In one of the hottest books of the year, Dr. Michael Behe, biochemist and professor at Lehigh University, states that the incredible complexity of the cell debunks Darwin's evolutionary theory. In his book, The Origin of the Species, Charles Darwin wrote,"If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down. "

Behe argues in his book, Darwin's Black Box. The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution that cell mechanisms cannot be explained by "numerous, successive, slight modifications." Simply put, living cells are so complex that this explanation of cell development, -small, incremental changes over time,- is without scientific basis, Behe concludes. "We now know precisely how it [the cell] works at the molecular level. And the cell is chock full of systems like these that are irreducibly complex."

A cell is a system with several interacting parts that contribute to its basic function. Remove one of the parts of a cell and it ceases to function. So much, then, for the notion that the cell developed gradually, one building block at a time. Cells were made all at once with intricately "interwoven systems in them. "

Dr. Behe does not stop here. He states that his findings are evidence of an intelligent design to creation. Of course, Christians are guided by the scriptures in their belief of a divine design to creation: "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made" (Rom. 1: 20).

The New York Times Book Review summarized Darwin's Black Box and fairly stated its main ideas in the mainstream media.

Home       Another Article      Top

Page last updated: March 03, 2003