22 - 29 Nov 2009

One hundred and fifty years ago on Tuesday, 24th November, (1859) Charles Darwin published his most celebrated book, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.” Even though Darwin studied the “struggle for life” of many species, he didn’t lose that wonder he had for the natural world. Unfortunately, some adults lose that sense of wonder which all children seem to be born with. But we can still have a sense of wonder whether or not we believe in an ultimate purpose or in an ultimate Being; or whether or not we accept that species evolve and have evolved from a single organism.

This is the last sentence of Darwin’s book (the words in brackets were added by Darwin for the second edition to make his point clearer):

“There is a 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 cycling 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.”

Charles Darwin (1809-1882; naturalist, geologist, biologist and author).

11 - 18 Oct 2009

We are approaching the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species...’. Since 1859 Darwinism and neo-Darwinism have been used and misused, passionately attacked and supported, by people of very different ideologies and beliefs. It has been a major topic in the science and religion debate. Ironically, Darwin hated religious controversy and wrote in 1878:

“I hardly see how religion & science can be kept...distinct, but...there is no reason why the disciples of either school should attack each other with bitterness”

Reflecting on the Darwin celebrations, I came across this quotation which relates to an idea of a God creating through evolution. I apologise that it will only strike a chord (pun intended) with theists, some of whom will disagree strongly:

“God has no plan; he prefers to improvise.”

Graham Bell (1949-; Iona Community; from Radio 4’s Thought for the Day on 23/2/2006).