SER Charts

Summary
This interview of father of intelligent design, Phillip
Johnson, conducted by NOVA explains how Johnson
developed his own ideas about how all living organisms
came to be from Darwinian Evolution. Johnson answers
questions like what is intelligent design? and why do
you think some people do not accept evolution?
Johnson details why he believes the things he does and
how he came to believe them. He even offers evidence
for his religious beliefs. The interview ends with him
stating definitively that he does believe in a creator who
set evolution into motion.

Evaluation
The question and answer style of this source is effective
in getting across the beliefs and reasoning of Phillip
Johnson. To get the answers straight from the father of
intelligent design is very clear and helpful when seeking information about the philosophy. He
offers a sufficient explanation of intelligent design and the support that exists for the belief in
scientific and religious contexts.

Reflection
This interview could be used to explain what intelligent design is and answer several other
questions on the topic. Since Johnson states that he does believe in a high power or creator,
this source could be used to support religious beliefs surrounding a god or deity especially
because he does mention the validity of the accepted theory of evolution.

Citation
NOVA. Defending Intelligent Design. PBS, 2007.
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Summary
The article Intelligent Design: Is it scientific? tests the validity of intelligent design and whether
or not it follows the scientific method. It runs the idea through a series of questions such as does
it aim to explain the natural world, does it use testable ideas, and does it rely on evidence.
Through this process the article concludes that because the idea that a supernatural force
created the universe (in short) cannot be tested or the results replicated, the idea is not
scientific.
Evaluation
This article very clearly and objectively evaluates the credibility of the intelligent design theory or
belief. It does not debunk intelligent design as a religious belief, but rather explains that it is not
rooted in science or that it does not follow the scientific method. The end of the article leaves
readers with the opportunity to decide for themselves whether or not they believe intelligent
design is a valid belief or idea.
Reflection
This article would be a good source to use for explaining the scientific method to students. Of
course it focuses on the scientific validity of intelligent design, but it could be used in a more
general sense to test whether or not other religions or commonly held beliefs are rooted in
science or just present the importance of the scientific method in a practical or applicable
manner.
Citation
National Center for Science Education. What is "Intelligent Design" Creationism? Retrieved
October 30, 2008

Hyperlink
https://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/id_checklist
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Summary
This section of the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy deals with atheism and agnosticism.
The article gives detailed and lengthy definitions of both atheism and agnosticism as well as
explaining the difference between the difference between global atheism and local atheism
(global atheism is the belief that there are no gods of any sort, local atheism denies the
existence of one type of god). The article also gives the arguments for and against agnosticism
and both types of atheism.

Evaluation
This source is very effective in explaining what atheism and agnosticism is. It is also very useful
in that it goes into the details of the different sects of atheism and even provides the support and
refutation for both of these beliefs. It is objective and very informative and credible considering it
comes from a Stanford encyclopedia.

Reflection
This article could be used to explain the belief systems, or lack thereof, of atheism and
agnosticism. It could be used as a source for arguments for or against either ideology. It is a
good source for information on the secular side of the evolution versus creationism debate.

Citation
Draper, Paul. Atheism and Agnosticism. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2017

Hyperlink
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/#GlobAtheVersLocaAthe
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Summary
This sermon by Pastor Clay Gentry of Lanton Church goes into detail about the meaning of
Genesis 1:1 which is the basis for creationism (the Christian God created the universe and
everything in it). Pastor Gentry debunks the idea of intelligent design by saying that Genesis 1:1
is the first test of faith and what gives God His power. He goes on to say that for one to deny
this verse is to deny God and that to look for a scientific explanation in Genesis 1:1 is futile and
yet another betrayal of God.

Evaluation
This source has a very obvious bias being that it is a sermon from a Christian church; however it
is an excellent source for the intelligent design argument since Pastor Gentry all but outright
states the idea of intelligent design has no place in the Christian religion. As long as the bias is
recognized this source is effective in providing its argument.

Reflection
This sermon is very stern in its argument and leave little room for questions. While that it
effective for the audience it is directed at, it can alienate people on the fence of on the complete
opposite side of the discussion. If the reader is not completely aligned with the Pastors way of
thinking, it is easy for the reader to reject a lot of his ideas.

Citation
Gentry, Clay. In the Beginning God. Sermoncentral, 2013.

Hyperlink
https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/in-the-beginning-god-clay-gentry-sermon-on-
creation-178222?ref=SermonSerps
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Summary
This cartoon illustrates how the subscribers
of intelligent design are making an attempt to
integrate science into religion. A man with in
a shirt that read intelligent design is adding
scientific equipment like rulers and flasks to
the famous Sistine Chapel painting by
Michelangelo.

Evaluation
This cartoon shows how certain people try to
make religion and science fit together. It is
very clearly shown with the intelligent
design shirt that that is the subject of this piece. The painting that the man is working on is a
well-known religious piece of art. The cartoonist is implying that the belief of intelligent design is
trying to alter the idea of God and Christianity in a big way.

Reflection
This cartoon is very powerful and introduces the simplest form of intelligent design in a very
clear way. This cartoon could be used not only to explain what intelligent design is, but how
some people feel about the idea, seeing as how most cartoons of this sort seem to chose sides.

Citation
Cox and Forkum. The New Creationism. Capitalism Magazine, 2005.
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Summary
This Crash Course episode on intelligent design by Hank Green talks about how the idea of
intelligent design came about. He focuses on Thomas Aquinass argument for the existence of
God. Green explains the Watchmaker analogy which states that all people know complex
things have creators and purpose and just because one might not know how those complex
things were made or even what their purpose is, that does not mean that thing does not have a
creator, for example, a watch (God being the watchmaker).

Evaluation
This video does a very good job of explaining the Watchmaker analogy and how it relates to
intelligent design in simple, easy-to-understand terms. It is an effective tool for learning the
origins of intelligent design and the theories that surround it.

Reflection
Crash Course videos are good sources because they are heavily researched and they present
their information in a way that is visually interesting and easy to follow. They often go into the
less explored or lesser known facts of some ideas, and then connect those facts to the big
picture, which is what this Crash Course episode did.

Citation
Green, Hank. Intelligent Design: Crash Course Philosophy #11. YouTube, 2016.

Hyperlink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e9v_fsZB6A