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# (More ID vs. E) A Distinction between "Mechanism" and "Originating Cause" - Mere Orthodoxy | Christianity, Politics, and Culture
- URL: https://mereorthodoxy.com/more-id-vs-e-a-distinction-between-mechanism-and-originating-cause/
- Published: 2006-01-09T06:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-26T17:03:40.000Z
- Description: Many people are trying to understand the answer to this question: “Where did all the complexity come from?” IDers say, “It came from an intelligent designer,” Evolvers say, “It came from previous simplicity, gradually increasing in complexity.” In the previous […]
- Author: Mere Orthodoxy
- Tags: Keith E. Buhler

Many people are trying to understand the answer to this question: “Where did all the complexity come from?”

IDers say, “It came from an intelligent designer,”  
Evolvers say, “It came from previous simplicity, gradually increasing in complexity.”

In the [previous post](http://mere-orthodoxy.blogspot.com/2006/01/part-iii-what-does-intelligent-mean.html?ref=mereorthodoxy.com#comments), [Warren ](http://www.blogger.com/profile/3121568?ref=mereorthodoxy.com)made this challenge: “An intelligent designer” doesn’t explain anything, scientifically, unless we can explain how he’s doing it.”

He summarized, “Intention is not an explanation. Things don’t get intended into existence.”

With which I fully agree.

There is a difference between mechanism, and originating cause. It is the difference between “How” and “Why,” the difference between a pool cue striking an ivory ball into a pocket, and a person who’s trying to win a game.

I do not claim to know the mechanism for how things got made, I claim to see clues that suggest they were made on purpose.