Intelligent Design: Science or Religion? Critical Perspectives (Contemporary Issue Series) [Paperback]

Robert M. Baird (Editor), Stuart E. Rosenbaum (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 9, 2007

In some school districts in America, the biology classroom has become the focal point of an old controversy in new guise. Reminiscent of the arguments heard in the famous Scopes 'monkey trial' of 1925, today's debate centres on the teaching of Intelligent Design (ID) versus conventional evolutionary theory. Proponents of ID argue that evolution does not adequately explain the latest discoveries of biology and that Intelligent Design should be offered in the classroom as an alternative explanation. Defenders of evolutionary theory respond by noting that Darwin's ideas are the very bedrock of contemporary biological science and that Intelligent Design is not a testable theory. In this balanced collection of recent articles, proponents of both sides of this controversial issue present their points of view. "Intelligent Design" advocates include such prominent representatives as William A Dembski, Michael Behe, Phillip Johnson, and Alvin Plantinga, while evolution is defended by Daniel Dennett, Kenneth Miller, Michael Ruse, Nancey Murphy, and Ernan McMullen, among others. Also included is a section on the origins of the debate with excerpts from the writings of Charles Darwin and William Paley; a point-counterpoint section, where opposing viewpoints are directly contrasted; and a concluding section on the compatibility of religion and evolution, featuring essays by the late Pope John Paul II, Stephen Jay Gould, and Holmes Rolston III, among others. This excellent compilation is an ideal starting point for anyone interested in scientific literacy, public education, and the role of religion in human experience.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert M. Baird (Waco, TX) is a professor and the former chair of the philosophy department at Baylor University. He is editor with Stuart E. Rosenbaum of Prometheus’s Contemporary Issues series.

Stuart E. Rosenbaum (Waco, TX) is a professor of philosophy at Baylor University. He is editor with Robert M. Baird of Prometheus’s Contemporary Issues series, and is the editor of Pragmatism and Religion.

Product Details

• Paperback: 338 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (August 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591024455
• ISBN-13: 978-1591024453
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what was advertised, July 30, 2007

By 

Jim - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Intelligent Design: Science or Religion? Critical Perspectives (Contemporary Issue Series) (Paperback)

I ordered this book pre-publication in Dec 06 based on the blurb that this would be a "balanced collection of recent articles, proponents of both sides of this controversial issue present their points of view" and "a point-counterpoint section, where opposing viewpoints are directly contrasted." That isn't what got published. The content is a polemic. I'm not interested in religion, but rather in what I think are unanswered issues in evolutionary theory and in some of the questions from creditable scientists with potential "intelligent design" implications. Behe, Demski, Wells, and all the rest are missing. Something must have changed in the planning for the book. As a discussion of evolutionary theory and religion it does a creditable job, with a "vanquish the enemy" mentality. But, we're going to have to wait for the serious point-counterpoint book...we're still held hostage by the press and the advocacy specialists.