Ranting in Ireland Against Anti-Darwinians

Ian O'Doherty wrote an opinion article in the June 4th edition of the Irish Independent called, "And the Lord didst create idiots, and lo he saw it was terrible..."

His article rails against all people who would not bow to the scientific ideal contained within Neo-Darwinian evolution.

Below is the letter I wrote in reply.

"Dear Sirs;

Ian O'Doherty wrote that anyone who disagrees with Neo-Darwinian evolution is similar to a person who “may not like the idea of gravity but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.” Ironically, Sir Isaac Newton, who deducted the Law of Gravitation, created Calculus, and the basis for Linear & Rotational motion to explain the physics of the Universe, believed in the Bible.

In contrast to the Law of Gravity where there are no competing theories, there are competing secular theories on the origins of life such as Punctuated Equilibrium. The reason is that in explaining the origins of life, scientists are not uncovering any new laws of Chemistry, Physics or Biology. Discovering the origins of life is closer to the work of a detective who must uncover the events and history of the past.

Instead of writing anything factual about the actual debate on the origins of life, Ian O'Doherty writes an article that is worthy of the Jerry Springer show. Ian O'Doherty calls those who do have doubts in Neo-Darwinism “Idiots”, “De-ranged and “Mad”? Is this the objective and impartial environment for moving science forward?

To understand the level of vitriol in this debate created by people like Ian O'Doherty consider Richard Sternberg, a staff scientist at the National Institutes of Health in the US who published a research review written by another scientist that happened to support Intelligent Design. Richard Sternberg who is not an evangelical, a fundamentalist, or a theistic evolutionist was harassed leading to a government investigation. Investigators found that officials of the Smithsonian contacted National Center for Science Education, a group that opposes intelligent design, and implemented a strategy to have Sternberg investigated and discredited. Rumors were spread that Sternberg was not really a scientist. He has two PhDs in biology. (You can find this story on the US National Public Radio Website at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5007508.)

Lastly, I am surprised that the Irish Independent would allow such insulting article to be written against many Christians and Roman Catholics. I would encourage the Independent to support "Intelligent" debate similar to what National Public Radio has done in the US.

Best regards,

Kevin Hanley