Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul
by Kenneth R. Miller
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Book Summary Information
Author: Kenneth R. MillerEdition: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2008-06-12
ISBN: 1616802871
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Viking Adult
Book Reviews of Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul
Book Review: Truth is truth.
Summary: 5 Stars
I find it laughable that the ID reviewers of this book claim it is full of "misrepresentations" and "misquotes." Miller has explained the theory of evolution plainly and truthfully why exposing every fanciful ID concept presented at the Dover trial as the unscientific gibberish it is. I had the experience of paging through one of Behe's books and was disgusted with the sheer volume of misrepresentation and misquotes of Darwin and other scientists. Most ID proponents simply don't understand the theory of evolution and scientific method. However, I believe Behe and his friends at the so-called Discovery Institute have the mental capacity to grasp both. Rather than misunderstand it, they are threatened by it. Their fundamentalist Christian beliefs (that's right, I used the "F" word) can't cope with the concept that the world may not revolve around humanity. For them to deliberately misrepresent evolution, pervert science in general, and build a publicity campaign to malign truth as they have is absolutely despicable.
In this book Miller walks through the details of the Dover trial where it was shown plainly how Behe and his cohorts had indeed launched this public relations campaign to replace scientific theory which has been tried and true for over 150 years with their fundamentalist christian belief system. I'm amazed how supposedly educated people can turn their backs on vast amounts of empirical evidence and embrace a literal translation of the Bible. But as a believer in God myself I am disgusted with people who would subvert the truth and claim the religious high ground at the same time.
Miller warns of the dangers of ignoring evolution and the life sciences. And these dangers don't stop at severely compromising our ability to combat disease based on constantly evolving microbes and viruses. Science as a whole would be stifled and discovery (real discovery - not the perversion of the word as used by the "Discovery Institute") would stagnate. If we allow someone to subvert the truth in the science class with their own agenda, then what is there to stop that same party from rewriting history books or burning literature. If the ID agenda comes to fruition we not only lose our future, but we could lose our past.
Miller also explains the beauty of the reality that the theory of evolution teaches us. We have a common ancestry with nearly every living thing on this immensely biologically diverse Earth. So far despite grim odds, among the numerous species to walk this planet, we are counted among the less than 10 percent to avoid extinction. And we are the sole species to develop the intellectual capacity to discover and understand these truths. The ID proponents need to feel they have a stamp on their foot from God that says "You are special above all others, and I have a plan for you - a destiny." Well no individual and certainly no species has a destiny. Rather than a source for despair, evolution shows us how awe inspiring our existence today is. As for our destiny as a species, that is entirely in our hands.
Summary of Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul
A leading scientist examines the battle between evolution and Intelligent Design in AmericaAt the dawn of the twenty- first century, the debate over Darwin?s theory of evolution is nearly as contentious as it was in the notorious Scopes trial a century ago. Today, however, people who believe that evolution is ?only a theory? have put their hopes in a concept known as Intelligent Design.
In Only a Theory, Kenneth Miller dissects the claims of the ID movement in the same incisive style that marked his testimony as an expert witness in Pennsylvania?s landmark 2005 Dover evolution trial.
Unlike other books on the subject, Only a Theory?s critique of ID goes far beyond the scientific claims of the movement. To Miller, America?s ?soul??its place as the world?s leading scientific nation?is at risk because of this struggle. As he explains, the tactics of this new assault on science mimic earlier efforts of the academic left to remake science as a relativistic, culturally determined enterprise, rather than a rational search for truth about the natural world. Such marginalization, he argues, would effectively destroy American science.
Despite this analysis, Miller refuses to play the role of pessimist. He sees this as a teachable opportunity, a moment at which public understanding and support for science can be redeemed, and offers nothing less than a prescription for how America can save its scientific soul.
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