The Origin of Intelligent Design

by Mogens Michaelsen

Let me start by making it clear, that I am not an expert in evolution or biology. In fact, I am not a scientist at all. Therefore, some of my remarks about these issues might not be correct, or slightly misunderstood...

Following the discussion about "Intelligent Design" I asked myself this question: Why do the idea of ID come from United States of America?

I can think of the following possibilities:

1. America is the Intelligent Designers own country!
2. For a long period USA has been the leading nation in the world, when it comes to science and technology, and still is. As a consequence, American life in general has become extremely dominated by science and technology, at the expense of other cultural factors. Some religious people experience this as a suppression of their religion.
3. Although American culture has of course produced a lot of quality, the percentage of commercial garbage is rather high, I think. This makes millions of Americans suffer from "spiritual malnutrition", many of them without knowing it themselves. Some people, especially those without much education, turn to religion to satisfy their "spiritual hunger".
4. Because science is clearly dominating modern life, your arguments is only taken seriously if you can label it "scientific". Religious and less educated people tend to view this as a lack of respect from the surroundings.
5. America has always had some relatively strong Christian sects, none of which has been directly connected to, and supported by, the Government. Certain sects has been strong enough not only to survive the dominance from science (survival of the fittest?) - but strong enough to go into the more offensive role. Pat Robertson's support of president Bush is an example of this - ID is another.
   

I think you can explain much about the origin of ID by combining the 5 points above.

Another thing is, that ID in reality is meant to replace "creationism". If you ask why, a provoking answer might be: because creationism was hardly able to survive in the given environment! And not only that: there is only a slight difference between creationism and ID - much like the difference between a mutated bacteria and the original organism.

Quite interesting I think, but of course I am aware that this is only a speculative analogy, and not science.

Maybe I should add, that I am a deeply religious Christian myself.


Mogens Michaelsen
http://mogmichs.blogspot.com/