Deep down, creationists realize they will never win factual

In the twilight between faith and reason, the thinker Frans de Waal, a seeker of truth in the realm of nature, spoke these words: “Deep down, creationists realize they will never win factual arguments with science. This is why they have construed their own science-like universe, known as Intelligent Design, and eagerly jump on every tidbit of information that seems to go their way.” To hear this is to feel the weight of an ancient struggle—the eternal dance between belief and knowledge, between the comfort of myth and the challenge of truth. De Waal’s words are not meant to wound, but to awaken. They remind us that when truth is feared, illusion is often built in its place, clothed in the garments of reason yet lacking its soul.

From the dawn of civilization, humankind has sought to understand its own existence. The ancients looked to the heavens, reading the stars as scriptures written by gods. They saw divine hands shaping the mountains, the rivers, the beasts of the earth. Yet as time unfolded, the human mind began to question not only what was created, but how. Out of this questioning rose science, the disciplined art of wonder—a method not of worship but of discovery, guided not by faith but by evidence. The path of science is not easy; it demands humility before reality. For truth cares nothing for comfort—it simply is.

But when truth shakes the foundations of long-held belief, many tremble. Thus, as de Waal observes, some have sought refuge not in evidence but in imitation—crafting a “science-like universe”, a realm of half-truths that mimic the language of inquiry while rejecting its essence. This, he calls Intelligent Design, a reimagining of creationism draped in the robes of modern reason. It seeks not to uncover, but to justify; not to question, but to confirm what is already believed. It is the ancient instinct of fear disguised as philosophy—the desire to hold back the tide of discovery lest it wash away the certainty of the familiar.

Consider the tale of Galileo Galilei, who gazed upon the heavens through his telescope and declared that the Earth was not the center of creation. The powers of his time called him a heretic, for his truth defied their scriptures. Yet centuries later, it was Galileo’s vision—not their denial—that endured. Those who silenced him believed they were protecting divine order; in truth, they were shielding themselves from the discomfort of change. History has always revealed this pattern: when truth advances, the fearful construct worlds of illusion to preserve their peace. But illusion, however intricate, cannot stand against the light of reason.

And yet, de Waal’s words should not be read as mockery of faith. Rather, they are a call to courageous belief—belief that does not fear knowledge, but embraces it as a deeper form of reverence. For to study creation through science is not to deny the divine, but to witness its majesty in its truest form. The laws of nature are not the enemy of spirit; they are its language. Those who pit science against faith misunderstand both, for truth need not contradict wonder—it merely transforms it into understanding.

The lesson, then, is clear and timeless: seek truth, not comfort. Beware the temptation to build illusions that agree with your heart but betray your mind. The path of reason may at times seem cold, but it leads to the warmth of clarity. The path of self-deception may seem comforting, but it ends in darkness. As de Waal implies, wisdom lies not in defending belief against knowledge, but in allowing knowledge to refine belief into something nobler, something true.

So, my child of the future, when you encounter new truths that challenge what you hold dear, do not retreat. Listen. Question. Learn. For every revelation that shatters an illusion brings you one step closer to the universal harmony of truth. Let your faith be strong enough to face evidence, and your reason humble enough to honor mystery. Only then will you live not in a “science-like universe,” but in the true universe—one vast, unfolding, and eternally magnificent, where every discovery is an act of both intellect and awe.