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Darwin's theory had implications that were bound to have far-reaching consequences. One of Darwin's contemporaries, Professor Sedgwick, described Darwin's theory as "a dish of rank materialism... cleverly cooked and |
“A dish of rank materialism... cleverly cooked and served up to make us independent of a Creator.” -— Professor Sedgwick. |
served up to make us in independent of a Creator." (The Life and Letters of the Rev. Adam Sedgwick vol. 2 (1890). He also predicted that, if these ideas were widely accepted, humanity "would suffer a damage that might brutalise it and sink the human race into a lower grade of degradation than any into which it has sunk since written records tell us of its history." Today, evolution has become more than a scientific hypothesis. It has become a world-view which influences and shapes the thoughts and actions of millions of people. Although many Christians accept Darwin's theory, evolution is basically atheistic and anti-God, and is always used by atheists and humanists when they attack Christianity and Biblical standards of morality. If Darwin is right, and all living things came into existence through "the survival of the fittest", where is the moral basis for fighting poverty, disease, injustice and the |
exploitation of our fellow-human beings? Even ardent Darwinist and atheist Professor Richard Dawkins (left) has admitted that "Darwinism, as a system of values, is deeply pernicious and evil and should be fought against. A Darwinian society would be a very unpleasant society in which to live.” (Sunday Express, 5th January 1997) Professor Dawkins wouldn't like to live in a Darwinian society, yet he constantly lambasts Christians and calls religion "the root of all evil," forgetting that his own sense of morality is based on the legacy of Bible-based faith. |
Dr William Provine of Cornell University wrote, "Let me summarise my views on what modern evolutionary biology tells us loud and clear…. There are no gods, no purposes, no goal-directing forces of any kind. There is no life after death…. There is no ultimate foundation for ethics, no meaning to life, and no free will for humans either." (Debate with Phillip Johnson, at Stanford University, April 30, 1994 reported in Origins Research Network, Vol. 16, No.1). Basically, evolutionists have to believe that morality, like everything else, has evolved, which is another way of saying we make up the rules as we go along. Therefore, we have to ask the secular Darwinist, "How do you decide whether anything is right or wrong? Who decides?" Think about it: if people believe that life arose as a result of natural processes and that their ancestors were apes (and ultimately "primeval slime"), then they are accountable to no one but themselves — a recipe for moral anarchy! Once we get rid of the Biblical basis of morality, based upon unchangeable laws laid down by our Creator — who as our Maker has the right to make such rules — the way is open to amend or change the rules if we don't like them. Sadly, Sedgwick's prediction has come true: humanity has become more brutalised than ever. In the 20th century in particular Darwin's legacy was very evident. His Origin of Species was sub-titled "The preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life." So it is not surprising that it led to racist views. Indeed, Darwin himself had racist views. He wrote, "At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savage races throughout the world." (The Descent of Man, 1922, reprint, pp.241-242). Thomas Huxley, one of Darwin's strongest supporters, believed that black people were inferior. Australian aborigines were treated as sub-human by many Europeans, and some were even shot like vermin . |
At the time of the famous "Scopes Trial" in 1925, the biology textbook used in American schools clearly promoted the view that white people were superior (see box, right). No doubt this was one of the factors which fueled racism in the United States. German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler believed the Germans were the "master race". Consequently, he regarded non-whites and Jews as inferior, which resulted in the Jewish holocaust in which 6 million Jews perished. History professor Richard Weikart documented the link between Darwinism and Hitler in his book From Darwin to Hitler. Communism, too, was founded upon evolutionary principles. |
"At the present time there exist upon the earth five races or varieties of man, each very different from the other in instincts,social customs, and, to an extent, in structure. These are the Ethiopian or negro type, originating in Africa; the Malay or brown race, from the islands of the Pacific; the American Indian; the Mongolian or yellow race, including the natives of China, Japan, and the Eskimos;and finally, the highest type of all, the Caucasians, represented by the civilized white inhabitants of Europe and America." — Hunters Civic Biology, 1915. (emphasis added) |
DARWIN'S LEGACY |
