In fact, the key molecules of life are largely constructed from just a few relatively few atoms, such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. In that sense, the chemical properties of these atoms are what makes life possible." (Miller, 119) Miller posits the argument that the building blocks of life are easily observable and demonstrate no deviation from that which makes up the rest of the universe. Chapter 6: The World That Knew We Were Coming

Miller's text is frequently refers to claims that man is crafted in God's image as one of the fundamental arguments against evolution. The religious right has long clung tightly to this idea as a cause for viewing the course of human progress as separate from that of other species. This chapter refutes this claim by examining the concept of evolution in other specific, illustrating that the patterns which anti-evolutionists refuse in relation to humanity are yet observable elsewhere throughout the organic world. A review in this chapter of the evolutionary adaptation of Australia's marsupials denotes as much, indicating of both Australia and elsewhere, "although evolution found its way to all those spaces, it took quite different routes to get there in each one. The animals of Australia, as both visitors and natives will tell you, are indeed unique. So when evolution got two parallel chances to fill the same places in adaptive space, it did not produce exactly the same results." (Miller, 149) to Miller, this functions conclusively to support the idea that species will develop in harmony with the demands of the atmosphere according to the concept of natural selection.

Chapter 7: Closing the American Scientific Mind

Chapter 7 points to what is essentially at the root of the evolution debate. To Miller, the success that anti-evolutionists...

There is a willful resistance to empiricism and knowledge that Miller centrally argues is un-American. The soul of America, he argues, is defined by scientific inquisitiveness. The blind refusal to accept evidence which drives the neoconservative movement is a core motive for Miller's aggressive battle against creationism.
Chapter 8: Devil in the Details

In the final chapter of his text, Miller makes the point that creationist rejection of evolution is founded on seeds of doubt and flourishes on fancies of convenience. Miller identifies this as something more than just an embarrassment. He indicates that "to many of my scientific colleagues, the image of science in the United States suggests that we are already in the worst of times. The public opinion of science as a profession is still fairly high, but is has declined steadily for two decades." (Miller, 213) to the point, he remarks that the debate is waged on a general decline of cultural and ideological stability in America.

Conclusion:

Few weaknesses are evident in Miller's text, which makes a generally compelling point. It may be argued that he is deeply biased, however, the discussion does air the arguments of his ideological opponents quite clearly. And in doing so, he renders creationism, intelligent design and all hypothetical used as counterpoints to a valid scientific theory ignorant and threatening to American identity and progress.

Works Cited:

Balaram, P. (2004). Creation, Evolution and Intelligent Design. Current Science, 86(9).

Miller, K. (2008). Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul. Viking Adult.