A Note on Charles Darwin and Evolution

Year 2009 is the bicentennial of Charles Robert Darwin and the 150^th anniversary of his seminal work, On theOrigin of the Species.

At the publication of On theOrigin of the Species, the Anglican Church perceived the theories therein as a challenge to its authority. It resisted. The resistance placed an adversarial cloud over science and religion. Over time, science and religion grew out of the shadow of the cloud.

This note sketches Darwin's beginnings, the genesis of his major contribution in the Origin of The Species and summarizes evolution beyond the cloud.

A Brief History

Charles Robert Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England, on February 12th 1809. At the age of nine, he attended Shrewsbury School, a Church of England boarding school; one of the best in the country at that time. From 1825-1831, Charles studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. But in 1827, his father enrolled him at Christ's College, University of Cambridge to study theology; there, he embraced Christianity and focused himself for the Anglican priesthood. Darwin's preparation for the priesthood was through. He left no doubt or unanswered questions about his dedication to spirituality. While at Cambridge, he wrote:

"Accordingly I have read with care Pearson on the Creeds and other books on divinity; and as I did not then in the least doubt the strict and literal truth of every word of the Bible, I soon persuaded myself that our Creed must be fully accepted."

Darwin to Another Calling

Cambridge was a rich experience for Darwin. He met and studied under Reverend John Stevens Henslow, a professor of botany, who later became his mentor. Professor Henslow persuaded Darwin to join the second survey expedition of HMS Beagle as an unpaid naturalist from 1831-1836.

As the Beagle sailed across the Atlantic to the southern part of South America, returning via Tahiti and Australia - the Falkland Islands, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius and South Africa, it transported Darwin from the ordered world that civilized men study and desire to a platform in reality exposing to him different behaviors among plant and animal species, the effects of earthquakes, the survival struggles of native populations and evidences of extinct species. In other words, the Beagle trip introduced Darwin to cruelnesses in life previously unknown to him.

Upon on his return, Darwin, the meticulous scientist, made notes from his observations. For three months he analyzed his specimens and reflected on "how nature works". Eventually he developed his conclusions into a theory of evolution based on natural selection.

The voluminous data from the Beagle experience unveiled eye-catching data, as well as, some disquieting evidence that contradicted the then-held Christian world-view that, all humanity is naturally aware of a deity. Having found no evidence of this belief in the native populations of his travels, a soft spot in Darwin's Christian philosophy developed.

Holding fast to his scientific findings; to his witness to the cruelty to survive, and to the evidences of extinct species; Darwin began self-questioning the existence of an active deity who directly protects creation.

Under the turmoil of this unresolved situation, he nurtured his observations and conclusions into a cogent theory, which created an environment in which his unresolved questions began to slowly ferment disbelief. In the 1830's he wrote:

"But I found it more and more difficult, with free scope given to my imagination, to invent evidence which would suffice to convince me. Thus disbelief crept over me at a very slow rate, but was at last complete."

Darwin died leaving writings that highlight his vacillating between the positions of a creator god and doubt. However to his death, he held that it is sacrilegious to believe a deity could not accomplish his creative purposes through natural causes. His scientific experiences, though partly contributing to the atrophy of his Christian belief, had evolved him to believe that the creation story, as stated by St Augustine in his City of God, is not a scientific transcript of the beginning of the world.

What has transpired?

Many religious are still at odds with evolution theory. But, as scientific evidence mounted to support evolution; this vocal remnant lost evolution's most powerful original adversary, the Anglican Church. It posthumously apologized to Darwin, and buried him in Westminster Abbey in a state funeral near the grave of Sir Isaac Newton.

Evolution theory emerged this religious-philosophical fray as a valuable friend of religion. It freed the church from the intractable position of being responsible to interpret Biblical creation as a divine dictate. Now, it could focus on its mission of teaching living a life to salvation.

Two Legacies of Darwin

Nothing creating the drama that Darwin's theory provoked goes to history without scrutiny. Darwin is no exception. Many searched his past and offer their Darwin legacy. However, the majority agrees on two items.

The first is that Darwin was honest in presenting his theories. He stated his theories' strengths and its weakness, leaving the wisdom of his ideas to fall or mature as science grew.

The second is his attitude on tolerance and civility in the science world. Darwin practiced civility towards all in science and beyond, and cherished the belief that each man should be allowed to hope and believed what he can and leave judging to providence. (The italics is by the writer.)

From the Cloud of Conflict

Evolution departed the shadows of conflict with the Church freeing the church to focus on its mission of teaching a life to salvation. Thus it became a valuable aid to religion.

In like manner, evolution has become a valuable tool in the sciences. Despite some pockets of resistance from religious corners, some scientists see the simple explanation of how plants and animal develop through natural selection to be a natural product of an ordered world. Assumed true, they postulate that as man's brain evolved, man evolved the concept of god.

Others suggest culture is a product of evolution explaining that as mankind pass ideas and beliefs to subsequent generations mankind evolves into a higher state of order.

The positions of science and religion have inverted in the religion/evolution debate. Evolution theory is now used to evolve God.

For further reading consider:

Robert Wright: For an explanation of how structure in our world determines the evolution of societies based on peace, altruism, commerce, etc; For the shaping of God through evolution, see his The Evolution of God.

Nicholas Wade: For an explanation of how religious behavior conferred an advantage on early societies. See The Faith Instinct, his new book.

Simon C. Morris: For thoughts on evolution as a natural result of an ordered world.