Intelligent Design The Future

On this episode of ID the Future, Joshua Youngkin takes a brief look at C.S. Lewis’s views on Darwinian evolution and intelligent design. Previously unpublished notes reveal that C.S. Lewis had early doubts about Darwin. Interested in learning more? Download a FREE chapter of Dr. John West’s The Magician’s Twin: C.S. Lewis on Science, Scientism, and Society at: www.magicianstwin.com.

On this episode of ID the Future, listen to a short segment of a recent presentation Casey Luskin gave on the hominid fossil record. While popular media often reports that the fossil record is complete and conclusive, the technical scientific literature reveals this to be false. In actuality, human-like fossils and ape-like fossil are clearly distinct from one another, and the so-called transitional fossil record is highly fragmented. If Casey's talk sparks your interest, be sure to read Chapter 3 of Science and Human Origins.

On this episode of ID the Future, we listen in on a a few minutes from a lecture given by CSC Senior Fellow Michael Denton. We've all heard of the importance of photosynthesis as an oxygen creating process. In this segment, Denton explains the "remarkable set of coincidences" which makes the creation of oxygen through photosynthesis possible. From the specific energy of visible light to the unique properties of water, this degree of improbability screams DESIGN.

On this episode of ID the Future, David Boze and Casey Luskin discuss the recent findings of the ENCODE Project, which has declared so-called “junk” DNA to be anything but. Much of the DNA that was previously supposed to be useless genetic material, left over from random mutations that have been acted upon by natural selection, has now been found to perform several vital functions—just as intelligent design proponents have been predicting for years. What does this mean for intelligent design, and for Darwinian evolution? To learn more, pick up a copy of Jonathan Wells’ Myth of Junk DNA.

On this episode of ID the Future, Big Think has a new video out featuring Bill Nye “The Science Guy” lamenting the fact that many people in the United States are skeptical of Darwinian evolution. Nye makes the claim that this skepticism holds back our country and society, and even goes so far as to call for Darwin-doubting parents to stay out of their kids’ science education. Listen in as Casey Luskin responds to Nye’s assertions.

This episode of ID the Future features part of a lecture given by Biologic Institute scientist Doug Axe on his recent research on the molecule lignin. Lignin provides a paradoxical case for the Darwinian method of evolution, but fits perfectly into a design oriented scientific paradigm. Thirty percent of non-fossil organic carbon on the planet is lignin, so in a Darwinian world, something should have developed the ability to consume lignin--but it hasn’t. Lignin binds together and protects plant cellulose, which is vital to all types of large plant life; “The peculiar properties of lignin therefore make perfect sense when seen as part of a coherent design for the entire ecosystem of our planet.”

On this episode of ID the Future, Joshua Youngkin takes a look at an open letter that Professor Massimo Pigliucci, philosopher and evolutionary biologist, wrote for his “Community of Reason,” which he describes as “the broad set encompassing skeptics, atheists and secular humanists.” Pigluicci’s criticism is that many that claim to be the defenders of reason cling to their own irrational scientific, philosophical, and political beliefs, rather than engaging in dialogue or building critiques out of logic and evidence. Pigliucci’s thoughts on the subject can be read at his blog.

On this episode of ID the Future, Casey Luskin sits down with Dr. Michael Denton, a Senior Fellow of the CSC who holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. Denton is the author of Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, which has been credited with influencing both Phillip Johnson and Michael Behe, as well as Nature’s Destiny: How the Laws of Biology Reveal Purpose in the Universe, which elaborates on the evidence of design in nature. Luksin and Denton discuss the ways in which the universe is uniquely fit for carbon-based life, and perhaps even human life. Denton argues that when it comes to evidence of fine-tuning in the universe, the more you look, the more you find. Tune in to discover what he has found that has led him to the inference that our world is intelligently designed.

On this episode of ID the Future, Jay Richards interviews Discovery Institute Senior Fellow Benjamin Wiker on his latest book, 10 Books Every Conservative Must Read: Plus Four Not to Miss and One Impostor. Listen in as they examine the role of materialism in politics, particularly in C. S. Lewis' prophetic book, The Abolition of Man, and Wiker explains how moral argument has been replaced by technological manipulation of human nature. For more on C.S. Lewis and science, stay tuned for a new book and film to be released in Fall 2012 from Discovery Press: The Magician's Twin: C.S. Lewis on Science, Scientism, and Society. Watch the trailer here.

Welcome to the Scientocracy, where unless you fully accede to the consensus view, then your opinion not only doesn't matter, it might even be dangerous. On this episode of ID the Future, Casey Luskin shows how a recent move to redefine scientific literacy from an understanding of science into wholesale capitulation to the "consensus" damages true scientific literacy -- including the right to debate and dissent. Luskin's article appeared in Salvo Magazine. For more information on Salvo, visit www.salvomag.com. Also, keep an eye out for a new book and film coming this September from Discovery Institute Press: The Magician's Twin: C.S. Lewis on Science, Scientism, and Society. Watch the trailer here.

This episode of ID the Future features CSC director Stephen C. Meyer on the Rick Hamada program, where he addresses the critical question that stumped Darwin: where did the first life come from? Listen in for Steve's answer, and be sure to check out SignatureIntheCell.com for the latest news and media appearances with Dr. Meyer.

On this episode of ID the Future, Casey Luskin interviews Baylor University chemist Dr. Charles Garner on new findings in origin of life research and the plausibility of the chemical origin of life scenario. Listen in as Dr. Garner shows the speculation and imagination materialists employ to explain the origin of life. For more information, read some of Dr. Garner's comments here at Evolution News & Views.

On this episode of ID the Future, Casey Luskin examines the convergent genetic evolution of bat and whale echolocation, a surprise to the neo-Darwinian model, as common inheritance makes no sense.

On this episode of ID The Future, Casey Luskin critiques some of the macroevolutionary “gems” from Nature’s Evolution-Evangelism packet, including whale evolution, feathered dinosaurs, and Tiktaalik. Listen in as he explains why predictions about Tiktaalik from leading evolutionary scientists such as Jerry Coyne and the National Academy of Sciences were overturned by the discovery of 397 million year old tetrapod tracks in early 2010. For more on the "Evolutionary Gems," check out Evolution News & Views.

On this episode of ID the Future, Biologic Institute director Dr. Douglas Axe discusses his contribution to the new book Science and Human Origins. How efficient is the Darwinian mechanism at inventing new things? Could it really be responsible for the development of human beings, as Darwinists claim? Axe reviews his recent studies on mutation rates and the ability of Darwinian evolution to create new proteins. Tune in and discover what he found out!