By Bernie Dehler
10-30-07
I just finished reading "Darwin's Religious Odyssey" and found it very well researched and written. The author is William E. Phipps, who wrote a few other books and is a professor at Davis and Elkins College. (Click here for book details at Amazon.com.) (I tried to find some more internet info on the author, but I couldn't find a bio or picture of him... he must have some privacy issues...?)
Anyway- here's some of the highlights I noted:
Overall, the author of this book shares insight into the dialog between Darwin and others in academia, regarding both science and the religious implications. Darwin was in contact with many of the leading scientists of his day. Darwin was also very well versed in Paley's "watchmaker" argument for God's special design, and even strongly believed in it at first.
Pg. 16. Some interesting info about Darwin being a devout Christian believer while on his voyage on the Beagle, and even after that expedition. Darwin was quoted as saying:
Whilst on board the Beagle I was quite orthodox, and I remember being heartily laughed at by several of the officers (though themselves orthodox) for quoting the Bible as unanswerable authority on some point of morality.
He received his religious training at Cambridge prior to the Beagle's voyage.
Pg. 21. Darwin was very upset about slavery as he encountered it in his homeland and on travels. Pg. 23 talks about Darwin's observation of abuse towards a slave, and how it revolted him. Pg. 24 mentions Darwin rebuking college Lyell regarding the slavery issue.
Pg. 32/33 explains how the educational system at Darwin's time was dominated by creationists, which shows the current that Darwin was working against.
Pg. 52/53. This shares a sad time when he lost his daughter at age 10... his favorite child. In those days, intermarriage among relatives was common, and Darwin suspected there was a hereditary issue at play. The author thinks this may have played into Darwin losing some of his faith, and in the Bible which promises good to good people: "There shall no evil happen to the just" (a Biblical proverb).
Pg. 54. Here is explained Darwin's love and appreciation for his wife. She took care of him in his frequent sickness (sickness likely from his many expeditions and travels).
Pg. 59. Darwin meets USA biologist Asa Gray, who is actually a devout Christian, and they share many correspondences and confide/collaborate with each other. They had plenty of theological discourses. Asa Gray describes himself this way:
...one who is scientifically, and in his own fashion, a Darwinian, philosophically a convinced theist, and religiously an acceptor of the 'creed commonly called the Nicene,' as the exponent of the Christian faith.
Pg. 61 quote:
To set the tone for examining the argument of the Origin, Darwin placed three epigraphs from eminent Christian philosophers at its beginning. By using them, he attempted to head off polarized thinking that truth was arrived at by either a totally theological approach or by a totally scientific approach.
Pg. 87. This part talks about opposition to Darwin by those who take a literal interpretation of Scripture. Even they are Protestants who have refused the "inerrancy" and leadership of the Pope, it is as if they now have a "paper Pope" called the Bible. Those who accept Darwin say there are two books for God's witness: "God's Word" (the Bible) and "God's works" (nature).
Pg. 90 discusses some of Huxley's debates (Huxley is the one who publicly debated religious opponents of Darwin).
Pg. 107. Darwin avoided issues of human evolution, then finally addressed it head-on in another publication called "The Descent of man and selection in Relation to Sex." This is called his second most important work. Some of the firestorm response is noted starting on pg. 126.
Pg. 133... this is very interesting. It shows how Huxley, who defended Darwin, actually thought it was good to teach the morals of the Bible. The author says:
Much to the disappointment of the irreligious, who liked to think of Huxley as their champion, he favored Bible instruction because it can inculcate "the religious feeling, which is the essential basis of conduct."
Overall, I'd really recommend this book. Check your local library; that's where I found it. It's a great way to get into the mind of Darwin and to get past many of the current misconceptions of him. It sounds like he was quite a gentleman and a pillar of society (serving both his church and local government, besides his scientific discoveries).
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