Miller has written several biology textbooks, and here are a few quotes from them in regard to evolution...
(1) “[E]volution works without either plan or purpose … Evolution is random and undirected.”
Biology, by Kenneth R. Miller & Joseph S. Levine, pg. 658 (1st edition, Prentice Hall, 1991)
(2) “Darwin knew that accepting his theory required believing in philosophical materialism, the conviction that matter is the stuff of all existence and that all mental and spiritual phenomena are its by-products. Darwinian evolution was not only purposeless but also heartless–a process in which the rigors of nature ruthlessly eliminate the unfit. Suddenly, humanity was reduced to just one more species in a world that cared nothing for us. The great human mind was no more than a mass of evolving neurons. Worst of all, there was no divine plan to guide us.”
Biology: Discovering Life, by Joseph S. Levine & Kenneth R. Miller (1st edition, D.C. Heath and Co., 1992), pg. 152
Sounds like evolution = philosophical naturalism, no? Yet, Miller is a Christian who believes that ID has no place in academia, that his own philosophy about the origin of life is the correct view for Christians to take, and that ID is counter productive to Christianity...go figure.
According to Michael Behe, Miller's book doesn't offer anything new in regard to the scientific issues in this debate, and if you've read Darwin's God, you'll already be quite familiar with the content of his new book.
It appears that the focus of Miller's new book is on philosophy rather than science. I've read Darwin's God and I've also read The Edge of Evolution. When comparing the two, Miller's book was a fast read...the science was minimal, and it sounds like his new book is a repeat of the same. But, when reading Behe's book, The Edge of Evolution, I found that he concentrated almost entirely on the scientific issues in this debate. Parts of it were quite challenging for the layperson.
Theistic evolutionists claim that ID is nothing but an attempt to squeeze religion into the science classrooms, but when considering the content of Miller's last two books on the topic, he doesn't come across as well versed in the scientific discussions surrounding this debate as Michael Behe does.
If you really want to understand intelligent design, Miller is not the one to turn to. I lost respect for the man quite some time ago after attending a lecture where he blatantly misrepresented what happened here in Kansas in regard to the science standards fiasco of 2005. Since then Evolution News and View has reported on so many of his blunders that it's difficult to believe much of anything that comes out of his mouth.
If you want the honest scoop on Intelligent Design, the better bet would be to pick up a copy of William Dembski's new book, Understanding Intelligent Design: Everything You Need to Know in Plain Language
