Theory of evolution
In 1859, a British man called An English naturalist (1809-1882). In 1859 Darwin published On the Origin of Species, which outlined his theory of evolution. published a book called 'On the Origin of Species'. This book was based on his studies of creatures he had encountered on his travels to many overseas locations, including the Islands in the Pacific Ocean, visited by Charles Darwin.. He put forward the theory that all living creatures that exist today, including human beings, have The process of change in the inherited traits of a population of organisms from one generation to the next. over a period of perhaps millions of years, from more primitive life forms to how they are today by a process of The natural process whereby the best-adapted individuals survive longer, have more offspring and thereby spread their characteristics. Sometimes referred to as 'survival of the fittest'..
Darwin was a natural science graduate of Cambridge University and a geologist. He was also a Christian. Darwin did not intend to challenge religious beliefs with his book but many religious believers responded to it with fury. These reasons included:
- The theory of evolution seemed to go against religious teachings that God made the Earth and created all living things, as they knew them.
- Christians believed that God had created humans 'in his own image', that humans were superior to all other creatures and had a soul that is immortal.
- The theory of evolution challenged the idea that God is the designer of the universe and that the beauty, order and complexity of the universe is evidence of this (The argument that the universe and everything in it seems to have been designed, and that this therefore implies the existence of a designer, ie God. Also called the teleological argument.).
- The idea that living things adapt to their environment was opposed to their belief that God had created the perfect environment for them.
- The Bible says humans were created on the sixth day of The act of bringing something into existence. In religion, this refers to the creation of the world by God., not over a period of millions of years.
These scientific theories were first put forward in the 19th century, when Christianity was an important influence on people's lives and the way they thought. Many people saw them as a direct attack on their faith. Charles Darwin faced criticism from people who could not accept what they saw as his 'anti-religious' ideas.
