On the Origin of Species: Difference between revisions
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[[Charles Darwin]]'s ''On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life'' was published on 24 November 1859. Darwin's theories were quite groundbreaking as they contradicted | [[Charles Darwin]]'s ''On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life'' was published on 24 November 1859. Darwin's theories were quite groundbreaking as they contradicted the teachings of the [[Church of England]]. | ||
According to Darwin "populations 'evolve' over the course of generations through a process of natural selection" and all species are traced back to one ancestor. Darwin believed that human beings were were part of the same evolutionary process like animals and were therefore related to them. | According to Darwin "populations 'evolve' over the course of generations through a process of natural selection" and all species are traced back to one ancestor. Darwin believed that human beings were were part of the same evolutionary process like animals and were therefore related to them. | ||
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==The Reaction of the Church== | ==The Reaction of the Church== | ||
Darwin's theories contradicted strongly | Darwin's theories contradicted strongly the Christian theory that human beings are created by God. | ||
Moreover, people believed that God influences human beings in evolution and that praying could | Moreover, people believed that God influences human beings in evolution and that praying could influence creation. | ||
[Sources?] | [Sources?] | ||
Revision as of 08:02, 25 October 2011
Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life was published on 24 November 1859. Darwin's theories were quite groundbreaking as they contradicted the teachings of the Church of England. According to Darwin "populations 'evolve' over the course of generations through a process of natural selection" and all species are traced back to one ancestor. Darwin believed that human beings were were part of the same evolutionary process like animals and were therefore related to them.
The Struggle for Existence
The most famous chapter of Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" is probably Chapter III - Struggle for Existence. Here, Darwin claims that "as more individuals are produced than can possibly survive, there must in every case be a struggle for existence, either one individual with another of the same species, or with the individuals of distinct species, or with the physical conditions of life." He is referring to the doctrine of Thomas Malthus which implies that the increase in population is not equal to the increase in food. Thus, those who are not "fit" enough do not survive.
The Reaction of the Church
Darwin's theories contradicted strongly the Christian theory that human beings are created by God. Moreover, people believed that God influences human beings in evolution and that praying could influence creation.
[Sources?]