Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species Celebrates 150 Years in Print

Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species will see the 150^th anniversary of publication in November. That Darwin he had no knowledge of the complexity of cell biology or the discovery of how DNA influences our genetic makeup seems not to have affected the believers of the basic premise of his book, that life evolved over time and man is simply the result of that evolutionary chain.

His rational explanations of how we came to be can be grasped by any reader, absent any knowledge of the almost daily revelations of the complexities of human development, and as such is often used by the masses as an explanation about how we came to be. The problem is that the Darwin explanation is much too simple given the current scientific knowledge that we possess.

The issue seems to be that the Darwin explanation, although flawed, has become well known and popular while the alternative theory of God as the creator of humanity requires an element of faith that many scientists do not want to embrace. That the Darwin theory also requires faith is often summarily dismissed. Also dismissed is the fact that Darwin stated in the second edition of his book that,

"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone circling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved."

Intelligent design, an attempt to find some middle ground in the religion versus science debate about how man came to be is often discarded because it has been labeled as creationism.

Richard Dawkins, the talented and brilliant atheistic writer, well known supporter of Darwin and critic of creationism as well as intelligent design was recently interviewed and suggested that man's roots might have come from visitors to earth from a planet far more advanced than ours. That would seem to be supportive of a faith argument. The fact is that we don't scientifically know the origins of man. Many who seek an explanation for life that is entirely based on science will come up short, while those who embrace faith as an explanation can be fulfilled and comfortable throughout their lifetimes, albeit perhaps scientifically challenged.

An interesting documentary film called "Expelled" has recently been released on DVD. It was produced be Ben Stein, the attorney, writer, economist, lecturer, presidential advisor, movie star (Ferris Bueller's Day Off), just to name a few of his accomplishments. For those that might desire more information about the intersections of intelligent design, faith, free speech, Darwin and creationism, it is worthy of viewing.

No doubt the debate will continue, but perhaps "Expelled" will cast some new light on the Darwin debate in academia.