Professor to offer scientific evidence for 'intelligent design' theory, God

Almost a month after Eugenie Scott, the director of the National Center for Science Education, gave a speech supporting evolution and refuting "intelligent design," Walter Bradley, an emeritus professor of mechanical engineering at Texas A&M, will give a speech titled, "Is there scientific evidence for an intelligent creator of the universe?" at 8 p.m. tonight in Alumni Hall.\n"The basic thesis of this talk is that a lot of what we've learned about nature in the last half of the 20th century does not seem to be explainable in terms of the laws of nature," Bradley said.\nHe also said his speech will provide evidence that there is rational reason to believe in God.\nRegardless of the fact that Bradley does plan to present such evidence, and that two Christian organizations -- Campus Crusade for Christ and the Graduate Intervarsity Fellowship (GradIV) -- are co-sponsoring the event, his speech will be "non-biased," said Dave Fladung, staff member of the Campus Crusade for Christ. Fladung said Bradley will simply present information and let his listeners use the evidence to form their own opinions. He will also give listeners the opportunity to ask him any questions they might have. \nBradley has spoke about intelligent design at several universities, including Harvard and Princeton, and this will be his third time speaking at IU.\nFladung said he is expecting a large turnout, especially after Scott's speech.\n"There's definitely interest in it," he said. "More people are interested in creation and where they came from."\nSteven Bradley, Bradley's son and a member of GradIV, said his father uses actual principles of anthropology and thermodynamics to validate intelligent design, which is the belief that even the simplest life forms on Earth are too complex to develop spontaneously without some type of creator.\nSteven Bradley stressed that this issue is something that involves everyone, not just biologists or Christians. He said intelligent design has received attention from around the world lately, most notably from the Dalai Lama, who discussed some aspects of it in his new book, "The Universe in a Single Atom."\n"It's not just a science versus Christian fundamentalist issue," Steven Bradley said. "(Scott's speech) made it seem very one-sided ... that evolution is proven, and there's nothing to discuss. I think students should be given the opportunity to look at the evidence and decide for themselves."\nSophomore Ty Childers, a member of Campus Crusade for Christ, is anticipating the opportunity to do just that.\n"I'm looking forward to hearing another perspective and seeing how science backs up my faith," he said.\nChilders hopes other students will attend and share their opinions and questions as well.\n"As students, we have a lot of questions that we think about all the time," he said. "By going and listening to him, you might get a different viewpoint and be encouraged to dig deeper and question why we're here and if there's really more to this life than what it seems."\n-- Staff writer Audrie Garrison contributed to this story.