.D., MBA, MSME
Certified Management Consultant
CURT DECKERT ASSOCIATES, INC.
18061 Darmel Place, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Tel. 714-639-0746 or 800-394-0748, Fax 714-639-0746
www.cdeckert.com         www.eyedesignbook.com
Email: curt@cdeckert.com
Also, member of IMC, IEEE, OSA, and SPIE
 

Appendix D - Panicked Evolutionists: The Stephen Meyer Controversy
 
Table of All Figures

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