Intelligent Design or Darwin

Helena Blavatsky, in 1888, was the first person to use the phrase “intelligent design” – Praise for Blavatsky to convey her understanding of evolution. She used the phrase to convey the idea that the evolution of the species was guided by an underlying purposeful intelligence in nature. This intelligence is different from the “God” of theistic religions. Orthodox science opposes the whole notion of any intelligent design and insists on chance without any guiding direction. This makes her view a distinct alternative to both religion and science.

However, it was not just a view – it was based on knowledge.  This intelligence in nature can be sensed and known through the mind by advanced seers. A body of seers have checked, tested, and mutually verified their observations on this matter over very long periods of time before accepting them as valid. In this way their observations have become knowledge.

One important conclusion of the seers is that Darwinism does explain some facts of evolution.

However, those facts are only minor details. Science does observe and record examples of those minor details of evolution. This confirms the views of the seers.

The seers are also aware that the origin of the species – as opposed to the origin of subspecies – is determined by purposeful intelligence engaged in design. New science of the last few decades shows that this view is consistent with the facts of nature. Modern science also shows that the facts of nature very strongly contradict the predictions of Darwinism when it attempts to explain the origin of the species. So, the science of the last few decades again supports the views of the seers on the origin of the species.

Blavatsky brought this knowledge of the seers to the West in 1875 and recorded it pre-eminently in her book, The Secret Doctrine, published in 1888.  She called this body of knowledge “Theosophy“.

The material below outlines these conclusions and assertions and gives more detail.

************************

Darwinism

The real issue: Macro-evolution vs Micro-evolution.  Survival of the fittest is agreed. But it is Arrival of the fittest that is the issue. Species don’t change over time like Darwin hypothesized.  A grove of poles replaces the tree of life, in this article Reed Carson explains the fallacies of Darwin’s incrementalism in Stasis in the Fossil Record. Contrary to Darwinism the Cambrian Explosion generated all major life forms in a brief geological moment.  Pre-biotic soup models have all failed – contrary to original hopes. Darwin is partly right – but only in minor ways.

It is seldom remembered that, in the years following publication of “The Origin of Species”, HPB [Helena Blavatsky] was the first person to aggressively argue the case for a transphysical element in evolution against the rising Darwinian consensus.

Yet, buried in the sprawling bulk of her two major works (Isis Unveiled, 1877, and The Secret Doctrine, 1888) there lies, in rudimentary form, the first philosophy of psychic and spiritual evolution to appear in the modern West. Her effort, unlike that of the Christian fundamentalists, was not to reject Darwin’s work, but to insist that it had, by its focus on the purely physical, wholly omitted the mental, creative, and visionary life of the human race, in short, it omitted consciousness, whose development followed a very different evolutionary path. Darwin simply did not go far enough; his was not a big enough theory to contain human nature in the round. As HPB put it: “Darwin’s starting point is placed in front of an open door. We are at liberty with him to either remain within, or cross the threshold, beyond which lies the limitless and the incomprehensible.” (“Unfinished Animal”, by Theodore Roszak, Harper & Row Publishers, ©1975. Ch. 6. pg. 118.)

*************************

Design -What the sages know

Source of knowledge

Objectives of The Secret Doctrine – In the preface to The Secret Doctrine, Helena Blavatsky states the aims of her book. Oddly enough, the attempt to explain the view of the ancient wisdom upon the Darwinist/ID issue happens to invoke each of her aims.

“The aim of this work may be thus stated: to show that Nature is not a fortuitous occurrence of atoms,”

How appropriate. What we are about is to explore the answer to the momentous question, are the life forms about us the result of “a fortuitous concurrence of atoms.” (Was the materialism of Darwinism prominently in her sights as she wrote her magnum opus?) She continues:

“and to assign to man his rightful place in the scheme of the Universe;…”

Certainly it should be our personal objective to determine this and the issue Darwinism which leads in this direction.

“to rescue from degradation the archaic truths which are the basis of all religions; and to uncover, to some extent, the fundamental unity from which they all spring;”

Surprisingly, this question follows naturally in the exposition.

“finally, to show that the occult side of Nature has never been approached by the Science of modern civilization.”

And that is a strong conclusion to this section of Blavatsky Net. She adds:

If this is in any degree accomplished, the writer is content. It is written in the service of humanity, and by humanity and the future generations it must be judge. Its author recognizes no inferior court of appeal. (preface SD)

In part we are that future generation and in part we are that court of appeal. So, let’s see how the case looks today.

The Cosmic Ultimate –as per Theosophy points to a concept that lies far beyond the anthropomorphically concept of God, that is prevalent throughout religions today. But rather to an omnipresent, eternal, boundless and immutable Principle, the ground of all being.

Intelligence in nature -Theosophy states we are not a spontaneous creation from random firings of neurons in some ape brain, but rather we emerge out of an invisible energy field that informs all with its particular blueprint and continues to inform 24/7. Many call it the Source Field

• Hierarchies of Intelligence -“This hierarchy of spiritual Beings, through which the Universal Mind comes into action, is like an army – a “Host,” truly – by means of which the fighting power of a nation manifests itself, …(SD vol 1 p 38)

• Imperfections in Design – Although there are spiritual Beings (think units of directed living energy) these are neither omnipotent nor omniscient, they are simply builders. Nature exhibits many imperfections in her zeal to bring forth the fruit of her abilities.

• Design in the astral – Physics admits to unseen fields that have consequence in this reality (or field). Theosophy identifies such a field and calls it the astral plane, or the field of Ideation.

Threefold evolution – Man is made up of an evolving trinity to his constitution; spiritual, mental and physical.

No worship

Should we worship the Designer? Again, the ancient wisdom differs from standard religion. The ancient wisdom does not suggest houses of worship which one visits to worship. However, appreciation of nature, perhaps in some ways like the well-known views of Einstein, is natural.

“This results in a perpetual series of physical manifestations and moral effects on Earth, during manvantaric periods, the whole being subservient to Karma. As that process is not always perfect; and since, however many proofs it may exhibit of a guiding intelligence behind the veil, it still shows gaps and flaws, and even results very often in evident failures – therefore, neither the collective Host (Demiurgos), or nor any of the working powers individually, are proper subjects for divine honours or worship. All are entitled to the grateful reverence of Humanity, however, and man ought to be ever striving to help the divine evolution of Ideas, by becoming to the best of his ability a co-worker with nature in the cyclic task. The ever unknowable and incognizable Karana alone, the Causeless Cause of all causes, should have its shrine and alter on the holy and ever untrodden ground of our heart-invisible, intangible, unmentioned, save through “the still small voice” of our spiritual consciousness.”

The final words in this quote have been separated out in hopes they receive more notice:

“Those who worship before it, ought to do so in the silence and the sanctified solitude of their Souls; making their spirit the sole mediator between them and the Universal Spirit, their good actions the only priests, and their sinul intentions the only visible and objective sacrificial victims to the Presence.”

–H.P. Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine, Vol 1, p. 280

Darwin’s failure confirms Theosophy.

“The whole order of nature evinces a progressive march towards a higher life. There is design in the action of the seemingly blindest forces. The whole process of evolution with its endless adaptations is a proof of this. The immutable laws that weed out the weak and feeble species, to make room for the strong, and which ensure the “survival of the fittest,” though so cruel in their immediate action – all are working toward the grand end. -H. P. Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine  Vol I p. 277

H. P. Blavatsky wrote extensively on Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. In fact, she states that she published the Secret Doctrine as a reply to the concept of Darwinian evolution, which she felt not only gave an erroneous explanation of how life began, but also introduced a dogma bordering on religion. For her the theory was as materialistic as it was a path that led Humanity to a dead-end. We have assembled some of her statements in HP Blavatsky on Darwinism. In fact, in the later years of Darwin’s life, he began to confess his own misgivings about his theory, and why it could, in time, be shown to be in error – Darwin Confesses.

*************************

Intelligent Design

Blavatsky was the first to use the phrase “intelligent design” in a book.

Peer-reviewed publications by scientists in intelligent design field.

Issue on Intelligent Design by Theosophy Magazine. Winter 04-05.

Additional sources where one can find further information.

Discovery Institute – the pre-eminent site on Intelligent Design.

As per their mission statement – “The mission of Discovery Institue is to advance a culture of purpose, creativity and innovation.

Philosophy – “Mind, not matter, is the source and crown of creation, the wellspring of human achievement….In contrast, the contemporary materialistic worldview denies the intrinsic dignity and freedom of human beings and enfeebles scientific creativity and technological innovation. Its vision of a closing circle of human possibilities on a planet of limited horizons summons instead te deadening ideologies of scarcity, conflict, mutual suspicion and despair.

Idea Center – The Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness IDEA) center is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting intelligent design theory and fostering good – spirited discussion and a better understanding over intelligent design theory and the creation – evolution issue among students, educators, churches, and anyone else interested.

Talk Origins – A Usenet newsgroup devoted to the discussion and debate of biological and physical origins. Most discussions in the newsgroup center on the creation/evolution controversy, but other topics of discussion include the origin of lie, geology, biology, catastrophism, cosmology and theology.