Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jamie_L · 10-25-2002, 05:56 AM

To be honest, I had never really looked into Darwin's life at all. I had always assumed he was a Christian, given the times he lived in. Though he obviously would have been bucking some church dogma (wouldn't have been the first believer to do that by any means).

So, the fact that he was or was not Christian seems pretty well irrelevant to me. Evolution stands or fall on it's own merits, not on the beliefs of the person who wrote it down. Much like any arguement.

Galileo was a Christian, and his discoveries went against Church teacings. Does that mean we should question everything he discovered about the solar system?

Jamie

Heathen Dawn · 10-25-2002, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jamie_L:
<strong>Galileo was a Christian, and his discoveries went against Church teacings. Does that mean we should question everything he discovered about the solar system?

Jamie</strong>

Indeed. Cardinal Bellarmine did say to Galileo about his the heliocentric theory: "To assert that the earth revolves round the sun is as erroneous as to assert that Jesus was not born of a virgin".

For a second opinion about heliocentrism, look here:

<a href="http://www.geocentricity.com/" target="_blank">http://www.geocentricity.com/</a>

DarkBronzePlant · 10-25-2002, 02:22 PM

Everything I'd ever read indicates that Darwin was a Christian, and that he was shocked and dismayed that certain religious leaders considered his studies anti-Christian. It's not a big secret or anything; if anything, the fundies try to hide that fact so that they can claim that Darwin only presented his theory of evolution because he was an AtheistSatanistBabykillerRapistLunatic.

Kosh · 10-25-2002, 06:26 PM

david, are you going to attempt to refute any of this? Are you going to post any of your "evidence"? Are you gong to retract your claims?

cydonia · 10-25-2002, 07:01 PM

Perhaps he came to make a statement, and not discuss anything.

Kim o' the Concrete Jungle · 10-25-2002, 11:37 PM

If you really want to know how widespread, how sordid, and how dishonest this cult of falsifying death-bed confessions has been, you should read <a href="http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/george_foote/infidel_deathbeds.html" target="_blank">Infidel Deathbeds</a>

galiel · 10-26-2002, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Boro Nut:
<strong>Good advice. You could be killed by death.</strong>

Thomas Ash · 10-27-2002, 12:56 AM

Also, Darwin took his family to church each Sunday, but always stayed outside himself. I'd say that's fairly strong evidence for his atheism.

phlebas · 10-27-2002, 05:08 AM

For those of you who get the opportunity, visit Darwin's house in south England. Very interesting stuff. Make sure you go out back to the greenhouse and talk to the folks out there, too. After Darwin finished his work on natural selection, he spent a good chunk of the rest of his life working with plants.

You don't leave the place thinking that Darwin was a believer. But you DO leave the place amused that Darwin is buried so close to Archbishop Wilberforce.

We went last year when in England. Had a great time. Left the house and then drove straight to Canterbury

Sheep in the big city · 10-27-2002, 06:10 PM

even if Darwin was a christian that does not make him an idiot. Back then there were still huge gaps in scientific knowledge to fill in physics, astronomy and mostly life sciences. The structure of DNA was not known until 1953. So anyone believing in God as few as 50 years ago had a lot more justification in doing so than someone living today when basically everything important can be perfectly well explained by science.
Back in Darwins day life was a complete mystery whereas now it dissappointingly trivial.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

10-25-2002, 05:56 AM	#21
Jamie_L Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: U.S. Posts: 2,565	To be honest, I had never really looked into Darwin's life at all. I had always assumed he was a Christian, given the times he lived in. Though he obviously would have been bucking some church dogma (wouldn't have been the first believer to do that by any means). So, the fact that he was or was not Christian seems pretty well irrelevant to me. Evolution stands or fall on it's own merits, not on the beliefs of the person who wrote it down. Much like any arguement. Galileo was a Christian, and his discoveries went against Church teacings. Does that mean we should question everything he discovered about the solar system? Jamie

10-25-2002, 02:22 PM	#23
DarkBronzePlant Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 3,568	Everything I'd ever read indicates that Darwin was a Christian, and that he was shocked and dismayed that certain religious leaders considered his studies anti-Christian. It's not a big secret or anything; if anything, the fundies try to hide that fact so that they can claim that Darwin only presented his theory of evolution because he was an AtheistSatanistBabykillerRapistLunatic.

10-25-2002, 06:26 PM	#24
Kosh Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Orions Belt Posts: 3,911	david, are you going to attempt to refute any of this? Are you going to post any of your "evidence"? Are you gong to retract your claims?

10-25-2002, 07:01 PM	#25
cydonia Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: southern california Posts: 1,002	Perhaps he came to make a statement, and not discuss anything.

10-25-2002, 11:37 PM	#26
Kim o' the Concrete Jungle Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 475	If you really want to know how widespread, how sordid, and how dishonest this cult of falsifying death-bed confessions has been, you should read <a href="http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/george_foote/infidel_deathbeds.html" target="_blank">Infidel Deathbeds</a>

10-27-2002, 12:56 AM	#28
Thomas Ash Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 820	Also, Darwin took his family to church each Sunday, but always stayed outside himself. I'd say that's fairly strong evidence for his atheism.

10-27-2002, 05:08 AM	#29
phlebas Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Metropolis Posts: 916	For those of you who get the opportunity, visit Darwin's house in south England. Very interesting stuff. Make sure you go out back to the greenhouse and talk to the folks out there, too. After Darwin finished his work on natural selection, he spent a good chunk of the rest of his life working with plants. You don't leave the place thinking that Darwin was a believer. But you DO leave the place amused that Darwin is buried so close to Archbishop Wilberforce. We went last year when in England. Had a great time. Left the house and then drove straight to Canterbury

10-27-2002, 06:10 PM	#30
Sheep in the big city Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: CA Posts: 217	even if Darwin was a christian that does not make him an idiot. Back then there were still huge gaps in scientific knowledge to fill in physics, astronomy and mostly life sciences. The structure of DNA was not known until 1953. So anyone believing in God as few as 50 years ago had a lot more justification in doing so than someone living today when basically everything important can be perfectly well explained by science. Back in Darwins day life was a complete mystery whereas now it dissappointingly trivial.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.