Darwin's Theory's Conflict With Religion
The picture above is of Emma Wedgewood, Darwin's wife and cousin.
When Charles Darwin declared that Homo Sapiens are just another species of animals, many people especially from the church fought against the idea. He first started saying that humans are on the evolutionary tree. This is his tree diagram that shows which animals evolved from which, in his first evolutionary book, On the Origin of Species. The church became furious because everything he said went against the Bible. They declared him a heretic and prosecuted him. Afterwards, Darwin did not engage in any argument with the church, however, his friends dealt with the attacks. He later refused to stop working on his theory of evolution and started on his next book. He did not care what the clergy would say because he did not believe in God. The church was not his only problem. His wife, Emma Wedgewood, was a major believer in Christianity. She always pressured Darwin when he worked because it was against the Bible and always said Darwin would burn in Hell after he died. He believed it was nonsense because there is no proof of God. After a while of changing Darwin's papers to make it "Christian worthy," Emma eventually gave up and Darwin finished his book. This next book said that humans come from apes and it was called The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. After this publication, there was more accusations such as cartoon pictures of Darwin's head on a monkey's body. Also, the most likely famous event that occurred was the Wilberforce Debate. This was between one of Darwin's friends, Thomas Henry Huxley, a zoologist and Bishop Wilberforce. Both had victories, but it was believed that Darwinists won. This also symbolized the conflict between the science and religion. The Church keeps on making accusations today . Darwin believed in science and believed his theory was true, even after all the challenges from his wife and the clergy.
Today there are many problems arising among the controversy of Darwinism and Christianity. Over the last couple years 63% of the United States population have said not to teach Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution in schools. This 63% percent of the population are Christians. However, 23% say it should be taught. Christians have been influencing state governments and have been demanding that the Theory of Evolution is not taught in schools, but the Bible is. Currently, fourteen states are in controversy of either making schools teach The Theory of Evolution or not. These states have laws in place that state if a teacher teaches Darwin's Theory then they also have to teach the Bible's explanation of evolution. What will happen in years to come? Will we have schools teaching the Theory of Evolution or the bible's explanation?
A cartoon picture of Darwin in newspapers back in 1859.
Interesting fact number six. He was in a very religious family, although he created a theory that went against the bible.