Charting the Idealism of Intelligent Design: A Small-Scale Map of Local Advocacy

Abstract

Advocates of intelligent design (ID) promote their movement as a democratic, evidence-based undertaking that opens dialogues about religion and civic affairs. However, with pentadic cartography, this study demonstrates how ID closes the universe of discourse to perspectives other than what Kenneth Burke calls an idealistic orientation. To make this case and to offer counter-statements to ID’s idealism, this study maps discourse generated by an adult Bible study (ABS). Hosted by a Protestant church in America’s northeast, the ABS studied and discussed The Case For A Creator, Lee Strobel’s influential book.

Keywords::

• Creationism
• Intelligent Design
• Kenneth Burke
• Lee Strobel
• Pentadic Cartography

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matthew T. Althouse

Matthew T. Althouse (Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1997) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at The College at Brockport: State University of New York. The author thanks Dr. Floyd D. Anderson, Dr. Lawrence J. Prelli, and Dr. Benjamin R. Bates for their help with this article. The author also thanks The College at Brockport for providing a sabbatical that aided this project's development.