An Introduction to Intelligent Design
 
Edited by Peter Gegenheimer
Associate Professor of Molecular Biosciences, Lawrence, Kansas USA
1: Where 2: Why?   3: How 4: Who  5: What  6: More 7: Fliers
The Creationist "Conference" The Discovery Institute The Wedge Strategy The Cast What is Intelligent Design? Science and Society Books, Articles, & Sites

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The Discovery Institute: Billionaires Against Biology  

The "intelligent design" creationist movement is directed from the Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture[archive, 10-29-00] -- or CRSC, established within the Discovery Institute [archive, 10-29-00], a Seattle-based think tank dedicated to conservative issues.
How the Discovery Institute FunctionsLink to original ]
   The goal of the CRSC and its members is to replace science with religion as the correct way to understand nature.

   The CRSC operates, according to its own internal documents, as a propaganda producer for the issues it espouses. Its tactic is to flood the media with press releases, position papers, news conferences, and -- yes -- staged "conferences" by its own members at prestigeous academic institutions.

Flier:

The Wedge Strategy: the CRSC's Long-Term Planning Document.
2-page PDF file, for general distribution.

   The CRSC was founded by two men: Phillip Johnson, a California law professor who imagines that AIDS is caused not by the HIV virus but by an "unhealthy lifestyle," and George Guilder, a political commentator.

Johnson at the CRSC ]
Guilder at the CRSC ]
   Funding for the establishment of the CRSC came predominantly from two sources, one of which is philanthropic foundations controlled by or affiliated with California savings and loan heir Howard Ahmanson. Ahmanson is a multi-millionaire who gives generously to right-wing causes. Ahmanson also sits on the board of the ultra-conservative Rutherford Foundation, and for many years was on the board of the Chalcedon Foundation.

"Four millionaires and the Legislature"Original ]

"California's Conservative Philanthropists"Original ]

"Three New Testament Roots of Economic Liberty"Original ]

   Howard Ahmanson is a strong supporter of the Chalcedon ideology of Biblical Reconstructionism, which espouses a radical conversion of American society into a theocracy (or religious dictatorship) subservient to a strict interpretation of Old Testament law. Under Reconstructionism, the death penalty would be issued for crimes such as adultery, homosexuality, and disobeying one's parents.
 

[ in progress ]
The Directors of the CRSC are Bruce Chapman, President of Discovery Institute; Stephen C. Meyer, Director of the Center for the Renewal of Science & Culture; John G. West, Jr., Associate Director of the Center for the Renewal of Science & Culture; and Jay Wesley Richards, Program Director for the Center for the Renewal of Science & Culture

The senior staff members of the CRSC are Michael J. Behe, David Berlinski, Paul Chien, William A. Dembski, Michael Denton, David K. DeWolf, Michael Newton Keas, Stephen C. Meyer, Paul A. Nelson, Nancy Pearcey, Jay Wesley Richards, Jeffrey P. Schloss, and Jonathan Wells. For more about these characters, see Section 4: The Cast.
 

 List of CRSC "Fellows"

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  As an example of the Discovery Institute-CRSC's "scientific" position on evolutionary biology and genetics, please refer to their "Evolution FAQ (Frequently-Asked Questions)" list. If you want to know whether "intelligent design" is a religious or a secular movement, the FAQ tells all.
The topics are:  * What is Materialism?  * What is Naturalism? * What is Darwinism?   * Materialism, Naturalism, Darwinism, all these isms, what do they have to do with me and my life? * How has materialism infected the legal system?How has materialism infected our welfare system?How has materialism infected popular culture?But can't I believe in Darwin and God? (This copy of the FAQ was archived on 10-29-00 )

Original link:
 | Materialism |
|   Naturalism |
|   Darwinism |
and my life? |
 |  and theLaw |
| and Welfare |
  |  and Culture |
  | Darwin and God? |
 


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Last updated: 10:23pm on 4/22/01 by pgegen@ku.edu