As ENV notes, William Provine passed away on September 1 — and the National Center for Selling Evolution Science Education uses the occasion to attack “creationists.” Their obituary states:
As a result of [Dr. Provine’s] prominence, he was often cited by creationists eager to portray his views on the connection between evolution and atheism, or a caricature thereof, as representative of scientists in general.
Speaking of evolution and atheism, it happens that a colleague the other day brought to my attention the ACLU’s FAQ on intelligent design, which represents a sort of Greatest Hits list of favorite Darwinist distortions. In light of Dr. Provine’s death, this one caught my eye:
Q: Does the scientific theory of evolution deny the existence of an intelligent designer or God?
A: No. Since the question of God’s existence is outside the realm of science, the theory of evolution is silent on it. Darwin himself openly wondered about the existence of a supreme designer throughout his life, but kept these questions separate from his scientific work. Accepting evolution and belief in God are not mutually exclusive. Many scientists hold personal religious beliefs, including Dr. Francis Collins, leader of the Human Genome Project and an evangelical Protestant, and Dr. Kenneth Miller, a Catholic and a prominent biologist who was called as an expert witness in Kitzmiller v. Dover.
This is NCSE-style equivocation, and more. Evolutionary theory is in conflict neither with God — nor even with intelligent design? Darwinian theory is not in conflict with its diametric opposite? Now watch Provine, interviewed by Ben Stein for the film Expelled. Click on the image at the top to get there.
The rawness of Provine’s account of losing his religion speaks for itself. On the compatibility of anything like traditional faith with the idea of life’s accidental origins, Dr. Provine and the NCSE-ACLU take opposed views. Which strikes you as the more authentic?
“Creationists” — the word itself is fraught with deception, but let it pass — do not cite Provine because his take on evolution versus religion is “representative of scientists in general.” We “creationists” cite him, among other reasons, because his honesty, with himself and with others, was and is unusual, not “representative.” Most human beings, scientists included, are not so candid with themselves, allowing noxious ideas to work on them subliminally, unthinkingly, like second-hand smoke.
Provine was different. He thought through the Darwinian evolutionary idea to its logical conclusions and stated those openly with a bleak candor. Listening to him speak, there’s no doubting his honesty, which is more than you can say for some Darwin apologists. That is a voice of truth-telling, not calculation and expediency.