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Monday, October 11, 2010

Is a designer for genetic information necessary or proved?

In a recent post to the Biologos Forum, Randy Isaac, who is currently Executive Director of the American Scientific Affiliation, an organization about science, with members who are Christians, argues against a common claim of the Intelligent Design movement. That claim, particularly made by Stephen Meyer, is that genetic information is similar to computer instructions, and, therefore, that there must be a designer of genetic information, just as there is a designer for a set of computer instructions.

Isaac argues, I think persuasively, that the two types of information are fundamentally different. He writes:
The significance and meaning of computer code depends on the abstract, or symbolic, significance attributed to physical states of the computer by an intelligent agent. In sharp contrast, the significant functionality of the information of a living cell depends on physical survival and not on abstract significance. Hence, the information in a living cell can be selected for functionality by physical processes without an intelligent agent whereas computer code cannot.

Note that Isaac does not say that there is no such thing as a Designer. His claim is that Meyer has not demonstrated a proof of His existence.

Hebrews 11:3 says: By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible. (WEB) This verse may be saying -- I'm not sure -- that scientific proof of God's existence is impossible.

Thanks for reading. Read Isaac.

2 comments:

Godlessons said...

The problem with 'intelligent design' is that there is no evidence for it whatsoever. Everything appears to have a natural reason, and even if there were a designer, they certainly went to great lengths to hide their tracks.

Martin LaBar said...

I agree, Godlessons.

I believe that God has usually used natural processes that He put in place as part of creation.

Thanks.