Book Review: The Blind Atheist

Author: Raymond Hendrix
Spiritual Bias: Christian
Origins Bias: ID Proponent
Rating: Middle of the Road
Level: Basic
Year: 2003

Comments: In this book Hendrix makes the argument that the atheistic position rests not on firm scientific ground, but on speculation. And while he does tease apart the supposed scientific underpinnings atheism, he also makes the positive case that intelligent design is required to account for the degree of order and information that we find in living organisms. In explaining his position, he points to the DNA molecule and the associated biological processing and makes the case that such a system could not have arisen without intelligent agency.

Now this book isn't as technical as many other ID books such as No Free Lunch, but depending upon your background, this may be a good thing.

Overall, the book provides some good argumentation however at times is a little repetitive. Therefore, it has been given a rating of Middle of the Road. And just in case you were wondering, the title of the book is a jab at the phrase and title "Blind Watchmaker" used by evolutionist Richard Dawkins.

Sample Quote(s): "The information in DNA, that is used in very specific ways and at the precise times necessary, cannot be explained by the laws of physics. We need another law before we can even hope to understand the origin of information like this. Snowflakes and interesting patterns and order in nature do nothing to help us here."

"Life is not as simple as some would have us believe. Our life is not now coded and categorized by the genome project. It is not now just a matter of a little more work before we have it all figured out. The unwarranted assumption that there is no God is based entirely on a lack of evidence and the examination of a few pieces of a puzzle that is intricately connected to more puzzles of an ever-changing nature. How can a rational person call a hugely complicated system that has not be explored to a fraction of its intricacy a pile of largely "useless junk"?