News Intelligence Analysis
From
Anti-Evolution.org
August 21, 2005
The Wedge Strategy
How to Win the Scientific
War Against Evolution
Center for the Renewal of
Science and Culture
NOTE FROM THE YURICA REPORT:
Regardless
of its subject matter, The Wedge Strategy is an eye-opening
example of strategic planning and tactics needed to win the culture
wars. And it reveals why the Democrats are losing--they do not
have think tanks that produce this kind of practical, cohesive,
reproducible insight:
As Christians who have a deep
love and respect for science as well as the Bible, we stand in
the "Middle Church" again, trying to bring an understanding
of both views to our readers. However, our purpose in publishing
The Wedge Strategy is to help our readers understand how political
movements work. We publish the "Note from Lenny Flank"
below to give voice to the religious left in their opposition
to the Discovery Institute and its methods without endorsing
his statement.
NOTE FROM LENNY FLANK: The
Wedge Document is an internal memorandum from the Discovery Institute
(the leading proponent of Intelligent Designer "Theory")
that was leaked to the Internet in 1999. The Discovery Institute
later admitted to its authenticity. Since then, Discovery Institute
hasn't talked very much about the document, or the strategy it
outlines. The reason is crushingly obvious, since the Wedge Document
makes it readily apparent that the Discovery Institute is flat-out
lying to us when it claims that its Intelligent Designer campaign
is concerned only with science and does not have any religious
aims, purpose or effect. Creation
Science Debunked
Introduction
The proposition that human beings are created in the image
of God is one of the bedrock principles on which Western civilization
was built. Its influence can be detected in most, if not all,
of the West's greatest achievements, including representative
democracy, human rights, free enterprise, and progress in the
arts and sciences.
Yet a little over a century ago, this cardinal idea came under
wholesale attack by intellectuals drawing on the discoveries
of modern science. Debunking the traditional conceptions of both
God and man, thinkers such as Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and
Sigmund Freud portrayed humans not as moral and spiritual beings,
but as animals or machines who inhabited a universe ruled by
purely impersonal forces and whose behavior and very thoughts
were dictated by the unbending forces of biology, chemistry,
and environment. This materialistic conception of reality eventually
infected virtually every area of our culture, from politics and
economics to literature and art.
The cultural consequences of this triumph of materialism were
devastating. Materialists denied the existence of objective moral
standards, claiming that environment dictates our behavior and
beliefs. Such moral relativism was uncritically adopted by much
of the social sciences, and it still undergirds much of modern
economics, political science, psychology and sociology.
Materialists also undermined personal responsibility by asserting
that human thoughts and behaviors are dictated by our biology
and environment. The results can be seen in modern approaches
to criminal justice, product liability, and welfare. In the materialist
scheme of things, everyone is a victim and no one can be held
accountable for his or her actions.
Finally, materialism spawned a virulent strain of utopianism.
Thinking they could engineer the perfect society through the
application of scientific knowledge, materialist reformers advocated
coercive government programs that falsely promised to create
heaven on earth.
Discovery Institute's Center for the Renewal of Science and
Culture seeks nothing less than the overthrow of materialism
and its cultural legacies. Bringing together leading scholars
from the natural sciences and those from the humanities and social
sciences, the Center explores how new developments in biology,
physics and cognitive science raise serious doubts about scientific
materialism and have re-opened the case for a broadly theistic
understanding of nature. The Center awards fellowships for original
research, holds conferences, and briefs policymakers about the
opportunities for life after materialism.
The Center is directed by Discovery Senior Fellow Dr. Stephen
Meyer. An Associate Professor of Philosophy at Whitworth College,
Dr. Meyer holds a Ph.D. in the History and Philosophy of Science
from Cambridge University. He formerly worked as a geophysicist
for the Atlantic Richfield Company.
The Wedge Strategy
Phase I.
Scientific Research, Writing & Publicity
Phase II.
Publicity & Opinion-making
Phase III.
Cultural Confrontation & Renewal
The Wedge Projects
Phase I. Scientific Research, Writing & Publication
Individual Research Fellowship Program
Paleontology Research program (Dr. Paul Chien et al.)
Molecular Biology Research Program (Dr. Douglas Axe et al.)
Phase II. Publicity & Opinion-making
Book Publicity
Opinion-Maker Conferences
Apologetics Seminars
Teacher Training Program
Op-ed Fellow
PBS (or other TV) Co-production
Publicity Materials / Publications
Phase III. Cultural Confrontation & Renewal
Academic and Scientific Challenge Conferences
Potential Legal Action for Teacher Training
Research Fellowship Program: shift to social sciences and humanities
Five Year Strategic Plan Summary
The social consequences of materialism have been devastating.
As symptoms, those consequences are certainly worth treating.
However, we are convinced that in order to defeat materialism,
we must cut it off at its source. That source is scientific materialism.
This is precisely our strategy. If we view the predominant materialistic
science as a giant tree, our strategy is intended to function
as a "wedge" that, while relatively small, can split
the trunk when applied at its weakest points. The very beginning
of this strategy, the "thin edge of the wedge," was
Phillip ]ohnson's critique of Darwinism begun in 1991 in Darwinism
on Trial, and continued in Reason in the Balance and Defeatng
Darwinism by Opening Minds. Michael Behe's highly successful
Darwin's Black Box followed Johnson's work. We are building on
this momentum, broadening the wedge with a positive scientific
alternative to materialistic scientific theories, which has come
to be called the theory of intelligent design (ID). Design
theory promises to reverse the stifling dominance of the materialist
worldview, and to replace it with a science consonant with Christian
and theistic convictions.
The Wedge strategy can be divided into three distinct but
interdependent phases, which are roughly but not strictly chronological.
We believe that, with adequate support, we can accomplish many
of the objectives of Phases I and II in the next five years (1999-2003),
and begin Phase III (See "Goals/ Five Year Objectives/Activities").
Phase I: Research, Writing and Publication
Phase II: Publicity and Opinion-making
Phase III: Cultural Confrontation and Renewal
Phase I is the essential component of everything that comes
afterward. Without solid scholarship, research and argument,
the project would be just another attempt to indoctrinate instead
of persuade. A lesson we have learned from the history of science
is that it is unnecessary to outnumber the opposing establishment.
Scientific revolutions are usually staged by an initially small
and relatively young group of scientists who are not blinded
by the prevailing prejudices and who are able to do creative
work at the pressure points, that is, on those critical issues
upon which whole systems of thought hinge. So, in Phase I we
are supporting vital witting and research at the sites most likely
to crack the materialist edifice.
Phase II. The pnmary purpose of Phase II is to prepare the
popular reception of our ideas. The best and truest research
can languish unread and unused unless it is properly publicized.
For this reason we seek to cultivate and convince influential
individuals in pnnt and broadcast media, as well as think tank
leaders, scientists and academics, congressional staff, talk
show hosts, college and seminary presidents and faculty, future
talent and potential academic allies. Because of his long tenure
in politics, journalism and public policy, Discovery President
Bruce Chapman brings to the project rare knowledge and acquaintance
of key op-ed writers, journalists, and political leaders. This
combination of scientific and scholarly expertise and media and
political connections makes the Wedge unique, and also prevents
it from being "merely academic." Other activities include
production of a PBS documentary on intelligent design and its
implications, and popular op-ed publishing. Alongside a focus
on influential opinion-makers, we also seek to build up a popular
base of support among our natural constituency, namely, Chnstians.
We will do this primarily through apologetics seminars. We intend
these to encourage and equip believers with new scientific evidence's
that support the faith, as well as to "popularize"
our ideas in the broader culture.
Phase III. Once our research and writing have had time to
mature, and the public prepared for the reception of design theory,
we will move toward direct confrontation with the advocates of
materialist science through challenge conferences in significant
academic settings. We will also pursue possible legal assistance
in response to resistance to the integration of design theory
into public school science curricula. The attention, publicity,
and influence of design theory should draw scientific materialists
into open debate with design theorists, and we will be ready.
With an added emphasis to the social sciences and humanities,
we will begin to address the specific social consequences of
materialism and the Darwinist theory that supports it in the
sciences.
Goals
Governing Goals
To defeat scientific materialism and its destructive moral,
cultural and political legacies.
To replace materialistic explanations with the theistic understanding
that nature and hurnan beings are created by God.
Five Year Goals
To see intelligent design theory as an accepted alternative
in the sciences and scientific research being done from the perspective
of design theory.
To see the beginning of the influence of design theory in spheres
other than natural science.
To see major new debates in education, life issues, legal and
personal responsibility pushed to the front of the national agenda.
Twenty Year Goals
To see intelligent design theory as the dominant perspective
in science.
To see design theory application in specific fields, including
molecular biology, biochemistry, paleontology, physics and cosmology
in the natural sciences, psychology, ethics, politics, theology
and philosophy in the humanities; to see its innuence in the
fine arts.
To see design theory permeate our religious, cultural, moral
and political life.
Five Year Objectives
1. A major public debate between design theorists and Darwinists
(by 2003)
2. Thirty published books on design and its cultural implications
(sex, gender issues, medicine, law, and religion)
3. One hundred scientific, academic and technical articles
by our fellows
4. Significant coverage in national media:
Cover story on major news magazine such as Time or Newsweek
PBS show such as Nova treating design theory fairly
Regular press coverage on developments in design theory
Favorable op-ed pieces and columns on the design movement by
3rd party media
5. Spiritual & cultural renewal:
Mainline renewal movements begin to appropriate insights from
design theory, and to repudiate theologies influenced by materialism
Major Christian denomination(s) defend(s) traditional doctrine
of creation & repudiate(s)
Darwinism Seminaries increasingly recognize & repudiate naturalistic
presuppositions
Positive uptake in public opinion polls on issues such as sexuality,
abortion and belief in God
6. Ten states begin to rectify ideological imbalance in their
science curricula & include design theory
7. Scientific achievements:
An active design movement in Israel, the UK and other influential
countries outside the US
Ten CRSC Fellows teaching at major universities
Two universities where design theory has become the dominant
view
Design becomes a key concept in the social sciences Legal reform
movements base legislative proposals on design theory
Activities
(1) Research Fellowship Program (for writing and publishing)
(2) Front line research funding at the "pressure points"
(e.g., Daul Chien's Chengjiang Cambrian Fossil Find in paleontology,
and Doug Axe's research laboratory in molecular biology)
(3) Teacher training
(4) Academic Conferences
(5) Opinion-maker Events & Conferences
(6) Alliance-building, recruitment of future scientists and
leaders, and strategic partnerships with think tanks, social
advocacy groups, educational organizations and institutions,
churches, religious groups, foundations and media outlets
(7) Apologetics seminars and public speaking
(8) Op-ed and popular writing
(9) Documentaries and other media productions
(10) Academic debates
(11) Fund Raising and Development
(12) General Administrative support
The Wedge Strategy Progress Summary
Books
William Dembski and Paul Nelson, two CRSC Fellows, will very
soon have books published by major secular university publishers,
Cambridge University Press and The University of Chicago Press,
respectively. (One critiques Darwinian materialism; the other
offers a powerful altenative.)
Nelson's book, On Common Descent, is the seventeenth book
in the prestigious University of Chicago "Evolutionary Monographs"
series and the first to critique neo-Dacwinism. Dembski's book,
The Design Inference, was back-ordered in June, two months prior
to its release date.
These books follow hard on the heals of Michael Behe's Darwin's
Black Box (The Free Press) which is now in paperback after nine
print runs in hard cover. So far it has been translated into
six foreign languages. The success of his book has led to other
secular publishers such as McGraw Hill requesting future titles
from us. This is a breakthrough.
InterVarsity will publish our large anthology, Mere Creation
(based upon the Mere Creation conference) this fall, and Zondervan
is publishing Maker of Heaven and Earth: Three Views of the Creation-Evolution
Contoversy, edited by fellows John Mark Reynolds and J.P. Moreland.
McGraw Hill solicited an expedited proposal from Meyer, Dembski
and Nelson on their book Uncommmon Descent. Finally, Discovery
Fellow Ed Larson has won the Pulitzer Prize for Summer for the
Gods, his retelling of the Scopes Trial, and InterVarsity has
just published his co-authored attack on assisted suicide, A
Different Death.
Academic Articles
Our fellows recently have been featured or published articles
in major sciendfic and academic journals in The Proceedings to
the National Academy of Sciences, Nature, The Scientist, The
American Biology Teacher, Biochemical and Biophysical Research
Communications, Biochemirtry, Philosophy and Biology, Faith &
Philosophy, American Philosophical Quarterly, Rhetoric &
Public Affairs, Analysis, Book & Culture, Ethics & Medicine,
Zygon, Perspectives on Science and the Christian Faith, Relgious
Studies, Christian Scholars' Review, The Southern Journal ofPhilosophy,
and the Journal of Psychalogy and Theology. Many more such articles
are now in press or awaiting review at major secular journals
as a result of our first round of research fellowships. Our own
journal, Origins & Design, continues to feature scholarly
contribudons from CRSC Fellows and other scientists.
Television and Radio Appearances
During 1997 our fellows appeared on numerous radio programs
(both Christian and secular) and five nationally televised programs,
TechnoPolitics, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Inside the Law,
Freedom Speaks, and Firing Line. The special edition of TechnoPolitics
that we produced with PBS in November elicited such an unprecedented
audience response that the producer Neil Freeman decided to air
a second episode from the "out takes." His enthusiasm
for our intellectual agenda helped stimulate a special edition
of William F. Buckley's Firing Line, featuring Phillip Johnson
and two of our fellows, Michael Behe and David Berlinski. At
Ed Atsinger's invitation, Phil Johnson and Steve Meyer addressed
Salem Communications' Talk Show Host conference in Dallas last
November. As a result, Phil and Steve have been interviewed several
times on Salem talk shows across the country. For example, in
]uly Steve Meyer and Mike Behe were interviewed for two hours
on the nationally broadcast radio show ]anet Parshall's America.
Canadian Public Radio (CBC) recently featured Steve Meyer on
their Tapestry program. The episode, "God & the Scientists,"
has aired all across Canada. And in April, William Craig debated
Oxford atheist Peter Atkins in Atlanta before a large audience
(moderated by William F. Buckley), which was broadcast live via
satellite link, local radio, and intenet "webcast."
Newspaper and Magazine Articles
The Firing Line debate generated positive press coverage for
our movement in, of all places, The New York Times, as well as
a column by Bill Buckley. In addition, our fellows have published
recent articles & op-eds in both the secular and Christian
press, including, for example, The Wall Street Journal, The New
York Times, The Washington Times, National Review, Commentary,
Touchstone, The Detroit News, The Boston Review, The Seattle
Post-lntelligenter, Christianity Toady, Cosmic Pursuits and World.
An op-ed piece by Jonathan Wells and Steve Meyer is awaiting
publication in the Washington Post. Their article criticizes
the National Academy of Science book Teaching about Evolution
for its selective and ideological presentation of scientific
evidence. Similar articles are in the works.
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Communication and Propaganda
Politicized Scholars Put Evolution
on the Defensive
By JODI WILGOREN
When President Bush plunged into the debate
over the teaching of evolution, saying, "both
sides ought to be properly taught," he seemed
to be reading from the playbook of the Discovery
Institute, the conservative think tank that is at
the helm of this newly volatile frontier in the
nation's culture
wars.