Episode 41. Now that we've examined the two best passages in the Bible dealing with intelligent design, let's turn to the Christian tradition and its approach to this topic. There is no better example of a Christian tradition that supports intelligent design, than the Roman Catholic tradition. In quote 5, Pope John Paul II points back to the Apostle Paul in Romans 1. He writes, "Developing a philosophical argument in popular language, the Apostle Paul declares a profound truth. Through all that is created, the eyes of the mind can come to know God. Through the medium of the creatures, in other words, through the creation God stirs in reason an intuition of His power and divinity, Romans 1:20." Continuing, this pope states, "By discoursing on the data provided by the senses, reason can reach the cause which lies at the origin of all perceptible reality." Of course, the cause is God according to this pope. In philosophical terms, we could say, that this important Pauline text, that is Romans 1, affirms the human capacity for metaphysical inquiry. This passage by Pope John Paul II reflects the metaphysics physics principle. The medium of the creatures through intuition and reason, lead us to some of God's attributes, such as His power and divinity. To use our intelligent design paradigm on page 14 of the handouts, this is clearly an argument from nature to design and belief in a designer. It's worth noting, that this is the most common design argument. In quote 6, Pope John Paul II, continues to explain his understanding of intelligent design. He writes, "This is to recognize as a first stage of divine revelation, the marvelous book of nature, which when read with the proper tools of human reason, that is science, can lead to knowledge of the creator." This pope then makes a very important statement, "If human beings with their intelligence fail to recognize God as creator of all, it is not because they lack the means to do so, but because their freewill and their sinfulness place an impediment in the way." Please turn to page 2 in the handouts. It's clear from this passage that Pope John Paul II accepts the two divine books. In doing so, he recognizes two stages of divine revelation. The first stage is the book of nature, and the book of God's works point us toward God. The second stage is the book of scripture, and the book of God's words reveal who God is. From this perspective, those seeking to find God should first experience His revelation in nature and then afterward meet Him personally in the book of scripture. Pope John Paul II also acknowledges that humans have freewill and they can reject intelligent design. In this way, God has given us the freedom to reject Him. However, similar to the Apostle Paul in Romans 1, Pope John Paul II, also recognizes the epistemological impact of sin with regard to intelligent design. This pope, without any apology whatsoever, states that our sinfulness can be an impediment that blocks us from finding God through his creation. Conclusion, let me offer a few final thoughts regarding nature and intelligent design. Conclusion number 1, intelligent design is powerful. As we've seen, nature impacts even skeptics of intelligent design like Richard Dawkins and also former skeptics of intelligent design like Antony Flew, who came to believe in a creator because of the complex design found in DNA. The power of intelligent design is also affirmed by the biblical texts like Psalm 19 and Romans 1, and it is part of the Christian tradition as seen with Pope John Paul II. Conclusion number 2, intelligent design requires reciprocal steps of faith, or if you wish, intellectual jumps. All skeptics of intelligent design and all believers of intelligent design, make a leap of faith, whether they are aware of it or not. I would suggest, be aware of this step of faith. There's no mathematical formula or scientific proof to go from our discoveries in nature to our ultimate beliefs or vice versa. Intelligent design is a metaphysical belief. As a result, it is not a proof, but at best an argument. Finally, conclusion number 3, intelligent design is limited. The creation only points to someone, something, or somethings. It only reveals general attributes of the intelligent designer or designers. This is because intelligent design is non-verbal. It does not offer specific information. In a subtle way, intelligent design in nature calls for a verbal, special revelation like the Bible, and a fuller revelation of the intelligent designer to find out more about who this creator happens to be. End of episode.