Darwin and Intelligent Design Author:  Francisco J. Ayala

How did the universe come to be? How did human beings become human beings? These two questions have brought about much heated discussion and debate over the last several centuries. Over the past two centuries, this debate has greatly increased as our knowledge of science has increased. Over the last decade, A great debate has surfaced pitting evolution against intelligent design. In his book, Darwin and Intelligent Design, Francisco J. Ayala attempts to put this debate to rest. Being a professor of biological sciences, ecology, evolutionary biology, and philosophy at the University of California, Mr. Ayala has extensive knowledge concerning the science of evolution with which he draws from to write this short book of 116 pages.
 
He begins this book by citing his purpose for writing it. He says "I will seek to convince you, dear reader, that we may accept this scientific knowledge without denying the existence of God or God's presence in the universe and all natural phenomena". From that statement forward, Mr. Ayala tries to do just that. He begins by pointing to William Paley, who taught that the human body was too complex to have evolved and must have had a designer. He then tears down Mr. Paley's teaching by pointing out possible problems concerning this teaching, namely that the human body is not perfectly made. He then moves to the teaching of Charles Darwin and his theory of Natural Selection. He writes a chapter on who Darwin is and how he formulated this theory. He then over the next three chapters explains the process of evolution, human evolution, and natural selection. Once he has made the argument for evolution he then pits it against intelligent design of which he spends no more than one chapter on. He used this chapter not to explain the argument of intelligent design from an unbiased perspective, but rather used it to tear down this belief. He then ends this book by citing what he believes, which is that man evolved through the process of natural selection and that this process does not deny the existence of God.
 
Mr. Ayala is a very intelligent man who displays his intelligence eloquently in this book. It is well thought out, concise, and presents very compelling evidence to support what he believes. The reading level of this book is collegiate and would be difficult reading for most readers due to the nature of the subject and the intellectual terminology used to describe it. I found the reading to be tedious and found that it did very little to keep my interest. As I stated earlier, the book was well planned and thought out, however, I find several problems contained within the book. I feel that based upon his belief that evolution and God can coexist, that there were some statements which contradict this belief. Mr. Ayala states that "science can neither endorse nor reject religious beliefs. Conversely, we should not interpret the Bible as an authoritative textbook on astronomy, geology, or biology." On the surface this statement is correct, the bible is not an authoritative textbook on astronomy, geology, or biology because of the nature of the Bible, however, what the Bible does say concerning these subjects are authoritative and therefore science cannot contradict what the Bible teaches concerning these subjects. In his argument against William Paley, he states "the design of organisms is far from perfect". This is the whole premise upon which he dismisses Paley's theory, that because there are problems in design, that God could not have designed us. But he neglects to take into account the effect and consequences of sin upon creation. On his explanation of the Capernicuan Revolution, he states "It was shown that the earth is not the center of the universe but a small planet rotating around an average star".

Again on the surface this is correct, however, he neglects to mention that any minute change in the universe would cause life here on earth to cease to exist, making earth the center of the universe as God intended it to be. On the basis of the theory of evolution, Mr. Ayala neglects to address the 1st law of thermodynamics which states although energy or matter changes form, the total quantity is conserved, matter is neither created nor destroyed. He fails to address the 2nd law of thermodynamics which states that all physical systems, if left to themselves, tend to become less ordered and useful. Lastly Mr. Ayala neglects to address the principle of biogenesis which states that life derives only from life. Each of these provable, scientific laws, contradict evolution in its various forms. He states that the Genesis account of the Bible is "religious revelations and religious teachings, not a treatise of astronomy or biology." He is correct, however, the nature of revelation is God revealing himself to man through His word. Would God lie about how He created man? This would be impossible, Titus 1:2. Can man err? Absolutely, even with the best of intentions. Evolution is nothing more than man's attempt to explain God's work or dispell God, through man's own finite and limited intelligence. Will I trust the Word of God for my answers or the word of man? The answer to this question is a no-brainer, for there is no comparison, and therefore I cannot recommend this book to anyone as it downplays God's work in creation, and His work in sustaining and preserving His creation. God made man in His image, Genesis 1:26, period, end of discussion.  Mr. Ayala, I am not convinced.
 
Review by John Goble (Bachelor of Theology)