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January 4, 2006
Orthodox Rabbi Supports Evolution as a Science and Intelligent Design Creationism as Religion
Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb is the executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union, an organization that works on behalf of some 1,000 Orthodox synagogues. He is also the spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Emunah in Baltimore. Here is part of his response to an email question that is reproduced in Haaretz.com.
You assume incorrectly that I am not happy with the judge's decision. Let me explain my position. I am convinced that there is a strong scientific case to be made for Darwin's theory of evolution as it is currently understood. As a Ph.D. in psychology who, even in my current rabbinical leadership position, continues to keep up with the literature in my field, I have studied and I find convincing the view of contemporary brain science that much of our mental and emotional function is the product of an evolutionary process.The theory of evolution, for me, is not inconsistent with the traditional Jewish view of the origin of the Universe or of the development of humanity. I was glad to find the comment in Rabbi Soloveitchik's recently published collection of letters that he too found no threat to our religious beliefs in the theory of evolution. From outside the Jewish world, you know that the Catholic Church similarly has pronounced Darwinian evolution consistent with its view of creation.
Rabbi Weinreb does say that he is impressed with some of the works of the Intelligent Design community, particularly Behe's Darwin's Black Box. But he goes on to say,
A religious person will react with wonder and awe at all this marvelous complexity, and he will believe in an all-wise and all-powerful Being who must be responsible for it. However, the conclusion that this wondrous complexity must be explained in terms of a God, as we understand that concept, is a religious conclusion and not a scientific one.For this reason I think that the judge in Pennsylvania is correct. Intelligent Design calls to our attention the amazing complexity of the universe. That is descriptive science and should be part of all courses in biology and chemistry. However, the conclusion that such complexity is proof positive of a Creator, as Judaism or other religions understand such a creator, is faith, not science, and as such has no place in the curricula of the public schools in the United States, where separation of Church from State is a fundamental national premise.
In a religious school, particularly in a Jewish school, I would advocate that evolution as understood by the scientific establishment be taught in courses of science, and that Intelligent Design be taught in courses of Jewish thought, i.e. Machshevet Yisrael and religious hashkafah.
While I think the Rabbi is wrong about Behe's book and I have my own problems with the kind of dualism that the Rabbi's position requires, I find his comments honest and positive.
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By the way, my team lost.
Posted by Duane Smith at January 4, 2006 9:46 PM | Read more on Evolution |
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