Darwin Strikes Back: Defending the Science of Intelligent Design [Paperback]

Thomas Woodward (Author), William Dembski (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2006

The debate between proponents of Darwinism and those of Intelligent Design has reached the status of a full-scale public battle. With stories of qualifying statements about evolution in public school textbooks and the recent 70th anniversary of the Scopes Monkey trial in the news, the question about our origins will not be put to rest.
Following up his award-winning Doubts about Darwin, Thomas Woodward traces the continuing saga of the ID movement in Darwin Strikes Back. Focusing on the emerging key players on both sides--Michael Behe, William Dembski, Kenneth Miller, Robert Pennock, and more--Woodward helps readers navigate the tangled maze of public debate, including anti-ID activism from Christians, and shows them what might be coming next.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

What started as a debate among scientists has become a full-scale public battle.

In this sequel to his award-winning Doubts about Darwin, Thomas Woodward traces the struggle that has emerged as the two sides wrestle with questions of the origin of life. Woodward answers these questions and more:

• Who are the key players on each side, and what contributions have they made?
• How has the debate developed, and where is it headed in the future?
• What conclusions can we draw about our origins based on the scientific evidence?

There is no better guide to help you navigate this important debate.


"Darwin Strikes Back tells the thrilling story of how the Darwinian establishment has summoned all its power to crush the frightening challenge of the Intelligent Design Movement, and how the rebels are not only surviving but gaining new strength as we respond to the onslaught. Highly recommended."--Phillip E. Johnson, emeritus professor of law, University of California, Berkeley; author, Darwin on Trial

"Taking the reader behind the headlines, Thomas Woodward--the premier historian of the Intelligent Design Movement--analyzes crucial developments of the past decade."--Michael J. Behe, department of biology, Lehigh University

"The controversy over Darwinism and Intelligent Design signals a major scientific and social revolution. Everyone who wants to understand it should read this timely and well-written book."--Jonathan Wells, author, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design

"My friend Tom Woodward is one of the most effective and articulate chroniclers of Intelligent Design in America today. This excellent work will clear away some of the fog of confusion spread by Darwinists, and give you solid, useable information to defend Intelligent Design. A very valuable resource in one of the most consequential debates of our times."--Chuck Colson, founder and chairman, Prison Fellowship


Thomas Woodward (Ph.D., University of South Florida) is a professor at Trinity College of Florida, where he teaches the history of science, communication, and systematic theology. He is founder and director of the C. S. Lewis Society and lectures in universities on scientific, apologetic, and religious topics. The author of the award-winning Doubts about Darwin, Woodward is an avid astronomer and has been published in Christianity Today and other periodicals.

About the Author

Thomas Woodward (Ph.D., University of South Florida) is a professor at Trinity College of Florida, where he teaches the history of science, communication, and systematic theology. He is founder and director of the C. S. Lewis Society and lectures in universities on scientific, apologetic, and religious topics. The author of the award-winning Doubts about Darwin, Woodward is an avid astronomer and has been published in Christianity Today and other periodicals. He lives in Dunedin, Florida.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801065631
• ISBN-13: 978-0801065637
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,438 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

131 of 152 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Summary but an Inaccurate Analogy., November 10, 2006

By 

Fritz R. Ward "dayhiker" (Crestline, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Darwin Strikes Back: Defending the Science of Intelligent Design (Paperback)

It is not often that scientific debates generate intense public interest and commentary. The American public is fascinated by scientific advances and debates (how to classify Pluto, for example) but generally does not feel the need to elect school board members who support teaching specific theories and ideas. Intelligent Design, a broad category of ideas that suggests chance and natural law are insufficient to explain all that we encounter in nature is an exception to this rule. Not only is it hotly contested within scientific circles, but it also results in intense political debate within the general population. The main reason for this is that both evolution and intelligent design have theological implications that extend well beyond the scientific issues themselves. Moreover, debates even within science about intelligent design often seem more acrimonious than normal scientific dialogue. They include character assassination, charges and counter charges of poor science, and claims that one or the other side is faking evidence. For those who are interested in following a blow by blow account of this debate from the 1980s to the present, Thomas Woodward's book is a good start. He honestly admits he is writing from the prospective of one who is convinced by the claims of intelligent design, but as an historian he does a decent job of representing the arguments of key players in the debate and an excellent job of pointing his readers to other (and more complete) sources so they can read the literature directly for themselves.

'Darwin Strikes Back' is meant to complement Woodward's previous study, 'Doubts about Darwin' in which he chronicled the rise of the Intelligent Design Movement and which focused mostly on the writings of Philip Johnson. In this book, Woodward examines three other major design theorists: Michael Behe, Jonathan Wells, and William Dembski, and their various critics, notably biologist Kenneth Miller, philosopher Niall Shanks, educator Eugenie Scott, and the ubiquitous Richard Dawkins. In every case, Woodward finds that critics of intelligent design often offer flawed analogies and argue for a tautology: namely that intelligent design is unscientific (and hence that it cannot be falsified) while simultaneously offering the assesment that its claims are demonstrably false. This is problematic, as are the unfounded personal attacks that frequently accompany such arguments. (Eg. Jonathan Wells did no experimental research during his post doctoral work at Berkeley.) These points are not an argument for intelligent design as such, but it will certainly appeal to most reader's values about what is fair and reasonable in a debate. The book also discusses some of the advances in physics, the problems associated with the chemical evolution of life, and summarizes the work of such diverse scholars as physicists Paul Davies and Robert Jastrow, and the Chinese paleontologist Jun-Yuan Chen. In doing so, Woodward provides helpful metaphors and generally makes the hard science of these people accessible to the average reader. This is the mark of a very good work of popular science and Woodward should be commended for it, even by readers who do not share his affection for intelligent design.

In the final analysis, however, I am troubled by the persistent war analogy that runs throughout the book. Intelligent Design is an "explosion" on the scientific landscape. Critics respond to it with metaphorical "rockets and mortars." Perhaps this analogy, which actually supports the whole framework of the book, is useful. It may help keep the reader's attention, but I think this approach may actually distorts what really happens in the scientific community. It probably reflects the author's own experience as a naval intelligence officer. My own experience (doctorate in church history) leads me to a rather different analogy. The reaction of some scientists to intelligent design is not so much to go to war as to "ex-communicate" those who dissent with them. Indeed, when I read the writings on evolution of the well known and very talented physicist, Lawrence Krauss, I do not see a general directing troops so much as I see the fourth century bishop Athanasius railing against heresy. It is almost as if "science" and its established "doctrines" are simply beyond question, and those who do so face the condemnation of the "full scientific community" just as Athanasius claimed that those who disagreed with him about the "nature" of Christ were "outside the church." And the problem is, science acts this way even when there are no theological issues at stake. Idaho State University anthropologist Jeffrey Meldum is under attack because he dares to even examine what scant evidence there is for "Bigfoot," a legendary creature that supposedly haunts the northwestern United States. Rather than examine and refute his claims, his critics declare his work "unscientific" and want him expelled from the "church" (ie. academic employment). Jeffrey Schaffer proposes a new interpretation for the formation of Yosemite Valley and is denied a doctorate despite having done more detailed field research than anyone before him. He askes that his critics join him in the field and refute a single claim. They do not even attempt to do. Woodward's book thus touches upon a larger problem with the culture of science in general. Despite public professions of objectivity and "value free" research, much of theoretical science today is in fact highly dogmatic and political. Woodward's wonderful book highlights one of the most glaring examples of this. I highly recommend it to all.

27 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Darwin Strikes Back, December 12, 2006

By 

Allen D. Thompson (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darwin Strikes Back: Defending the Science of Intelligent Design (Paperback)

Unlike some of the reviewers (Grayman & T.Makinson)I have actually read the book. I found it to be well written, balanced, and objective. It is also well documented, allowing anyone who desires to do so, to research the subject further. Too many people, especially on the Darwin side of the issue are not really looking at the issues and evidence in order to be informed and objective. They are simply repeating the same old stories they have been taught or heard. If you desire to post a review of a book at least read it first, then try to be honest and objective about it.

29 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Debate Rages, January 27, 2007

By 

John Fulginiti III - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darwin Strikes Back: Defending the Science of Intelligent Design (Paperback)

In this the second in a series of books, author Tom Woodward sets out to document the battle raging over the Intelligent Design movement. Many have heard about ID in a tangential way, through the media. Now and again fights with Darwinists flare up and reach the popular consciousness. What Dr. Woodward presents is a trenchant documentation of the conflict between Darwinism and the Intelligent Design movement, a battle being waged at many levels behind the scenes. It would seem to belong only in the halls of academia. The reality is that it involves all levels of society, and the stakes are high.
Darwinian evolution is the reigning paradigm in the biological sciences and in fact has affected our cultural thinking in all social spheres. How we think about ourselves, our futures, the education of our children, where our tax dollars go all these questions and many more like them are greatly influenced by the evolutionary model. ID is challenging that paradigm. The evidence of that is set out for the reader in an engaging fashion in this very readable book. This is not a dispassionate correspondence by a casual observer. Rather, Dr. Woodward is clear where his allegiance lies. His enthusiasm comes out on every page. The writing style is clear; the scientific arguments are laid out well, and the insiders view is obvious. I especially appreciated the rhetorical analysis he is able to bring to bear in this discussion. His training as a rhetorician is obvious and is a strength of the work. Resources for further study are discussed. All of this makes for a compelling read to anyone interested in this debate. My interest was piqued to find out more about certain aspects of the debate, for instance, the Cambrian explosion.
His position is, by his own admission biased, yet his treatment of the matter remains fair and respectful. As Thomas Kuhn outlined, challenges to a reigning paradigm are never static, quiet events. Part of the process involves the development of a body of literature which records the interchange between involved parties. The Intelligent Design movement is effectively challenging Darwin's theory of evolution and this book is an important component in that unfolding drama.