Topics in the Evolution/ID Debate
Eugenie Scott
Eugenie Scott is the director of the National Center for Science Education, the main organization helping teachers and others deal with the evolution/creation controversies. The NCSE provides valuable information about how to present evolution in a manner that isn't in conflict with religion. Her article "Concepts in Evolution" is an excellent introduction to the confusions caused by misunderstandings of language.
Cardinal Schoenborn controversy
Cardinal Schoenborn's controversy with several responses sent by Ursula Goodenough is interesting because it points out that the recent backwards motion of the Catholic Church might be anomalous. It is clear that many Catholics see no conflict between neo-Darwinism and Catholic doctrine. This will be the theme of Peter Hess' presentation to the Work Group.
An additional comment by Ursula Goodenough discusses the important word "guided".
The Cardinal's conservative views on evolution were resoundingly critiqued by Nicola Cabibbo, President for 12 years of the Vatican Pontifical Academy of Sciences. There is still hope that the new pope will listen to his advisors and support evolution as it is understood by mainstream science.
David Griffin
Griffin is a leading progressive theist who believes that the randomness of Darwinian variation is not compatible with the sign of Purpose needed by theology.
Recently more than 5,000 Christian theologians signed an open letter (with Griffin's critique) stating "We believe that the theory of evolution is a scientific foundational truth. ....We urge school board members to preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of evolution as core component of human knowledge." Following that open letter is Griffin's statement of partial support for the letter, but his critique explaining why he was unable to sign it.
Neo-Darwinism and its Religious implications presents a detailed analysis of why orthodox Darwinism (neo-Darwinism) is not compatible with theology's assumptions.
In the article Whitehead's Naturalism and a Non-Darwinian View of Evolution Griffin presents a naturalist Whiteheadian approach to how quantum-like laws of nature can provide an ontology able to satisfy the needs of a theistic worldview.
David Loye
This wonderfully written Prolog to "Darwin's Unfolding Revolution" (the full book) is about the softer side of Darwin. Loye is also circulating a petition on the topic. One problem with the book and petition is that there are hints that Loye goes beyond orthodox neo-Darwinism, that may not be necessary for his purpose. A possible product of our Work Group could be gaining an understanding of why followers of holistic spirituality and progressive theism think neo-Darwinism doesn't have sufficient examples of cooperative and purposive emergent behavior. Loye has written a wonderfully worded statement about the need for science and progressive religion to work together.
Ken Wilber critique
Ken Wilber is an amazing philosopher and guru to many people who follow holistic spirituality. One can see both positive and negative sides of his approach from this critique by Christan de Quincey.
Of greater relevance to the evolution/ID debate is a critique of Wilber's position on Darwinian evolution. The reason it is so interesting is that it may be possible that the needs of holistic spirituality and the needs of progressive theology are similar. It may well be that a deeper understanding of mainstream biology emergence theory can meet the needs of both groups. Possibly our Work Group could take on this question.
Michael Shermer
Shermer write a monthly "Skeptic" column for Scientific American. This month's column is about the Woodstock of Evolution meeting in the Galapogos Islands. It presents an overview of the latest controversies in the evolution business. In the latest (July-August 2005) Science & Spirit magazine Shermer writes about his conversion from evangelical to atheist titled Science is My Savior.
Ursula Goodenough and Terry Deacon
Goodenough and Deacon have been developing the relevance of emergence as an organizing concept for understanding the world and our place in it. Their article From biology to consciousness to morality provides a broad framework for understanding the mechanisms and implications of evolution.
Robert Laughlin
Laughlin's book "A Different Universe" is such a wonderful, inspiring, important book on emergence that a critique seems worthwhile to include. But first read Laughlin's book, it is very hard not to like (or love) it.
Gunther Stent
It is appropriate for this discussion of evolution/ID to have comments from Stent and Crick, two biologists whose discoveries were important for understanding evolution. The last part of Stent's obituary of Crick is relevant to the larger topic of an imporant aspect of the connection of science and religion.
Michael Ruse
Ruse's editorial on Tough-minded thinking is a wake-up call for religion to take science seriously. This article is a nice complement to the Work Group's theme of getting scientists to take religion seriously. Too many progressives are dismissive of science, easily forgetting that mainstream scientists are among the most progressive folks that you will encounter.
In the Sept-Oct 2005 Science & Spirit magazine Ruse has a wonderful article about why the US may be different from all other nations on the topic of evolution. It should be read by anyone who thinks it will be easy to get science taught properly in the US.