Thanks for sharing those memories, Bill. Bradley came to USC one time to give a presentation. I think he had a slide that said "...and God said..." at the top and then Maxwell's and other fundamental equations below it. There was a bit of hostility from the audience but Bradley kept his cool. I did not realize what a giant he was until reading your post though.
P.S.: I've enjoyed following your various exploits over the years. How could I forget Colbert's (or was it Stewart's?) one-word challenge to you (when you were on there with Krauss): "Scrotum"
Thanks, Doug, for adding to the remembrance of Walter. Regarding your PS, that was in 2005 with Stewart. The person representing mainstream science was a mild Darwinist, historian Edward Larson, whose book on the Scopes Trial won the Pulitzer.
Yes, a Dembski memoir is a must do project! What I learned from "Maverick Scientist," my second memoir, was how best to make plans for my future research projects. I then applied to Rolex for a grant to expand my twilight photometry with a novel instrument, and they provided the funds! You have had such an amazing career, that expanding your responses to the passing of a series of highly significant ID pioneers might lead you to new goals. For example, perhaps you might address my campaign to expand the phrase "Intelligent Design" (ID) to "Super Intelligent Design" (SID). If design was merely intelligent in human terms, we would long ago have determined how and why molecular motors do what they do. Since human intelligence has yet to answer this and countless other questions regarding the obvious design that surrounds us, ID is really SID. How you and your wife have dealt with personal issues affecting you and your family is another significant topic. More about the Baylor inquisition is another important topic. Thank you for allowing us to read your wonderful memories about Walter Brasley.
Thank you for this profoundly written tribute to an astonishing Christian gentleman and scholar. My only direct contact with Dr. Bradley were a few words of encouragement that arrived when needed. Your close relationship with many of the ID movement leaders who have passed on is extraordinary. Perhaps you might want to consider a book containing your tributes to them, including this wonderful memorial to Walter Bradley.
Thanks for these kind and encouraging words. I don't know about a book entirely devoted to key players in the ID movement who have passed on, but I've thought that I should perhaps do a memoir, focused especially on individuals in the ID community as I remember interacting with them. I hope you and your family are well, Forrest!
I had never even heard of Walter Bradley, but thanks for that background. Learning about the history of the ID movement is always interesting.
I am an aeronautical engineer, but I took an interest in evolution and ID back in those early days. I remember reading Darwin on Trial and Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, among other books on evolution, back in the 80s IIRC. I was very impressed with the philosophical reasoning in the former and the science in the latter. I was so impressed by the latter that I read a few key chapters two or three times! I even emailed Phillip Johnson -- and got a thoughtful reply!
Back then, I was active on a conservative website called Free Republic, and they had huge online debates about evolution that went on for years. Even though FR was a "right-wing" conservative site, they had a few anonymous people, apparently scientists, who were vociferously opposed to ID. They would go on and on about how Phillip Johnson's so-called "wedge strategy" was just a way to dishonestly sneak creationism into science. I tried to correct that fallacy, but they seemed to be beyond reach. I was surprised at how persistent they were with that misconception. They seemed to really believe it. In any case, I eventually realize that I was out of my league on the detailed science and quit wasting my time on such a fruitless debate. However, I can't help but wonder if those ID deniers have changed their tune at all.
Wow! A life well-stewarded. Thanks for taking the time to share these rich stories.
Thanks for sharing those memories, Bill. Bradley came to USC one time to give a presentation. I think he had a slide that said "...and God said..." at the top and then Maxwell's and other fundamental equations below it. There was a bit of hostility from the audience but Bradley kept his cool. I did not realize what a giant he was until reading your post though.
P.S.: I've enjoyed following your various exploits over the years. How could I forget Colbert's (or was it Stewart's?) one-word challenge to you (when you were on there with Krauss): "Scrotum"
Thanks, Doug, for adding to the remembrance of Walter. Regarding your PS, that was in 2005 with Stewart. The person representing mainstream science was a mild Darwinist, historian Edward Larson, whose book on the Scopes Trial won the Pulitzer.
Oh OK thanks for the refresher! The only person I definitely remembered seeing on there was you, hehe.
Yes, a Dembski memoir is a must do project! What I learned from "Maverick Scientist," my second memoir, was how best to make plans for my future research projects. I then applied to Rolex for a grant to expand my twilight photometry with a novel instrument, and they provided the funds! You have had such an amazing career, that expanding your responses to the passing of a series of highly significant ID pioneers might lead you to new goals. For example, perhaps you might address my campaign to expand the phrase "Intelligent Design" (ID) to "Super Intelligent Design" (SID). If design was merely intelligent in human terms, we would long ago have determined how and why molecular motors do what they do. Since human intelligence has yet to answer this and countless other questions regarding the obvious design that surrounds us, ID is really SID. How you and your wife have dealt with personal issues affecting you and your family is another significant topic. More about the Baylor inquisition is another important topic. Thank you for allowing us to read your wonderful memories about Walter Brasley.
Thank you for this profoundly written tribute to an astonishing Christian gentleman and scholar. My only direct contact with Dr. Bradley were a few words of encouragement that arrived when needed. Your close relationship with many of the ID movement leaders who have passed on is extraordinary. Perhaps you might want to consider a book containing your tributes to them, including this wonderful memorial to Walter Bradley.
Thanks for these kind and encouraging words. I don't know about a book entirely devoted to key players in the ID movement who have passed on, but I've thought that I should perhaps do a memoir, focused especially on individuals in the ID community as I remember interacting with them. I hope you and your family are well, Forrest!
I had never even heard of Walter Bradley, but thanks for that background. Learning about the history of the ID movement is always interesting.
I am an aeronautical engineer, but I took an interest in evolution and ID back in those early days. I remember reading Darwin on Trial and Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, among other books on evolution, back in the 80s IIRC. I was very impressed with the philosophical reasoning in the former and the science in the latter. I was so impressed by the latter that I read a few key chapters two or three times! I even emailed Phillip Johnson -- and got a thoughtful reply!
Back then, I was active on a conservative website called Free Republic, and they had huge online debates about evolution that went on for years. Even though FR was a "right-wing" conservative site, they had a few anonymous people, apparently scientists, who were vociferously opposed to ID. They would go on and on about how Phillip Johnson's so-called "wedge strategy" was just a way to dishonestly sneak creationism into science. I tried to correct that fallacy, but they seemed to be beyond reach. I was surprised at how persistent they were with that misconception. They seemed to really believe it. In any case, I eventually realize that I was out of my league on the detailed science and quit wasting my time on such a fruitless debate. However, I can't help but wonder if those ID deniers have changed their tune at all.
Brilliant testimony for a brilliant scientist and brother in Christ. Thank you, Dr Dembski and blessings.
Thanks for these kind words, Ian. It was an honor to know Walter.