June 10, 2020 (Jackson, Miss.) - Belhaven Biology Chair Dr. Robert Waltzer and four leading scientist co-authored a book that presents new evidence for Intelligent Design.
Drawing on recent discoveries in astronomy, cosmology, chemistry, biology, and paleontology, Evolution and Intelligent Design in a Nutshell shows how the latest scientific evidence suggests that life and the universe are more than a mindless accident.
Dr. Waltzer explained, “The topics are all presented in such a way as to show the challenges they present to the secular and evolutionary views. The book covers origins of the universe, origin of information,origin of life, irreducible complexity, and biology's 'big bang' (the Cambrian Explosion,a sudden appearance of numerous life forms from no previously existing forms).”
Evolution and Intelligent Design in a Nutshell was published by Discovery Institute Press and is already number one on Amazon for sales of biology and cosmology books. The book's collaborators consisted of a team of scientist that range from NASA engineers to medical technology developers. Dr. Robert Alston is an electrical engineer for Picatinny Arsenal and a former NASA special projects engineer. Dr. Thomas Lo is an engineer and entrepreneur, focused on medical and fitness wearable technology development. Another contributor is Dr. Paul Chien, a Professor Emeritus at the University of San Francisco and former Chair of the Department of Biology. Eric H. Anderson, an entrepreneur and software engineering executive, design theorist, and a contributing author on evolution and intelligent design, wrote several chapters.
Dr. Waltzer's section of the book unpacks the basics of evolution and attempts to show how the theory breaks-apart by using irreducible complexity. Irreducible complexity is an expression coined and defined by Michael Behe, an American biologist and author, as a single system composed of several well-matched, interacting parts that contribute to the basic function, wherein the removal of any one of the parts causes the system to effectively cease functioning.
“In the chapter, 'Irreducible Complexity and Evolution,' I use the classic example by Behe to show the extraordinarily complexity of bacterial flagellum that have a whip-like 'tail' that enables them to swim,” said Dr. Waltzer.“I also go into systems of the human body, including the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and how they display irreducible complexity.”
He also points out that Charles Darwin himself said that his theory would break down if it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications.
What could have been a complicated and heavy topic, the authors made easy to understand. “All of the chapters are very readable and accessible to the layperson,” said Dr. Waltzer. “We are much more familiar with our own body's systems and so this is an attempt to reach the nonscientist in ways that they can understand. Not only that, but every contributor to the book has included additional arguments for Intelligent Design that are new and insightful.”
J. Warner Wallace, author and senior fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, reviewed Evolution and Intelligent Design in a Nutshell and said, "The authors have created an accessible, informative primer on intelligent design, using data from both biology and cosmology. If you're looking for a powerful introduction to the concepts and evidences that continue to haunt those who reject the existence of God, this book is an excellent resource."