INTERCESSION123useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy
3:16).
INSTRUMENTALISM. A position in
philosophy of science which holds that
scientific descriptions and explanations
function as instruments to help scientists
control and predict events, rather than to
reference real objects.
INTEGRITY. Today the concept of
integrity is sometimes seen as mere self-
consistency; thus, a consistently wicked
person (a rigorous Nazi) may be thought
of as possessing integrity. But the older
concept of integrity (derived from the
Latin integritās for “wholeness”) involved
a person being faithful to authentic, good
ideals.
INTELLIGENT DESIGN. The intelligent
design movement, which has flourished
in the U.S. since the 1990s, aims to
present a paradigm for the origin and
development of life on earth that will pro-
vide an alternative to, and can eventually
replace, the prevailing Darwinian theory
of evolution. Proponents of intelligent
design claim to objectively and reliably
identify features of biological life that
cannot be explained on the basis of
randomness in addition to the uniform
operation of impersonal natural laws.
These features, it is inferred, must be the
product of intelligent design.
Intelligent design theory as such does
not take a position concerning the iden-
tity and characteristics of the designer, so
the theory is claimed to be non-religious
and suitable for inclusion in public school
curricula. At the same time, however, it
is clear that much of the motivation for
the theory is to provide a religion-friendly
replacement for Darwinism, which is
perceived as favoring naturalism and
atheism.
While the theory has found favor with
conservative religious groups and with a
small minority of scientists, most scien-
tists (including many that are religious
believers) reject it on the grounds that
(1) the claims concerning the failure of
Darwinism are unfounded or at best
premature, (2) the movement presents
no constructive scientific alternative; its
scientific efforts are almost entirely
devoted to criticizing Darwinism, and (3)
intelligent design is really a thinly dis-
guised version of creationism, a view
that has repeatedly been characterized by
the courts as inherently religious and
unsuitable for public education. See also
SCIENCE AND RELIGION.INTENTION. In Christian moral theory,
intention is held to have important moral
significance, even if not acted upon. Good
intentions may also excuse otherwise
bad acts.INTERCESSION. In the process of
liturgical or private prayer a person may