Unintelligent DesignPhysicist Mark Perakh critically reviews recent trends toward harmonizing religion and science. From intelligent design theories to arguments allegedly proving the compatibility of biblical stories with scientific data and "Bible codes" containing secret messages, Perakh shows that, however sophisticated in appearance, all such approaches are little more than tailoring evidence to fit the desired theory. Beginning with the design theorists, Perakh provides a detailed critique of the publications of William Dembski, Michael Behe, and Phillip Johnson. In each case he clearly demonstrates lack of substantiation, internal contradictions, and multiple fallacies that mar their works. In Part Two he critiques the "mental acrobatics" of various Christian and Jewish writers whose works attempt to prove such unlikely propositions as: the inerrancy of the Bible, the harmony of the Torah and science, the duration of the six days of creation, and deriving a theory of nonrandom evolution from the Talmud. Part Three describes how genuine science is conducted, what the laws of science actually mean to practicing scientists, and what distinguishes real science from pseudoscience. In conclusion, Perakh discusses the rise and fall of the so-called Bible code as an example of how well-marketed pseudoscience can successfully cloak itself in the mantle of science. For everyone interested in separating scientific facts from the hype of trendy theories about science, this book is must reading. |
Contents
Preface | 11 |
How William Dembski | 19 |
Irreducible Contradiction | 111 |
Copyright | |
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according to Dembski actually alleged anthropic principle arguments assertion assume assumption attributed Aviezer Behe Behe's believe Bible code biblical story big bang biological Brendan McKay calculated chance chapter claims concept conclusion contradict course creation creationists Darwin on Trial Darwin's Black Box Darwinism Dembski's scheme Design Inference discourse discussion ELSS entropy estimate event evidence evolution example existence experimental explanation fact Free Lunch Genesis Hebrew Heeren Hence hypothesis information theory intelligent design interpretation irreducible complexity Jeffrey Jeffrey's Jesus Johnson large number law of thermodynamics letters logic low probability Mark Perakh mathematical meaningful text means million occur outcomes particular player possible postulate probability theory question random reason reference result Ross Ross's Schroeder scientific theories scientists seems sequence skip small probability specification Spetner spontaneous emergence statement statistical string supernatural tion Torah trial universe William Dembski winning words WRR's Yeshua