Concepts of Intelligent Design Prior to the Scientific Revolution November 21, 2008

Roscoe, N.Y.

"How could the sea-tides and the confined waters in the straits be affected by the rising and setting of the moon? Or the diverse course of the stars be maintained in the single rotation of the entire heavens? What is certain is that these processes could not take place through harmonious activity in all parts of the universe, unless they were each embraced by a single divine, all-pervading, spiritual force."

— Cicero, The Nature of the Gods, c. 44 BC (Oxford University Press, 1998), p. 54.

"I think it takes more faith to be like you, an atheist, than like me, a believer, and it’s because of nature, you know. I just don’t think we could have lucked out to have the tides come in, the tides go out, the Sun go up, the Sun go down. Don’t think it could have happened."

— Bill O'Reilly, interview with Richard Dawkins, The O'Reilly Factor, April 23, 2007.