KMO wrote:
>Well, they certainly do play vector to a very hardy and adaptive
>meme-complex, but they didn't design it; they just got infected with it.
Don't be so sure of their passive role in design.
After finally getting my scanner up, I offer the following text which was,
er.. "liberated" from the Discovery Institute, a Christian Think-Tank, by
another culture-jammer from our local cell.
The document is titled "The Wedge" and authored by the innocuous sounding
"Center for the Renewal of Science & Culture", itself a construct of the
Discovery Institute.
This is it, folks! In black-and-white; their twenty-year, three-phase
strategy to "defeat scientific materialism and its destructive moral,
cultural and political legacies" and "to replace materialistic explanations
with the theistic understanding that nature and human beings are created by
God." This is a rare look straight into the belly of the Beast.
It's a little long (and I really wish I could include the cheesy
wedge-shaped flow-chart drawings with it), but it is worth your time to
read. (Hell, it's essental that you read it!) This is what we're up
against, boys and girls. You won't get this kind of insiders view very
often. These people are not stupid and they can't be easily dismissed as
loonies. These are educated, intellegent, articulate, and incredibly
commited individuals.
And they have an agenda..
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CENTER FOR THE RENEWAL OF SCIENCE & CULTURE
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INTRODUCTION
THE proposition that human beings are created in the image of God is one of
the bedrock principles on which Western civilization was built. Its
influence can be detected in most, if not all, of the West's greatest
achievements, including representative democracy, human rights, free
enterprise, and progress in the arts and sciences.
Yet a little over a century ago, this cardinal idea came under wholesale
attack by intellectuals drawing on the discoveries of modern science.
Debunking the traditional conceptions of both God and man, thinkers such as
Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud portrayed humans not as moral
and spiritual beings, but as animals or machines who inhabited a universe
ruled by purely impersonal forces and whose behavior and very thoughts were
dictated by the unbending forces of biology, chemistry, and environment.
This materialistic conception of reality eventually infected virtually every
area of our culture, from politics and economics to literature and art
The cultural consequences of this triumph of materialism were devastating.
Materialists denied the existence of objective moral standards, claiming
that environment dictates our behavior and beliefs. Such moral relativism
was uncritically adopted by much of the social sciences, and it still
undergirds much of modern economics, political science, psychology and
sociology.
Materialists also undermined personal responsibility by asserting that human
thoughts and behaviors are dictated by our biology and environment. The
results can be seen in modern approaches to criminal justice, product
liability, and welfare. In the materialist scheme of things, everyone is a
victim and no one can be held accountable for his or her actions.
Finally, materialism spawned a virulent strain of utopianism.
Thinking they could engineer the perfect society through the application of
scientific knowledge, materialist reformers advocated coercive government
programs that falsely promised to create heaven on earth.
Discovery Institute's Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture seeks
nothing less than the overthrow of materialism and its cultural legacies.
Bringing together leading scholars from the natural sciences and those from
the humanities and social sciences, the Center explores how new developments
in biology, physics and cognitive science raise serious doubts about
scientific materialism and have re-opened the case for a broadly theistic
understanding of
nature. The Center awards fellowships for original research, holds
conferences, and briefs policymakers about the opportunities for life after
materialism.
The Center is directed by Discovery Senior Fellow Dr. Stephen Meyer. An
Associate Professor of Philosophy at Whitworth College, Dr. Meyer holds a
Ph.D. in the History and Philosophy of Science from Cambridge University. He
formerly worked as a geophysicist for the Atlantic Richfield Company.
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THE WEDGE STRATEGY
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Phase I.
Scientific Research, Writting & Publiity
Phase II.
Publicity & Opinion-making
Phase III.
Cultural Confrontation & Renewal
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THE WEDGE PROJECTS
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Phase I. Scientific Research, Writing & Publication
� Individual Research Fellowship Program
� Paleontology Research program (Dr. Paul Chien et al.)
� Molecular Biology Research Program (Dr. Douglas Axe et al.)
Phase II. Publicity & Opinion-making
� Book Publicity
� Opinion-Maker Conferences
� Apologetics Seminars
� Teacher Training Program
� Op-ed Fellow
� PBS (or other TV) Co-production
� Publicity Materials / Publications
Phase III. Cultural Confrontation & Renewal
� Academic and Scientific Challenge Conferences
� Potential Legal Action for Teacher Training
� Research Fellowship Program: shift to social sciences and humanities
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FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN SUMMARY
The social consequences of materialism have been devastating. As symptoms,
those consequences are certainly worth treating. However, we are convinced
that in order to defeat materialism, we must cut it off at its source. That
source is scientific materialism. This is precisely our strategy. If we
view the predominant materialistic science as a giant tree, our strategy is
intended to function as a "wedge" that, while relatively small, can split
the trunk when applied at its weakest points. The very beginning of this
strategy, the "thin edge of the wedge," was Phillip ]ohnson's critique of
Darwinism begun in 1991 in Darwinism on Trial,
and continued in Reason in the Balance and Defeatng Darwinism by Opening
Minds. Michael Behe's highly successful Darwin's Black Box followed
Johnson's work. We are building on this momentum, broadening the wedge with
a positive scientific alternative to materialistic scientific theories,
which has come to be called the theory of intelligent design (ID). Design
theory promises to reverse the stifling dominance of the materialist
worldview, and to replace it with a science consonant with Christian and
theistic convictions.
The Wedge strategy can be divided into three distinct but interdependent
phases, which are roughly but not strictly chronological. We believe that,
with adequate support, we can accomplish many of the objectives of Phases I
and II in the next five years (1999-2003), and begin Phase III (See "Goals/
Five Year Objectives/Activities").
Phase I: Research, Writing and Publication
Phase II: Publicity and Opinion-making
Phase III: Cultural Confrontation and Renewal
Phase I is the essential component of everything that comes afterward.
Without solid scholarship, research and argument, the project would be just
another attempt to indoctrinate instead of persuade. A lesson we have
learned from the history of science is that it is unnecessary to outnumber
the opposing establishment. Scientific revolutions are usually staged by an
initially small and relatively young group of scientists who are not blinded
by the prevailing prejudices and who are able to do creative work at the
pressure points, that is, on those critical issues upon which whole systems
of thought hinge. So, in Phase I we are supporting vital witting and
research at the sites most likely to crack the materialist edifice.
Phase II. The pnmary purpose of Phase II is to prepare the popular reception
of our ideas. The best and truest research can languish unread and unused
unless it is properly publicized. For this reason we seek to cultivate and
convince influential individuals in pnnt and broadcast media, as well as
think tank leaders, scientists and academics, congressional staff, talk show
hosts, college and seminary presidents and faculty, future talent and
potential academic allies. Because of his long tenure in politics,
journalism and public policy, Discovery President Bruce Chapman brings to
the project rare knowledge and acquaintance of key op-ed writers,
journalists, and political leaders. This combination of scientific and
scholarly expertise and media and political connections makes the Wedge
unique, and also prevents it from being "merely academic." Other activities
include production of a PBS documentary on intelligent design and its
implications, and popular op-ed publishing. Alongside a focus on influential
opinion-makers, we also seek to build up a popular base of support among our
natural constituency, namely, Chnstians. We will do this primarily through
apologetics seminars. We intend these to encourage and equip believers with
new scientific evidence's that support the faith, as well as to "popularize"
our ideas in the broader culture.
Phase III. Once our research and writing have had time to mature, and the
public prepared for the reception of design theory, we will move toward
direct confrontation with the advocates of materialist science through
challenge conferences in significant academic settings. We will also pursue
possible legal assistance in response to resistance to the integration of
design theory into public school science curricula. The attention,
publicity, and influence of design theory should draw scientific
materialists into open debate with design theorists, and we will be ready.
With an added emphasis to the social sciences and humanities, we will begin
to address the specific social consequences of materialism and the Darwinist
theory that supports it in the sciences.
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GOALS
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Governing Goals
� To defeat scientific materialism and its destructive moral, cultural and
political legacies.
� To replace materialistic explanations with the theistic understanding
that nature and hurnan beings are created by God.
Five Year Goals
� To see intelligent design theory as an accepted alternative in the
sciences and scientific research being done from the perspective of
design theory.
� To see the beginning of the influence of design theory in spheres other
than natural science.
� To see major new debates in education, life issues, legal and personal
responsibility pushed to the front of the national agenda.
Twenty Year Goals
� To see intelligent design theory as the dominant perspective in science.
� To see design theory application in specific fields, including molecular
biology, biochemistry, paleontology, physics and cosmology in the natural
sciences, psychology, ethics, politics, theology and philosophy in the
humanities; to see its innuence in the fine arts.
� To see design theory permeate our religious, cultural, moral and political
life.
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FIVE YEAR OBJECTIVES
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1. A major public debate between design theorists and Darwinists (by 2003)
2. Thirty published books on design and its cultural implications (sex,
gender issues, medicine, law, and religion)
3. One hundred scientific, academic and technical articles by our
fellows
4. Significant coverage in national media:
� Cover story on major news magazine such as Time or Newsweek
� PBS show such as Nova treating design theory fairly
� Regular press coverage on developments in design theory
� Favorable op-ed pieces and columns on the design movement by 3rd party
media
5. Spiritual&cultural renewal:
� Mainline renewal movements begin to appropriate insights from design
theory, and to repudiate theologies influenced by materialism
� Major Christian denomination(s) defend(s) traditional doctrine of creation
& repudiate(s) Darwinism
� Seminaries increasingly recognize & repudiate naturalistic presuppositions
� Positive uptake in public opinion polls on issues such as sexuality,
abortion and belief in God
6. Ten states begin to rectify ideological imbalance in their science
curricula & include design theory
7. Scientific achievements
� An active design movement in Israel, the UK and other influential
countries outside the US
� Ten CRSC Fellows teaching at major universities
� Two universities where design theory has become the dominant view
� Design becomes a key concept in the social sciences
� Legal reform movements base legislative proposals on design theory
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ACTVITIES
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(1) Research Fellowship Program (for writing and publishing)
(2) Front line research funding at the "pressure points" (e.g., Daul Chien's
Chengjiang Cambrian Fossil Find in paleontology, and Doug Axe's research
laboratory in molecular biology)
(3) Teacher training
(4) Academic Conferences
(5) Opinion-maker Events & Conferences
(6) Alliance-building, recruitment of future scientists and leaders, and
strategic partnerships with think tanks, social advocacy groups,
educational organizations and institutions, churches, religious groups,
foundations and media outlets
(7) Apologetics seminars and public speaking
(8) Op-ed and popular writing
(9) Documentaries and other media productions
(10) Academic debates
(11) Fund Raising and Development
(12) General Administrative support
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THE WEDGE STRATEGY PROGRESS SUMMARY
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Books
William Dembski and Paul Nelson, two CRSC Fellows, will very soon have books
published by major secular university publishers, Cambridge University Press
and The University of Chicago Press, respectively. (One critiques Darwinian
materialism; the other offers a powerful altenative.) Nelson's book, On
Common Descent is the seventeenth book in the prestigious University of
Chicago "Evolutionary Monographs" series and the first to critique
neo-Dacwinism. Dembski's book, The Design Inference, was back-ordered in
June, two months prior to its release date. These books follow hard on the
heals of Michael Behe's Darwin's Black Box (The Free Press) which is now in
paperback after nine print runs in hard cover. So far it has been translated
into six foreign languages. The success of his book has led to other secular
publishers such as McGraw Hill requesting future titles from us. This is a
breakthrough. InterVarsity will publish our large anthology, Mere Creabon
(based upon the Mere Creation conference) this fall, and Zondervan is
publishing Maker of Heaven and Earth: Three Views of the Creation-Evolution
Contoversy, edited by fellows John Mark Reynolds and J.P. Moreland. McGraw
Hill solicited an expedited proposal from Meyer, Dembski and Nelson on their
book Uncommmon Descent. Finally, Discovery Fellow Ed Larson has won the
Pulitzer Prize for Summer for the Gods, his retelling of the Scopes Trial,
and InterVarsity has just published his co-authored attack on assisted
suicide, A Different Death.
Academic Articles
Our fellows recently have been featured or published articles in major
sciendfic and academic journals in The Proceedings to the National Academy
of Sciences, Nature, The Scientist, The American Biology Teacher,
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Biochemirtry,
Philosophy and Biology, Faith & Philosophy, American Philosophical
Quarterly, Rhetoric & Public Affairs, Analysis, Book & Culture, Ethics &
Medicine, Zygon, Perspectives on Science and the Christian Faith, Relgious
Studies, Christian Scholars' Review, The Southern Journal ofPhilosophy, and
the Journal of Psychalogy and Theology. Many more such articles are now in
press or awaiting review at major secular journals as a result of our first
round of research fellowships. Our own journal, Origins & Design, continues
to feature scholarly contribudons from CRSC Fellows and other scientists.
Television and Radio Appearances
During 1997 our fellows appeared on numerous radio programs (both Christian
and secular) and five nadonally televised programs, TechnoPolitics, Hardball
with Chris Matthews, Inside the Law, Freedom Speaks and Firing Line. The
special edition of TechnoPolitics that we produced with PBS in November
elicited such an unprecedented audience response that the producer Neil
Freeman decided to air a second episode from the "out takes." His enthusiasm
for our intellectual agenda helped stimulate a special edition of William F.
Buckley's Firing Line, featuring Phillip Johnson and two of our fellows,
Michael Behe and David Berlinski. At Ed Atsinger's invitation, Phil Johnson
and Steve Meyer addressed Salem Communications' Talk Show Host conference in
Dallas last November. As a result, Phil and Steve have been interviewed
several times on Salem talk shows across the country. For example, in ]uly
Steve Meyer and Mike Behe were interviewed for two hours on the nationally
broadcast radio show ]anet Parshall's America. Canadian Public Radio (CBC)
recently featured Steve Meyer on their Tapestry program. The episode, "God &
the Scientists," has aired all across Canada. And in April, William Craig
debated Oxford atheist Peter Atkins in Atlanta before a large audience
(moderated by William F. Buckley), which was broadcast live via satellite
link, local radio, and intenet "webcast."
Newspaper and Magazine Articles
The Firing Line debate generated positive press coverage for our movement
in, of all places, The New York Times, as well as a column by Bill Buckley.
In addition, our fellows have published recent articles & op-eds in both the
secular and Christian press, including, for example, The Wall Street
Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Times, National Review,
Commentary, Touchstone, The Detroit News, The Boston Review, The Seattle
Post-lntelligenter, Christianity Toady, Cosmic Pursuits and World. An op-ed
piece by Jonathan Wells and Steve Meyer is awaiting publication in the
Washington Post. Their article criticizes the National Academy of Science
book Teaching about Evolution for its selective and ideological presentation
of scientific evidence. Similar articles are in the works.
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