Did Darwin Convert to Christianity?

Question

The facts are conflicting. What do you think?

http://members.aol.com/steamdoc/writings/moore94.html

http://www.carm.org/evo_questions/deathbed.htm

http://www.asa3.org/ASA/PSCF/2000/PSCF6-00Roberts.html

thank you for all your interesting comments and for (the most part) being civil. I read he was a christian, but after reading some of those links, I don't believe he was a christian. I yanked my last post because I did not have enough evidence to back it up and do not want to be the deliverer of "hearsay". Thanks again.

Answer 1

No. As a christian, I would hope so, but I'm afriad the majority of the information seems to point elsewhere.

Now to see if others (on both sides) respond well or with negatively charged statements. LOL

Side note: Better question! (I was responding to old version when it was deleted).

Answer 2

Whether he did or did not convert, his beliefs about Christianity in no way validate or invalidate neither Christianity nor evolution. The truth or falsehood of a matter does not depend on its adherents, rather they depend upon facts. Many of us Christians have used this fallacious method of argumentation to try to refute belief in evolution, and this particular argument fails on two counts: 1) it is not true, and 2) it is not relevant.

That said, you do not appear to be arguing this, so here is my opinion of the sources:

1. The first link merely provides a synopsis of a book, and absent reading the book, I have no other sources I can check to investigate its veracity. Were this a court of law, I would have to dismiss the first source as hearsay. It is fairly well written, and may even be factual, but barring documentation, it is inadmissible.

2. The second source seems a bit better as to its treatment of details, but there is one detail I need cleared up: if Darwin was bedridden, presumably dying, how could he have "replied in a clear, emphatic voice" regarding Christ and His salvation? I am not familiar with the cause of his death, but this detail of the Lady Hope account bears investigation.

3. The third link suffers from the same maladies as the first: no documentation of sources! In order to consider any of this material as credible, I would be required to reinvestigate the entire article point by point. It is therefore inadmissible.

In light of the above, I would seriously caution against using any such claims as these in attempts to defend Christianity. You would be better served to stick to the Bible and to document its antiquity, the integrity of its authors, and the veracity of its contents. As one admirer of the scripture put it, "The Bible is an anvil which has worn out many hammers."

Blessings!
Tom

Answer 3

Charles Darwin was a practicing Christian all of his life. He studied Theology at Edinburgh University before the voyage of the Beagle. After publication of "The Origin of Species" both Darwin and Wallace were persecuted as heretics by intolerant Christians. Nevertheless, Darwin remained mostly true to his faith, though he did question the history of life on Earth, as outlined in the old testament. Near the end of his life, Darwin was forced to take long walks while his family was in church because his presence there was considered a "disruptive influence" and his congregation made him feel unwelcome. Nevertheless, Darwin continued to pay his tithe and died a "new testament" Anglican Christian. He was given a Christian funeral and was buried at Westminster Abby.

It is important to remember that Darwin's time was a hundred years before the Big Bang. Everybody, even enlightened Deists, believed in some form of creator-god because there was simply no other available explanation.

Answer 4

His daughter and the rest of his family deny that Lady Hope was ever even in his house close to his death. Unless you think that they are all lying, including his Christian son, you can not conclude that the story is anything but a lie.

Even Christian propaganda sites admit this. I posted the link twice this morning, look at my other answer if you want it.

There is NO conflicting info from the family that we KNOW was there. It was lie from the start, and it just keeps getting repeated because Christians are so desperate for it to be true. And the funny thing is, that it wouldn't matter a lick if it were.

Added: I bet you guys claim Dr. Hawking after he dies too.

Answer 5

Interesting links. I love the part in the third one where it points out that none of the preachers back then believed the world was created like the creationists of America believe.

I do not believe Charles Darwin ever had a deathbed conversion, and I have no doubt that his daughter told the truth in denying that Lady Hope ever visited.

Answer 6

In short: no.

The long form involves Darwin's constant belief in the possibility of a God but no proof thereof. Thus he sits squarely in the agnostic camp, taking neither side.

As to disavowing his life's work, hogwash. In fact, his devotion to his theory was nearly religious, refining his observations through the years and laying the framework for all of modern biology. His theory also neither proves nor disproves God. It is what it is. Those who ascribe proof for either camp are merely adding their own opinions.

The bottom line is, as a true scientist throughout his life, he believed that which he could observe. God being something he could not observe or find any evidence of, he could not believe. God also being something he could not disprove, he did not exclude the possibility. He merely observed what he could and in doing so formed a solid, testable theory for the origins of species.

Answer 7

The lady hope story is completely ridiculous and if people take that seriously, then that means that any nut case who says "I was there on Richard Dawkin's death bed and he converted to Christianity at the last minute" can stroll in and convince us of that. The fact that there are actually people who still think that Darwin converted on his death bed and quote lady hope is just really sad.

Answer 8

I could be completely off-base but I thought that Darwin was always a Christian, and felt that science was non-conflicting with his beliefs (though other members of the church did not agree).

Maybe I'm thinking of another one of those evolutionists. Ignore me if I'm wrong.

Answer 9

Darwin converted _from_ Christianity.

Deathbed recanting? That's just desperate wishful thinking by people who understand that they're staked their entire worldview on a children's fairy tale.

Was Ladymass the first creationist to intentionally lie about evolution?

Answer 10

he s counting the number of monkeys follow his ridiculous path which was proceed in a time when there was not enough tech! some people are atheist; becouse they dont want to worship; not becouse of the theory..look at that; theory, its a theory and some people hang it up so much they dont have anything else, funny human made fossiles :) HaHaHaHaHaHaHa :D;
I know its hard to read the bible espacialy if there is more than 3000 different bible:) and they are all have contradictory statements with eachother..
Well..you cant read torah if you r not israeli. Dont be angry with me 'cos am tellin' my opinion..
So read Qoran..You r welcome...