The Naked Emperor: Darwinism Exposed

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 257 pages
• Published by: Janus Publishing Company January 1, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1857566351
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1857566352
• Book Dimensions: 8 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Weighs: 12.6 ounces

Product Review
"Antony Latham's lucid account of the current scientific challenges to Darwinian orthodoxy promises a revolution for biology." -- James le Fanu, Columnist, Daily Telegraph

"In the Naked Emperor Dr Antony Latham showcases the powerful scientific argument that the universe and life were purposely designed. His deconstruction of Richard Dawkins' reasoning is made even more compelling by the fairness and moderation of his critique." Michael Behe, Professor of Biochemistry, Lehigh University, USA. Author of Darwin's Black Box."For the past hundred years Darwinian evolution has sustained the edifice of western secular thought with its promise of a naturalistic explanation for the infinite variety and diversity of life. But for how much longer? Antony Latham's lucid account of the current scientific challenges to Darwinian orthodoxy promises a revolution for biology and a profound reassessment of man's place in the cosmos." James le Fanu, Columnist, Daily Telegraph."I have met clever people who cunningly argue that black is white. They lead me through a bewilderment of causes and effects, all entirely logical, before triumphantly proclaiming that black must indeed be white. I am left gapingly wondering which sequence was faulty in moving the argument from A to B, or Z. So why, if I find the existence of a creator just one step harder than the non-existence of any such entity, am I bothering to review this book? The answer is that is well done. The research, is good. The quotes are widespread, and the writing acceptable. All manner of relevant arguments are packed within it. Very soon black does equal white, and Darwin is without clothing, as many have suspected all along." Anthony Smith, The Galton Institute."I would agree and expect that a widespread collapse of Darwinism is inevitable in the not-too-distant future. The Naked Emperor cradles a wealth of information supporting this prediction." Dr Wayne Frair, Journal of Creation.

"In the Naked Emperor Dr Antony Latham showcases the powerful scientific argument that the universe and life were purposely designed." -- Michael Behe, Professor of Biochemistry, Lehigh University.

About this book: "The indictment of Dawkins' scientific scholarship is powerful, masterly and (I would say) unanswerable." -- Paul Johnson, The Spectator

Product Review
"Latham showcases the powerful scientific argument that the universe and life were purposely designed."  —Michael Behe, professor of biochemistry, Lehigh University, and author, Darwin’s Black Box

Reader Reviews
[Note that Latham's book frequently attacks Richard Dawkins, and he devotes the last fifth of his book to demolishing Dawkins' The Blind Watchmaker (1986). Dawkins published The God Delusion in 2006, the year after Latham. The anti-Darwin arguments in Latham's book are equally valid against the Darwinian position still defended in Dawkins' 2006 book.] But Latham's essential target everywhere is Darwin and Darwinism. The book tackles head-on the Darwinian theory that all life has evolved from a single source by gradual changes. Latham (p. 84) quotes Darwin in The Origin of Species: "If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down". Latham comments immediately: "Darwinists must take these words very seriously because we are now at the stage when an accumulation of facts does in fact lead us to severely doubt that any such gradual process has ever produced complex organs. This is backed up by our knowledge of the inability of mutations to bring about such macro changes ... " This is a splendid book. The author concludes: "If there is one thing I hope the reader will take on board it is the absolute lack of any clear model available to science which can explain the existence of life. Darwinism has been shown to be a totally inadequate explanation - apart from the micro-evolutionary level.... All the evidence that I have looked at has led me to believe that life has been designed and that all the major innovations have occurred in saltations, the like of which no Darwinist can explain. The evidence before us shows us that a creator has been active throughout." (p. 249). Latham endlessly repeats the point that micro-evolution within species, e.g the famous Galapagos finches, is certain, scientifically, and must be accepted; but that there is no proof that macro-evolution, change outside the species group, ever happened by the cardinally required Darwinian method of "numerous, successive, slight modifications". Latham concludes: Darwin, faced with the further fossil and general scientific knowledge since his day, "as a scientist and a basically humble man ... would now be seeking a totally different solution" (p. 44). Making Darwin the speaker, "My theory has absolutely broken down". I shall give two cases, out of many that Latham examines in great detail. First, the first tetrapods. Latham concludes (pp. 76,77), after long examination of the data, both that there is an unexplained sudden leap [a saltation], from water to land locomotion and living, and that there is nevertheless a linkage between the first land animals and fish. "This [latter consideration] does not validate Darwinism, however. These [first tetrapods] are not `transitional' in the sense that Darwin meant and longed for. We see too much that is suddenly new to call the first tetrapods transitional. There is no gradual evolution here but we do see earlier forms being a sort of template for the creation of later forms. The appearance of tetrapods is sudden and is just one of the saltations (leaps of form) that characterize the fossil record ... there are indeed totally unexplained yawning gaps in the fossil record but ... also continuity between succeeding forms - hence the fish-like characteristics of the first tetrapods. They appear with all the attributes of land walkers, suddenly - but retain signs of their lineage. Darwinism requires smooth continuity always. We do not see this ... The transition [from fish to tetrapod] is sudden. Darwinists will put this down to inadequate fossil preservation, but this argument is now wearing thin. The challenge to the Darwinist is to show us even one case in the history of life where a macro change has occurred smoothly with well-defined, gradually transitional intermediate forms. Darwin waited and we still wait." Challenging stuff! No evidence exists, for Latham, that any macro change has been caused, ever, by a continuous series of micro-evolutions. Saltational leaps are demanded. The second case concerns Homo sapiens, discussed in the must-read Chapter 6: hominids, Ardipithecus, `Lucy', Ramapithecus, Australopithecus, Homo erectus, orang-utans, gorillas, chimpanzees, Neanderthal man, et el. Latham says (p. 110): " ... what evidence we have indicates a massive saltational leap from the preceding Homo erectus [to Homo sapiens] and astounding changes in a brain which triples in size within just 3 million years. There is absolutely no evidence for gradual change". Latham again: "Are we descended from apes or not? It is clear that we are not in the sense that Darwin meant. It has definitely not been a question of gradual evolution. Saltations require something more than chance and selection: they require design and purpose." (p. 111). Space is running out. Briefly: 1) Latham insists that selection does not ever produce `positive' evolution. Selection is only and always a blind sieve. It can only select changes that have already happened. Darwinism does not explain whence they come. 2) Latham significantly suggests (in chapter 14) that Darwin makes his system necessarily exclude by God from the universe. This could derive from the influence of Darwin's unbelieving grandfather and atheist Edinburgh friend Grant. This distancing of God excuses God from being in any way responsible for suffering and evil in the world. The theodicy of Milton's Paradise Lost (Darwin took a copy on the Beagle) is relevant. 3) Latham detects a swing among scientists now towards anti-Darwinism. "It is not that leading scientists do not realise these mistakes [in Darwinism]. It is just that they rarely feel free to openly say so." (p. 171). "There is enormous inertia in the Darwinian paradigm - but shift it will." (p. 245). Latham backs Intelligent Design. He says that Michael Behe's 1996 book, Darwin's Black Box, "may well be historic in the turning of the tide against Darwinism." (p. 129). Behe's follow-up volume, The Edge of Evolution - The search for the Limits of Darwinism, appeared in 2007. 4) Latham: "There are no mechanisms that we can see or even imagine in the genetics of life that will produce a creature such as a human. We are left with no alternative but to see another force at work - one which modern science does not feel comfortable with but with which we must reckon. We are made by design and purpose and by a power that we have no idea of. Let us rescue the real meaning of the word `creature'. Creatures are created." (p. 148). Much still needs to be said.