DARWIN'S GIFT TO SCIENCE AND RELIGION

THE BOOK BY FRANCISCO J. AYALA

DARWIN'S GIFT to Science and Religion was published in 2007 by John Henry Press in Washington, D.C.  The 237 pages are easy reading.  The shock to me was its content did a remarkable job of covering some of the main points I made in my unpublished Evolution Insights a few years later.

The Scientific Method

I particularly liked his comment on page 186 about the scientific method, saying.

 "The most interesting and fruitful scientific hypotheses are not simple generalizations.  Instead scientific hypotheses are creations of the mind, imaginative suggestions as to what might be true."

His accompanying discussion is well worth reading if you want to be a scientist.

The Molecular Clock

He does a good job of discussing the conventional view without indicating his expertise and publications which place him among the national leaders.  On page 135 at the end of the four pages on the topic, he says.

"As the length of time increases, periods of rapid and slow evolution in any lineage are likely to cancel one another out."

The faulty opinion of canceling out was included over half a century ago in the first major publication of the science of molecular clocks by Zuckerkandl and Pauling (1965).  The opinion has plagued attempts to use molecular clocks in determining the higher level evolutionary relationships of organisms ever since.  My post on May 31, 2013 was part of my attempt to alert professional biologists to the problem.  Other posts on the deep sea and pogonophorans are important aides to understanding a solution to the problem.

About Ayala

His experience in biology and early exposure to more philosophical subjects  make him well suited to write the book he did.  His youthful picture on the dust-jacket of his book must have been taken in mid-life between his birth in 1934 and his book's 2007 publication.  He is a credit to both science and religion.  I am about six years older than he is and have far less to show for it professionally.

On page 3 in his introduction he says-

"Evolution, I learned in my theology classes, had provided theologians with the "missing link" in the explanation of evil in the world . . . . .".  Maybe you will find his explanation more intelligible on the topic than my post of March 22, 2016.

I was unaware of his book before today (April 25, 2016) but the above was the outcome from a two-hour visit to the library, with perhaps less than an hour spent on the book.  His book is of special interest if you are interested in the unnecessary conflict between science and religion. 

Joseph G. Engemann    Kalamazoo, Michigan    April 25, 2016

CREATORGATE I: EVIL

Science cannot cope with evil, spiritual concepts, and infinite love.  All three lack measurable physical existence subject to examination and quantification by using the tools of science.  Miracles are not repeatable on demand. Consequently, a scientist acting as a scientist can neither affirm nor deny a miracle.  Thus their discomfort allowing any role for the Creator as demonstrated in the previous post about CreatorGate.

SCIENCE AND EVIL

Moral evil is a value judgement and scientists as humans can make such judgments.  But offering a scientific opinion about evil is valueless.  Atheistic scientists and religious scientists have a right to talk about evil based on their philosophical and/or theological point of view; but each should recognize those views are not part of science.

The magnitude of the human loss of life from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, other natural disasters can be quantified by scientists.  Those factors had a role in our evolutionary history as did many biological factors such as injury and death from starvation, disease, predators, and warfare.  Such events are unwanted, but apart from warfare and other adverse human interactions, do not involve the intent that most would find in things that are evil.  The natural selection of evolution resulting in survival of the fittest was part of every species evolutionary history.

The phenomena of the early origin of the universe, with its explosion, nuclear, and gravitational mayhem, was essential for the origin of elements, galaxies, stars, and planets; the violence challenges our imaginations.  Development of the life-spawning conditions of our own planet Earth involved volcanic eruptions, crustal movements, earthquakes, mountain-building, erosion, and flooding also almost beyond imagination.

In adapting to our ever-changing environment species used various evolutionary solutions.  Some got bigger, some got smaller.  Some got faster, some hid.  The diversity of the flora and fauna of the world is mind-boggling.  With millions of years involved, many amazing adaptations have evolved.

Those adaptations involved the demise of many lacking the adaptation.  If the demise was us, we would think it was evil.  But if we don't view as a personal happening we should be thankful that many generations were gradually shaped into the species we see when we look in the mirror.

SCIENCE AND THE SPIRITUAL AND INFINITE LOVE

Maybe I will be able to shed some light on these topics in the next two posts.  The spiritual and infinite love are not part of science but maybe you can see some connection of value to you.

Joseph G. Engemann    Kalamazoo, Michigan     March 22, 2016