Darwin and Christianity

The revolutionary writings of naturalist Charles Darwin, namely the controversial "On the Origin of the Species by the Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life" published in 1859, have haunted the intellect of mankind for over 150 years. Darwin's theories of evolution and natural selection have had widespread impact on the basic principles of human existence and sparked ongoing debates regarding God's necessity in a scientifically based account of the creation of life. Creating an impenetrable schism between the foundations of science and religion, Darwin's influential thoughts have been received with mixed emotions; for scientific schools of thought evolution is the answer to the innate question of the source of human life. Yet for advocates of religion, especially those fixed on Genesis' account of God's creation (which according to the Gallup Poll number more than half of the United States population), Darwin's words are a heretically poisoned arrow aimed straight at the heart of Christianity.

While it is unclear whether Darwin knew what the implications of his research would have on future generations of thinkers, it is without doubt that he was uneasy with publishing his revelations. Evolution would prove to be the most debated and controversial scientific topic of recent history. From the famed "Monkey Trial" where John Scopes was found guilty of teaching the subject in 1925, to the "Louisiana Creationism Act" which promoted the teaching of creationism in public schools in 1987, the mixed acceptance regarding the theory has spanned time and is still very much present not only in the religious framework of society but in current government and educational institutions. Nevertheless, for the scientific world, the concept of evolution is an invaluable tool in understanding most of the unanswered questions surrounding human existence.