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According to Jerry Coyne, “Why Evolution Is True” in a Nutshell

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University of Chicago biologist Jerry Coyne writes a blog called “Why Evolution Is True” that deals only rarely with the actual science of Darwinian evolution. Yet, true to its title, the blog gives a wonderful, continually updated summation of the main lines of thinking that underlie confidence in evolutionary theory.
Coyne mainly does two thing: Make fun of religion for being, insofar as he thinks he understands it, foolish or pretentious; and post pictures of cute cats. What makes an animal cute? Primarily it’s the similarity we perceive to human beings and especially to babies and children. Besides scanting scientific discussion in general, Coyne appears to be unfamiliar with the arguments and evidence behind Darwinism’s main scientific alternative, whether you like it or not, namely intelligent design.
So the argument for evolution goes like this:

  1. Many animals seem similar to humans.
  2. Religious explanations for this, as I understand them, seem silly.
  3. Ergo, Darwin.

There you have it. Not only for Coyne but for scholars with equally penetrating minds in a variety of fields, that’s “Why Evolution Is True.”
Photo credit: Antonia Daniel/Wikicommons.

David Klinghoffer

Senior Fellow and Editor, Evolution News
David Klinghoffer is a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute and the editor of Evolution News & Science Today, the daily voice of Discovery Institute’s Center for Science & Culture, reporting on intelligent design, evolution, and the intersection of science and culture. Klinghoffer is also the author of six books, a former senior editor and literary editor at National Review magazine, and has written for the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Seattle Times, Commentary, and other publications. Born in Santa Monica, California, he graduated from Brown University in 1987 with an A.B. magna cum laude in comparative literature and religious studies. David lives near Seattle, Washington, with his wife and children.

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Darwinismintelligent designJames Clerk MaxwellJerry Coynenatural theologyphysicsStephen MeyerWhy Evolution Is TrueWilliam Paley