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Extracts from The Autobiography of Charles Darwin:
“By further reflecting that the clearest evidence would be requisite to make any sane man believe in the miracles by which Christianity is supported, — that the more we know of the fixed laws of nature the more incredible, do miracles become, — that the men at that time were ignorant and credulous to a degree almost incomprehensible by us, — that the Gospels cannot be proved to have been written simultaneously with the events, — that they differ in many important details, far too important as it seemed to me to be admitted as the usual inaccuracies of eyewitness; — by such reflections as these, which I give not as having the least novelty or value, but as they influenced me, I gradually came to disbelieve in Christianity as a divine revelation. The fact that many false religions have spread over large portions of the earth like wild-fire had some weight with me. Beautiful as is the morality of the New Testament, it can hardly be denied that its perfection depends in part on the interpretation which we now put on metaphors and allegories.” (p.86)
“Thus disbelief crept over me at a very slow rate, but at last was complete. The rate was so slow that I felt no distress, and have never since doubted even for a single second that my conclusion was correct.” (p.87)
“I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true; for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother and almost all my best friends, will be everlastingly punished. And this is a damnable doctrine.” (p. 87)
“The old argument of design in nature, as given by Paley, which formerly seemed to me so conclusive, fails, now that the law of natural selection had been discovered. We can no longer argue that, for instance, the beautiful hinge of a bivalve shell must have been made by an intelligent being, like the hinge of a door by man. There seems to be no more design in the variability of organic beings and in the action of natural selection, than in the course which the wind blows. Everything in nature is the result of fixed laws.” (p.87)
“At the present day (ca. 1872) the most usual argument for the existence of an intelligent God is drawn from the deep inward conviction and feelings which are experienced by most persons. But it cannot be doubted that Hindoos, Mahomadans and others might argue in the same manner and with equal force in favor of the existence of one God, or of many Gods, or as with the Buddhists of no God…This argument would be a valid one if all men of all races had the same inward conviction of the existence of one God: but we know that this is very far from being the case. Therefore I cannot see that such inward convictions and feelings are of any weight as evidence of what really exists.” (p.91)
“Nor must we overlook the probability of the constant inculcation in a belief in God on the minds of children producing so strong and perhaps as inherited effect on their brains not yet fully developed, that it would be as difficult for them to throw off their belief in God, as for a monkey to throw off its instinctive fear and hatred of a snake.” (p.93)
I disagree with Darwin in regards to the suggestion that the New Testament is a book of morality, however he was not the first and is far from being the last to think and observe carefully over a large number of years to the point where he came to see christianity as an unworthy doctrine.
Stuart
Darwin said (according to your post) “Everything in nature is the result of fixed laws.”
Need he say any more?
Laws are given. Whether that be from man or God, it is given.
Law is a system of rules and guidelines…
Saying that you do not need a creator because you have a law is an oxymoron. Because there is law, there must be a law giver.
Atheists obviously do not think very hard about things. The reason is because they desire the outcome to be a certain way, and they clutch at anything that will support that desire. In doing so, it is very easy to overlook the obvious.
Such men profess themselves to be wise, but become fools in the eyes of God, because they deny reality.
Also, Darwin was wrong about scripture teaching eternal torment. So that is 2 things he got wrong on the outset.
His conclusions on Christianity seemed formed on non-truths or on traditions of men that has been taught as truth. He wouldn't be the first to fall for that one.
Quote (t8 @ April 16 2011,23:34) Darwin said (according to your post) “Everything in nature is the result of fixed laws.” Need he say any more?
Laws are given. Whether that be from man or God, it is given.
Law is a system of rules and guidelines…
Saying that you do not need a creator because you have a law is an oxymoron. Because there is law, there must be a law giver.
Atheists obviously do not think very hard about things. The reason is because they desire the outcome to be a certain way, and they clutch at anything that will support that desire. In doing so, it is very easy to overlook the obvious.
Such men profess themselves to be wise, but become fools in the eyes of God, because they deny reality.
Also, Darwin was wrong about scripture teaching eternal torment. So that is 2 things he got wrong on the outset.
His conclusions on Christianity seemed formed on non-truths or on traditions of men that has been taught as truth. He wouldn't be the first to fall for that one.
False analogy again, and your assertion is just as easily dismissed by an unsupported counter-assertion.I didn't even have to think hard about that. It's obviously an invalid argument for at least two reasons.
As for christian claims, it is only interpretation that distinguishes between your version and Darwin's. If you could demonstrate that NO christian believes in eternal torment as a genuine christian dogma then you might have a point.
The other way you could have a point would be to show some evidence that it is actually true that there is a god which can eternally punish you / separate you from its presence / slap your hand with a wet bus ticket for thought crimes / OR that there is such punishment / separation happening . Since you never have been able to do that then I guess you have no point.
Christianity: the pointless religion.
Stuart
Quoted from Religion, an Anthropological view
This curious delusion has been actively fostered by anthropologists who, blinded by the great light of 1859, have claimed that their theories of progress are based on Darwin's work. 'Evolution' is a respected word and it sounds much grander to speak of 'cultural evolution' than humbly to mumble something about 'cultural progress' or 'utility'. And yet, the fact remains that anthropological theories of cultural evolution including the evolutionary and functional theories of religion are derived, not from Darwin, but from eighteen century ideas of progress and utility. Darwin himself built his theoretical edifice of organic evolution on that older plan.
Evolutionary theories of religion are not necessarily based on Eighteenth Century ideas of progress and utility. There is empirical evidence for the heritability of religious belief, and when you have a trait that can be inherited you have something on which natural selection can work. This would be an example of using Darwin's work that was not based on those old verities. Of course there is much other anthropological evidence in support of ideas of the survival and reproductive advantages to be had by mass religious commitment, and still more evidence to be sought.
Stuart
How long did it take Darwin to admit he had read Chambers prior, he denied that Lamarck had nothing to do with his theory. It seems that the ones before him Lamarck, Geoffry, Saint-Hiaire, Chambers works become null and void when Darwin's theory came along by his standards. I do think Darwinism was so popular due to the times, it seems though layman and scientist alike forgot the origins of progress and functionalism. Which is understood fully, however you would think Darwin's Whig political stand would have him more forth coming.
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