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Evolution vs. intelligent design: 'Expelled' muddies scientific debate
By Rebecca Bostic, rbostic@catholicsun.org
May 1, 2008
Evolution leads to atheism — at least that is the picture Ben Stein paints in his recently released documentary “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” (Premise/Rampant).
Throughout the film, evolution is presented as a scientific bully that does not allow the theory of intelligent design to even enter the academic discussion.
The documentary begins with Stein interviewing various university professors who have lost their jobs and the possibility of tenure due to their suggestion that there could be an intelligent designer behind the creation of the world.
He also speaks to evolutionary scientists — most of whom are atheist and speak about religion as a pastime that will eventually be seen as a mere comfort. One scientist even compares it in importance to knitting.
Stein most notably interviews Richard Dawkins, author of “The God Delusion” and an avid atheist.
Unfortunately, Stein did not speak with Kenneth Miller or Martinez J. Hewlett — professors of biology who not only believe in the Catholic faith, but also subscribe to the theory of evolution.
Both men draw a firm distinction between the scientific theory of evolution and a philosophy of atheism drawn from evolution.
“Intelligent design is the proposal that aspects of living systems are too complex to be explained by concepts like evolution,” said Hewlett, a former professor of molecular virology at the University of Arizona and an adjunct professor at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, Calif.
“As a scientist I do not ‘believe’ in evolution, but rather accept this as the best and most productive scientific explanation we have,” he said.
Miller, a professor of biology at Brown University, draws a similar distinction.
As a Catholic he believes that an intelligence — Who is God — is behind the creation of the universe and our existence. However, this is not what the proponents of the intelligent design theory argue.
“In their view, natural processes, including evolution, are not sufficient to account for the origins of species, complex organs and even biochemical mechanisms within cells,” Miller said. “They argue that acts of special creation — which they call ‘design’ — would have to have been behind such things.”
Many advocates of intelligent design do accept evolution to a certain extent, according to Hewlett.
“However, for certain features of the living world, they do not accept evolution, but rather insert the intervention of an intelligent designer to explain the feature,” he said.
This use of religion to explain undiscovered scientific information leads to what Hewlett calls a “god of the gaps” argument. When people of that camp can’t find a natural explanation for something, they credit that to God.
This is problematic because as science evolves and new discoveries prove the natural process of a phenomenon previously attributed to a “god of the gaps,” the new discovery unnecessarily disproves the role of this god in creation, fostering further doubt in terms of religion.
Hewlett calls this “a naïve approach that places God in the wrong place with respect to creation.”
In “Expelled,” Stein presents the theory of intelligent design as simply wanting to imply that there was a designer involved in the creation of the world. Evolutionists on the other hand are presented as exclusively atheistic intellectuals who not only oppose intelligent design, but also God and religion.
Neither one is an entirely accurate depiction but instead focuses on polarizing scientists in the field, such as Dawkins.
The debate between intelligent design proponents and evolutionists often comes to a head in the midst of educational disputes. In “Expelled,” Eugenie Scott, the executive director for the National Center for Science Education, claims that Catholics endorse evolution.
That’s true, in a way.
The scientific theory can agree with Church teaching on the creation of the world. But evolution as a philosophy that takes God out of the picture — as it is presented in “Expelled” — is nothing the Church endorses.
Miller cites St. Thomas Aquinas and his concept of God as “first mover” to defend the notion of God as the Author of nature.
“Showing that a phenomenon can be explained by a natural process does not take God, Who is behind all things natural, out of the picture at all,” Miller argued. “In this sense, evolution, as a perfectly natural process, is consistent with this view of God’s role in nature and His plan for us.”
A 2004 report by the International Theological Commission, under the supervision of then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, addressed the issue.
“True contingency in the created order is not incompatible with a purposeful divine providence. Divine causality and created causality radically differ in kind and not only in degree,” it stated. “Thus, even the outcome of a truly contingent natural process can nonetheless fall within God’s providential plan for creation.”
Ultimately, as long as evolution is presented as a scientific theory, not a philosophy that leads to the disproving of God’s role in creation, the Catholic Church does not take issue with it.
“The science of evolution needs to be distinguished clearly from philosophical positions that are used by some, claiming evolution for their justification” of disbelief in God, Hewlett said. Arguing that atheism is a result or requirement of the evolutionary model is “not science, but rather a philosophical and theological conclusion.”
Stein limits his view of evolution and intelligent design to the most extreme version of the two theories. This is where “Expelled” falls short of credibility — although it may be considered a decently entertaining documentary.
Stein does not share the Catholic understanding of evolution as a scientific theory that exists outside of religious convictions. He does not illuminate the difference between evolutionary science and the philosophy.
Hewlett believes all people need more clarity on the evolution issue, especially Catholics.
“With our deep understanding of Scripture and tradition, as well as the Church’s historical support for science,” it is critical that Catholics educate themselves on the evolution debate, he said.
“Expelled,” with its biased viewpoint and polarizing portrayal of both evolution and intelligent design, is not an ideal beginning for this education.
Rebecca Bostic is a regular contributor to The Catholic Sun. Comments are welcome. Send e-mail to letters@catholicsun.org.
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