The illusion of design



The illusion of design, for many, is a required step for the belief in a higher power. It fulfills their desperate need for the intellectual necessity of their theological axioms. The Bible, even if it is taken allegorically, still clearly implies the universe is the product of a grand designer, no doubt the result of the simple observations of the varied authors of the book. During their lifetime, nothing but the supernatural could explain how the universe could have been originated, or how things would fall to the ground if thrown, and why hot things always burned. Laws were not of nature: they were of God. As science has evolved, however, the laws of the universe have been uncovered, and appear not to require the work of a supernatural force to make them work. This is true of all the forces we know, including evolution. Darwin’s insight shattered one of the most powerful mysteries about how the vast diversity of life originated without a designer. Everything operated as a function of selective pressure, and the only reason human beings exist was because we exploited a particular niche, and nothing else.

The majority of Christians believe in evolution, not because of theological reasons, but rather because they understand how accurate and logical it is. They do not need the inference of a designer to justify their religious beliefs. Of course, not every religious person takes this reasonable stance. Some Christians, particularly evangelical ones, necessitate a literal interpretation of the Bible, and in defense of their theology, they employ the illusion of design in their creationist explanation of the universe. This ‘theory’ has been dressed up in a cheap tuxedo and given the name Intelligent Design.

The idea of Intelligent Design is not especially new; most of our history we’ve been young earth creationists, believing the earth is only a few thousand years old. We did not possess the scientific gumption to think otherwise. Besides, our respective religions discouraged the type of curiosity that might undermine the exactitude of church doctrine. As far as we were concerned, all the answers had already been discovered, and the most important thing wasn’t this world, but rather the world of the hereafter. Certainly, if you think the universe consists of the earth, and 7 different layers or celestial object revolving around it, it’s not exactly an exciting enough place that needs much attention. But the universe isn’t small: it’s astoundingly huge, and human curiosity is far too powerful not to want to learn more about how it works.

Intelligent Design isn’t science. It is an attempt to undermine science in favor of theological appeasement. It is irrelevant that we are inclined to believe the elegance of nature is too incredible to be the result of only natural law; it does not change the fact the evidence is against a grand designer. We must abandon the idea of inferring intelligence to anything that is complex or powerful without evidence. It’s true it’s in our nature to feel the world obeys the same rules we’ve created for ourselves, but it does not make it so.

Comments (3)

  • avatar

    Josh Nankivel

    Well written. It seems to me you are getting at the need for certainty and many have an ability to credulously accept a concrete answer, even when it is imaginary.

    Additionally, much of the drive for theism comes from our evolutionarily advantageous (usually) propensity for pattern recognition. Finding patterns when they exist is a good thing for survival….and the misfires are commonly used to imagine an authority. This results in theism, conspiracy theories, and belief that a central authority or government can do most things better than the emergent systems which naturally compete and get improved in a social species like ours.


  • avatar


    You forgot the ever important point that intelligent design isn’t a science because it cannot be tested. Even there appears to be evidence for it, it cannot be proved or disproved, and therefore cannot be a science.

  • avatar


    ‘The majority of Christians believe in Evolution’ – I take your point but i would qualify it by saying that the majority of Christians are largely unaware of what Evolution actually is and don’t have any deep-seated, religiously-inspired, dogmatic disbelief of the theory. Surely it’s not a matter of belief for the majority of people, Christians or not. Disbelief in a fact doesn’t alter the fact that – well, it’s a fact! Good article.

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