Darwin accepted Jesus?
Offline Sometimes things get repeated over and over untill people begin to think they're actually true. This is one of those things.
There is a long standing rumor that Charles Darwin (you know... that guy who discovered evolution) recanted on his deathbed and accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. I've heard this multiple times from very ignorant people. I'm tired of hearing it, quite frankly. So, here's a response:
1. The story of Darwin's recanting is not true. Shortly after Darwin's death, Lady Hope told a gathering that she had visited Darwin on his deathbed and that he had expressed regret over evolution and had accepted Christ. However, Darwin's daughter Henrietta, who was with him during his last days, said Lady Hope never visited during any of Darwin's illnesses, that Darwin probably never saw her at any time, and that he never recanted any of his scientific views nor accepted any religion.(Clark 1984, 199; Yates 1994).
2. The story would be irrelevant even if true. The theory of evolution rests upon reams and reams of evidence from many different sources, not upon the authority of any person or persons.
If you have a Myspace, please post this in a bulliten so none of us have to hear this stupid rumor again.
thank you
Good Points!
"You may believe in stones, brother. Just don't beam me with them!"
~Wafa Sultan
Who cares if he believed in god that doesnt change what he proved.
"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." Albert Einstein
I find it hard to beleive that Charles Darwin would have converted to Christianity in light of all his research. However, it is possible that he may have done so in a near-death delerium. You never know, crazier things have happened.
im sure he was a christian at some point (studying theology in college) but once he developed in interests in the sciences and wrote the origin of species he did not believe in the christian god any more due to its claiming of the earth being 6000 years old. he knew it takes longer that for species to change
I thought like many during his time that he was religious, but like many in our own time being religious does not make a person denounce evolution. It is cool that people found some real proof it was false though.
I feel bad for those old time free-thinkers who always had a supposed miraculous deathbed conversion (I'm thinking of Voltaire in particular). But, even if they did accept theism in their final hours, it doesn't diminish their contribution at all.
You may believe in stones, brother. Just don't beam me with them!"
~Wafa Sultan
I am happy this is cleared up. I didnt think he did. It seemed too..... awkward. No way a guy like him would ever turn religious
I hear this all the time from my Christian acquaintances. Thank you for clearing this up!
Do you think they only said that because they wanted to collapse the evolution theory ? (stupid question)
Might be. Or it could be just a story. You should be careful before you call something an attack though.
That's true, rumors do happen... esp. when they are ironic.
Still, It is used constantly as an arguement against evolution (and as if Darwin is some sort of Scientific Swami... Evolutionary theory has changed since Darwin, brillant as he was).
In the topic of Darwin scientist have found 2 new ecosystems in the depths of the pacific. They found a few hundred new spieces of fish and algy.
i love discovery. it shows that there is alot more out there. which i like :)
There is still so much of the earth that we have not yet discovered its amazing how much we still have to learn.
wonderful point. esspecially since it doesn't matter at all what he believed it's what he proved that mattered. AND a lot of times, when people are close to death, they say stupid stuff that they probably don't mean. {we wouldn't know, because they're dead}
80% of life on Earth exists underwater. 40% of that 80% live 30,000 feet underwater.
[quote=GrapeScentedGuru]80% of life on Earth exists underwater. 40% of that 80% live 30,000 feet underwater.[/quote]
0_0
only 20% of life on Earth lives above water? THAT IS SO COOL! That will be my totally random fact of the day tomorrow.
It's not uncommon for fundy idiots to make such claims of famous freethinkers.
They did the same thing with Thomas Paine. But Thomas Paine died a devout deist and rejected the mythology of theism and christianity and revealed religion nonetheless.
Darwinf died an agnostic if I am not mistaken. Darwin did'nt deny that gof could exist, nor affirm it, to my understanding.
he simply did'nt really care either way. and he died unbiased to my understanding.
In Reason:
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I heard he was Agnostic. But I could be wrong.