Intelligent Design

Intelligent design as described in the writings of Wm A Dembski seems to be a
valid and useful way to look at the biological realm. First, I was awed by the
descriptions of some living beings and their amazingly arrayed technology. In
one paper, Dembski describes the operation of a bacterial flagellum which is
used to propel the bacteria through the water. The Falgellum rotates @ about
10,000 rpm, can change direction in 1/4 of a turn, has O rings, and a motor.
Dembski states that this is flagellum represents Intelligent Design as measured by
his criteria. He then claims that evolution could not produce such a mechanism
given the operational features of selection, genetic development and so on. He
challenges evolutionist to describe and demonstrate some path by which this
flagellum could be developed, stating that it’s not enough to presume evolution
can make it happen, or to extrapolate from a single factor (eg., one common gene
in two bacteria out of 50 needed form the flagellum to work). Hand-waving and
stories are not enough. Invoking the operation of chance, Invoking partial
operation of known or unknown genetic processes don’t cut the mustard.
Stories, scenarios and interpretion/extrapolation of geological processes won’t
do either.