• Enlightenment Science and Globalization
    Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 20 (1-2): 135-154. 2008.
    An important intellectual challenge posed by globalization is how Enlightenment science interacts with traditional non-Western worldviews. This essay analyzes a key facet this challenge: the union of Darwinism with traditional conservative values. Political scientist Larry Amhart proposes that Darwinism provides a biological fouruiation for conservative notions of human nature, traditional morality, family values, private property, limited govemment, and the like. A foundation for his view is an…Read more
  • Science, Religion and a Culture of Life
    Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 15 (1-2): 61-78. 2003.
    For those who wish to affirm a culture that values human life, the relationship between science and religion continues to be of import. Some, like Edward O. Wilson, think that naturalistic science will eventually account for all phenomena, even religious experience itself. This essay considers Wilson's hypothesis by surveying three classic explanations of universal religious belief: Sigmund Freud's projection theory, Charles Darwin's evolutionarry paradigm, and John Calvin's sensus divinitatis. …Read more
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    Nothing in biology makes sense except in light of theology?
    Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 44 (4): 774-786. 2013.
    This essay analyzes Theodosius Dobzhansky’s famous article, “Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution,” in which he presents some of his best arguments for evolution. I contend that all of Dobzhansky’s arguments hinge upon sectarian claims about God’s nature, actions, purposes, or duties. Moreover, Dobzhansky’s theology manifests several tensions, both in the epistemic justification of his theological claims and in their collective coherence. I note that other prominent bi…Read more
  •  16
    Darwinian Evolution and Classical Liberalism brings together a collection of new essays that examine the multifaceted ferment between Darwinian biology and classical liberalism.
  •  450
    The Intractable Rivalry
    Ars Disputandi 6 1566-5399. 2006.
  •  4
    1 Human Dignity in the Throes?
    with Nathan J. Palpant
    In Stephen Dilley & Nathan J. Palpant (eds.), Human Dignity in Bioethics: From Worldviews to the Public Square, Routledge. pp. 13--1. 2012.
  •  75
    Philosophical Naturalism and Methodological Naturalism
    Philosophia Christi 12 (1): 118-141. 2010.
    This essay argues that philosophical naturalists who draw epistemic support from science for their worldview ought to set aside methodological naturalism in certain historical sciences. When linked to methodological naturalism, philosophical naturalism opens itself to several problems. Specifically, when joined with methodological naturalism, philosophical naturalism can 'never' be scientifically disconfirmed but will nearly 'always' be confirmed, no matter what the empirical evidence. Theistic-…Read more
  • Book Review (review)
    Philosophia Christi 4 (1): 239-242. 2002.
  •  33
    The Evolution of Methodological Naturalism in the Origin of Species
    Hopos: The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science 3 (1): 20-58. 2013.
    Although scholars have paid careful attention to the naturalistic content of the Origin, less focus has been given to Darwin’s strategic deployment of methodological naturalism in the volume. A close inspection shows that he did not use methodological naturalism statically in the six editions of the Origin; instead, he strategically and progressively invoked methodological naturalism in the six editions of the Origin in order to enhance the persuasiveness of his theory and to marginalize special…Read more
  •  17
    Charles Darwin's use of theology in the Origin of Species – Erratum
    British Journal for the History of Science 46 (1): 149-149. 2013.
  •  1
    In The Evolution-Creation Struggle, Michael Ruse seeks to answer, ‘Why is there so much controversy surrounding evolutionary theory?’ He does so by tracing the historical development of the theory and the two major reactions to it. These major reactions, for and against, are not just views about science, but full blooded ‘rival religions.’ They each have a system of origins, morality, and eschatology. So the conflict over evolutionary theory persists because it is a clash between incompatible wor…Read more
  •  30
    Charles Darwin's use of theology in the Origin of Species
    British Journal for the History of Science 45 (1): 29-56. 2012.
    This essay examines Darwin's positiva use of theology in the first edition of the Origin of Species in three steps. First, the essay analyses the Origin's theological language about God's accessibility, honesty, methods of creating, relationship to natural laws and lack of responsibility for natural suffering; the essay contends that Darwin utilized positiva theology in order to help justify descent with modification and to attack special creation. Second, the essay offers critical analysis of t…Read more
  •  12
    Human Dignity in Bioethics: From Worldviews to the Public Square (edited book)
    with Nathan J. Palpant
    Routledge. 2012.
    _Human Dignity in Bioethics _brings together a collection of essays that rigorously examine the concept of human dignity from its metaphysical foundations to its polemical deployment in bioethical controversies. The volume falls into three parts, beginning with meta-level perspectives and moving to concrete applications. Part 1 analyzes human dignity through a worldview lens, exploring the source and meaning of human dignity from naturalist, postmodernist, Protestant, and Catholic vantages, resp…Read more