We are not inferring design to account for a black box, but to account for an open box. Michael Behe More Quotes by Michael Behe More Quotes From Michael Behe If you take away a rock from a pile of rocks you haven't changed much. It's still a heap of rocks - just a rock or two smaller. Take away a component from the mousetrap and it isn't a mousetrap any more. Michael Behe changed I find the idea of common descent (that all organisms share a common ancestor) fairly convincing, and have no particular reason to doubt it. Michael Behe doubtcommonideas Proteins are the machinery of living tissue that builds the structures and carries out the chemical reactions necessary for life. Michael Behe chemical-reactionstissuesstructure Despite some remaining puzzles, there's no reason to doubt that Darwin had this point right, that all creatures on earth are biological relatives Michael Behe earthdoubtreason In the 19th century the anatomy of the eye was known in great detail and the sophisticated mechanisms it employs to deliver an accurate picture of the outside world astounded everyone who was familiar with them. Michael Behe detailseyeworld Biology has progressed tremendously due to the model that Darwin put forth. But the black boxes Darwin accepted are now being opened, and our view of the world is again being shaken. Michael Behe blackviewsworld The first point one has to get straight in discussions like this, is that ID is not the opposite of evolution. Rather, it is the opposite of Darwinism, which says life evolved by an utterly unguided, undirected mechanism. If god directed the process of evolution, or rigged the universe to produce complex life, then that is not Darwinism - it is intelligent design. Michael Behe designintelligentopposites The basic structure of proteins is quite simple: they are formed by hooking together in a chain discrete subunits called amino acids. Michael Behe tiessimpletogether In many biological structures proteins are simply components of larger molecular machines. Michael Behe proteinmachinesstructure As can be seen even by this limited number of examples proteins carry out amazingly diverse functions. Michael Behe proteinexamplenumbers In order to say that some function is understood, every relevant step in the process must be elucidated. Michael Behe processstepsorder Thus it seemed to Haeckel that such simple life could easily be produced from inanimate material. Michael Behe inanimate-objectssimple-lifesimple Skin is made in large measure of a protein called collagen. Michael Behe proteinskinsmade For example, both humans and chimps have a broken copy of a gene that in other mammals helps make vitamin C. ... It's hard to imagine how there could be stronger evidence for common ancestry of chimps and humans. ... Despite some remaining puzzles, there's no reason to doubt that Darwin had this point right, that all creatures on earth are biological relatives. Michael Behe strongerbrokendoubt As the number of unexplained, irreducibly complex biological systems increases, our confidence that Darwin's criterion of failure has been met skyrockets toward the maximum that science allows. Michael Behe criteriaincreasenumbers Under my definition, a scientific theory is a proposed explanation which focuses or points to physical, observable data and logical inferences. There are many things throughout the history of science which we now think to be incorrect which nonetheless would fit that which would fit that definition. Yes, astrology is in fact one. Michael Behe astrologydatathinking Throughout history there have been many other examples, similar to that of Haeckel, Huxley and the cell, where a key piece of a particular scientific puzzle was beyond the understanding of the age. Michael Behe cellsunderstandingkeys It was only about sixty years ago that the expansion of the universe was first observed. Michael Behe expansionyearsfirsts It is a shock to us in the twentieth century to discover, from observations science has made, that the fundamental mechanisms of life cannot be ascribed to natural selection, and therefore were designed. But we must deal with our shock as best we can and go on. Michael Behe fundamentalsnaturalgoes-on It is often said that science must avoid any conclusions which smack of the supernatural. Michael Behe smackconclusionsaid
