Welcome aboard, Dr. Moran! The U. of Toronto biochemist surprised us by indicating in a post at his Sandwalk blog that he could sign on to the statement in the Scientific Dissent from Darwinism, which says this:
We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged.
Moran: “Many atheist scientists, including me, would agree with the statement.”
So he could sign on, in theory, but he won’t because he says he thinks we would “misuse” his name. Laurence Moran writes, using the continued childish baiting of ID supporters as “IDiots” that is his signature: “Only an IDiot would claim that supporters of this statement are also creationists.” But of course no one says that the signers of the Dissent list are creationists, other than Darwin advocates who dishonestly try to cement the absurd, fallacious equation of Darwin skepticism with Young Earth Creationism. The list has nothing to do with creationism. Nor does it say anything about intelligent design, which also has nothing to do with creationism.
Much more noteworthy than Moran’s personal agreement — I already knew he doesn’t like the term “Darwinist” — is his admission that many scientists feel similarly, including atheists. In the words of the Dissent list, they “are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life,” and feel that “Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged.”
Bravo!
Any scientist who agrees with the statement that heads the Scientific Dissent from Darwinism is a Darwin doubter, that’s all — and congratulations to him or her! Simply to relay the fact of his skepticism on orthodox evolutionary theory is hardly a misuse of anyone’s name. It just reports some interesting and good news. What’s wrong with that? For Darwin defenders, the thing that’s wrong is that it undercuts their main defense: the assertion that nobody doubts Darwin’s theory, or only religious nuts do so, and so there is no legitimate controversy on evolution.
We’ve always said that private doubts about Darwinian theory are far more widespread in scientific life than the media let on. Now on that point we have Dr. Moran’s helpful confirmation.