Peer problem with Intelligent Design reported in The Scientist, 3 September 2004. Stephen Meyer, Director of the Discovery Institute’s Centre for Science and Culture published a paper entitled “The Origin of Biological Information and the Higher Taxonomic Categories,” in the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, a peer reviewed journal published at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. Meyer argues that biological information cannot be explained in terms of materialistic evolution and proposes “intelligent design” as an alternative explanation of the large amount of information found in living things, especially complex higher order animals. Meyer has received a barrage of criticism, which he describes as “hysteria, name calling and personal attack”.
Richard Sternberg (a colleague of Meyer’s) commented that he and Meyer had been falsely labelled as creationists by their critics. “It’s fascinating how the ‘creationist’ label is falsely applied to anyone who raises any questions about neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory,” he said. “The reaction to the paper by some [anti-creationist] extremists suggests that the thought police are alive and well in the scientific community.”
Robert L. Crowther, Director of Communications at the Discovery Institute claims there is a clear distinction between the “scientific theory of intelligent design and creationism”. He wrote in an e-mail to The Scientist: “Dr. Meyer is a well-known proponent of intelligent design and that is what his paper is about. To try and characterize him as a creationist is just an attempt to stigmatize him and marginalize his paper, all the while avoiding the scientific issues that it raises.”
Editorial Comment: Meyer’s evolutionist critics know that if materialistic evolution is false, the only logical alternative is creation and a consequent accountability to a Creator, who the ID movement is at pains to not mention. But both Meyer and his evolutionist critics should take warning from the Apostle Paul who wrote in Romans 1:20 “the evidence of creation and Creator is so clear and it is understood by all creatures that have been made, therefore mankind is without excuse.” Jesus Christ is the Creator, and a very real Intelligent Designer, but He is also Judge and Saviour. The problem for scientists in the Intelligent Design movement is they recognise the obvious and overwhelming evidence of creation, but do not want to acknowledge the Creator of the design. This is a particular problem for Meyer who claims to be a Christian, but does not want to be identified as a creationist. What will he say to the Creator Christ on Judgement Day who has told us if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us? (Ref. ID movement, Religion, Science)