British biologist and author Richard Dawkins has been a militant opponent of Christianity and creationism during his career, but there is evidence that in recent years he has been softening his stance. Just recently, in a public dialogue with former atheist and Muslim Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Dawkins acknowledged that intelligent design deserves to be regarded as a scientific hypothesis.
Ali described why she had converted to Christianity. “I lived for about a decade with intense depression and anxiety and self-loathing. I hit rock bottom. I went to a place where I actually didn’t want to live anymore but wasn’t brave enough to take my own life,” she said. But faith, not suicide, was her way out of her crisis.
Dawkins replied, “You appear to be a theist. You appear to believe in some kind of higher power. Now, I think that the hypothesis of theism is the most exciting scientific hypothesis you could possibly hold.”
Although Dawkins wasn’t abandoning his atheist beliefs, he admitted that the idea of the universe being created by a supernatural intelligence is a dramatic and important idea. “The idea that the universe has lurking beneath it an intelligence or supernatural intelligence that invented the laws of physics, that invented mathematics, is a stupendous idea, if it’s true.”
The design argument, from the viewpoint of science, could be wrong or it could be right. But it needs to be evaluated as a scientific hypothesis. Yet, defining what a scientific theory is can be difficult. Darwinism differs from intelligent design in that it utterly rejects the consideration of an intelligent or divine cause to explain any scientific phenomena.
Many scientists do prefer to conduct scientific investigations and formulate scientific theories focused on natural phenomena that can be observed repeatedly happening in the present. Historical science has value, but historical scientists cannot study historical events as they were happening, events such as the Cambrian explosion.
Mathematical biologist Richard Sternberg says that nature displays evidence of intelligent design. Neither DNA nor other material elements in a biological cell can account for organismal life. Logic and math confirm this. A source of direction or agency, something immaterial, must exist outside of space and time. Sternberg points out that an intelligent agency operates in the here and now, in every cell and developing embryo.
Someone might protest that an immaterial genome that suggests an intelligent source would be teleological (i.e. the philosophical interpretation of natural phenomena as exhibiting purpose or design.) and therefore would be unscientific. But, what if following the physical evidence necessarily leads to intelligent design as the more logical explanation?
Comments: Richard Dawkins now says he considers himself to be a “cultural Christian.” He says, “I’m not a believer, but there is a distinction between being a believing Christian and a cultural Christian. I love hymns and Christmas carols and I sort of feel at home in the Christian ethos, and I feel that we are a Christian country in that sense.” Dawkins has also said he considers himself to be more agnostic than atheistic.
Dawkins is evidently being affected by nature and the science he is witnessing. This reminds us of St. Paul’s comments in Romans 1:18-21 that God’s power and divine nature can clearly be seen in His creation. It should be our prayer that before he dies, Dawkins will complete his journey from atheism to biblical Christianity, belief in Jesus Christ as his Savior. If it happened to the thief on the cross at the last moment, it can also happen to Dawkins.
The term “intelligent design” doesn’t completely describe the real situation. For a Christian, I suggest we should prefer terms like “divine design” or “God’s design.” The word “intelligent” doesn’t necessarily point us to God, although where else can we find omniscient intelligence?
Knowing that God is the Creator of the universe and still rules the cosmos today is great. But knowing that He is also the ruler of heaven and has a place reserved there for us is even much better. As Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that you may also be where I am.” John 14:2-3
by Warren Krug
Reference: David Klinghoffer, “Dawkins: Intelligent Design Is a Scientific Hypothesis,” Evolution News [May 29, 2025]. Evolution News is an Intelligent Design website. (“Free to share and use” photo of Richard Dawkins from Microsoft Bing.)
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
Can toads give people warts?
No. This false belief is probably due to the toad’s bumpy skin which can be mistaken for warts. Their skin can secrete substances that moisten and protect the toad’s skin, but the substances are not contagious.
Source: Tez Brooks,“Truth or Tales?,” Kids Answers [April-June, 2025], page 24.
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