Have you seen this quote opposite the title page in Darwin's Origin of the Species?

Question

Opposite the title page of Darwin’s Origin of Species appears the following quotation:

‘To conclude, therefore, let no man … think or maintain that a man can search too far or be too well studied in the book of God’s word, or in the book of God’s works; divinity or philosophy; but rather let men endeavor an endless progress or proficience in both.’

Here's the link

http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs/306.asp

Very Good Perry! I'm impressed.

Mr. idspudnik, Chuck didn't say it. As Perry said, Francis Bacon did.

irenaddler
You have an original copy? It must be worth a lot of money. ( to some people)

Answer 1

What most people don't know is the Darwin very much believed in God, precisely the Christian God Jesus. He was trying to explain how God could allow some of his creatures to become extinct. The dodo had just died out and the passenger pigeon and many other animals had already become extinct, and people were starting to wonder why God would allow one of his creations to die.

Darwin suggested evolution, that God put all his creations on the Earth and let them on their way. When the Earth changed climates or landscape or so on as it naturally does, Darwin suggested evolution would allow the animals to survive, or that they were no longer viable in God's creation and must die out. Later the idea was changed by future scientists to suggest there was no God.

Answer 2

It's a quote from Francis Bacon, not Darwin. It's from "The Advancement of Learning". Here's the entire thought:

"To conclude, therefore, let no man upon a weak conceit of sobriety or an ill-applied moderation think or maintain that a man can search too far, or be too well studied in the book of God’s word, or in the book of God’s works, divinity or philosophy; but rather let men endeavour an endless progress or proficience in both; only let men beware that they apply both to charity, and not to swelling; to use, and not to ostentation; and again, that they do not unwisely mingle or confound these learnings together."

Bacon was advocating not putting constraints upon learning and researching because of ideology.

Answer 3

This is wrong! I have a copy of The Origin of Species directly in front of me and there is nowhere in the book -- opposite the title page or anywhere else -- where it says that! Why do anti-evolutionists have to lie to make a point?

It's a reprint of the first edition and who cares how much it's worth? I know what you are trying to do. You are suggesting that if it's not an original copy that somehow the quote was removed. You have absolutely no evidence of that and just because you think it, doesn't make it so!

Answer 4

The author is Francis Bacon, and the quotation is from his 1605 book The Advancement of Learning. Here is the classical statement that there are two ways of understanding the character of God, through the Bible, and through the world he has made.

Answer 5

And the key word is progress. Don't take the Bible as literal. Take it as allegory and mythology. That's what Chuck Darwin was saying. Move on!

Answer 6

oh, jeez. people say things like this all the time.

please WRITE DOWN underneath your question exactly why this matters. explain to us why this invalidates or validates anything. don't expect us to make the logical leap that you've apparently made; it's an illogical one.

i don't care what's in darwin's book or even what darwin himself believed; i believe in the theory of evolution.

Answer 7

Very cool. This validates both sides of the ongoing argument about God vs. Science. Why do so many people seem to feel that it has to be an either/or?

Thanks for sharing !

Answer 8

Did you know that God might have believed in Darwin too?

There's nothing it the Bible to say God DIDN'T use evolution to make todays creatures. NOTHING.

Answer 9

whoopee ! Are you making a point here ! ?

Answer 10

interesting!