Iintelligent design advocate

National debate has local voice
Lake Quivira's John Calvert emerges as an intelligent design expert and advocate
By EDIE HALL The Kansas City Star

For the first 30 years of his life, John Calvert was a self-proclaimed agnostic.

He considered the Bible's teachings a sort of “fairy tale,” and instead relied on human reason to explain the world around him.

Then, at age 37, he “hit a wall.”

Now, the 64-year-old Lake Quivira man is a Christian and sought-after expert in the theory of intelligent design and whether it has a place in public education.

Intelligent design is an inference that certain features of nature are better explained by an intelligent cause instead of a physical cause. It is controversial because of its religious implications.

Calvert, who practiced corporate finance and business litigation law with Lathrop and Gage L.C. in Kansas City for 32 years, retired four years ago to turn his attention to the science standards in public schools.

Calvert has been actively involved in the debate in nine states besides Kansas — from California to North Carolina and Minnesota to New Mexico.

In 2002, Calvert and other intelligent design supporters persuaded the Ohio Board of Education to change their science standards to require students to analyze certain aspects of evolution.

He also has been called to discuss the topic in the national arena on National Public Radio.

Calvert said he enjoys being in the spotlight only to the extent that it allows him to promote his message.

Calvert currently serves as the attorney for eight of the 26 people who make up a committee revising state science standards.

The group of eight submitted a proposal to the Kansas Board of Education recommending that, among other things, the definition of science be changed to allow more than just a naturalistic definition of science.

Hitting the wall

After graduating from college with a geology degree and spending two years in the Army, Calvert went into the legal field.

He became a successful lawyer, and life appeared to be going as he had planned.

But when an unwanted divorce swept away his foundation, Calvert said he had to re-examine his purpose in life.

“The divorce had the affect of really tearing down all the different goals I'd been working toward,” Calvert said. “My family just disintegrated, so at this point I had to start asking, ‘what is the meaning of life?' Human reason will take you quite a ways, but at some point it's not enough.”

Calvert said it was reason that led him to Christianity, although he explored other religions.

“The logic of it just blew me away, particularly in the New Testament — the gospels,” he said.

A genuine relationship

Calvert's second wife, Trudy, said she admires her husband for changing his life at an older age than most.

“It makes me realize how genuine his relationship (with God) is from watching that process, and that enhances our relationship,” she said.

Maurice O'Sullivan, who works in trust and estates tax and executive compensation at Lathrop and Gage, has known Calvert since 1968. He was also around to see the life changes Calvert made.

“John is probably one of the most intelligent people I think I've ever seen, and an absolutely brilliant lawyer,” O'Sullivan said. “He's really an absolutely wonderful human being.”

A worthy adversary

Even those who disagree with Calvert express respect for him.

John Staver, a Kansas State University professor and director of the university's Center of Science Education, is an evolutionist.

Staver served on a panel with Calvert in 2002 where different theories of the origin of the universe were discussed. Staver also serves on the committee that is revising Kansas science standards and has discussed the opposing theories with Calvert at committee meetings, which are open to the public.

“He's a gentleman — a really nice guy,” Staver said. “He argues his points reasonably well. He hasn't convinced me, but he tends to be very effective as a speaker. I don't agree with him at all, but I enjoy our discussions.”

Discovering a design

It was Calvert's love for science and the law, and a newfound belief in God that led him to be a proponent for intelligent design.

“In the late '70s, early '80s, I read an article about DNA,” Calvert said. “It was just beginning to be understood at that time, and I thought, ‘This is really an incredible design.' ”

Calvert began to look for scientific papers about design in nature and found what he called an “unwritten rule” that scientists generally don't accept design in nature because of its religious implications.

“This kind of unstated bias are what we try to make sure doesn't happen in securities law,” said Calvert. “We try not to have any hidden assumptions because if you do — you have Enron.”

Calvert said “design detection,” or how to recognize if an event happened by accident or was purposefully caused, is used in other sciences including anthropology, forensic science and arson investigation.

He believes it should also be allowed in origins science.

That belief, Calvert said, led himself and others to found Intelligent Design Network Inc., a non profit organization that wants public schools to allow the question “where do we come from” to be answered without philosophic or religious bias.

In his corner

Trudy Calvert said she supports her husband's work, although she doesn't take an active role in the intelligent design debate.

“I think people really support and admire him for doing that which he feels strong about — for taking a stand,” she said.

O'Sullivan said Calvert's work ethic and “excellent” judgment could win favor with most people.

“He has a tremendous ability to analyze very complex problems and come up with a series of solutions that comply with the law but that show a good deal of a sense of practicality,” O'Sullivan said.

Calvert gives himself less credit than others do, though.

“I'm very persistent, very patient,” Calvert said. “I'm not a great eloquent speaker, and I'm not really smart. I'm just a hard worker.

“And I have a logical mind.”

And Calvert applies his logic to more than origins science — he applies it to his life.

“I really do think we are designs — made for a purpose,” he said. “Purpose is a huge issue — where do you get your purpose from. I think that relationships are absolutely key. I think our purpose is to build good relationships.”

Calvert said his most important worldly relationship is with Trudy, followed by his children and grandchildren.

And although Calvert said it's sometimes difficult to keep priorities in order, others think he's done a good job so far in life.

“There are certain people in the world that you simply recognize that this is a truly good and fine person,” O'Sullivan said. “That probably is John's greatest characteristic.”

Kansas City Star | 02/19/2005 | National debate has local voice