who is Darwin? what did he do? and why is he so important to Atheists?
2007-07-28 21:51:36 · 13 answers · asked by JoAnne :) 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
ok geez!
sorry for saying he is important.
i asked for a reason .
2007-07-28 22:20:50 · update #1
Wikipedia says:
Charles Robert Darwin (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was already eminent as an English naturalist[I] when he proposed and provided scientific evidence to show that all species of life have evolved over time from one or a few common ancestors through the process of natural selection. The fact that evolution occurs became accepted by the scientific community and the general public in his lifetime, while his theory of natural selection came to be widely seen as the primary explanation of the process of evolution in the 1930s, and now forms the basis of modern evolutionary theory. In modified form, Darwin's scientific discovery remains the foundation of biology, as it provides a unifying logical explanation for the diversity of life.
Darwin developed his interest in natural history while studying first medicine at Edinburgh University, then theology at Cambridge. His five-year voyage on the Beagle established him as a geologist whose observations and theories supported Charles Lyell's uniformitarian ideas, and publication of his journal of the voyage made him famous as a popular author. Puzzled by the geographical distribution of wildlife and fossils he collected on the voyage, Darwin investigated the transmutation of species and conceived his theory of natural selection in 1838. Having seen others attacked as heretics for such ideas, he confided only in his closest friends and continued his extensive research to meet anticipated objections. In 1858, Alfred Russel Wallace sent him an essay describing a similar theory, causing the two to publish their theories early in a joint publication.
His 1859 book On the Origin of Species established evolution by common descent as the dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature. He examined human evolution and sexual selection in The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, followed by The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. His research on plants was published in a series of books, and in his final book, he examined earthworms and their effect on soil.
2007-07-28 21:57:29 · answer #1 · answered by Dreamstuff Entity 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Darwin is important to atheists because the theory of evolution contradicts creationism. Literalistic Christians don't believe in evolution for that reason, and atheists like to think that because of the contradiction between science and faith that if you can prove evolution then you can disprove God. when they took DNA from that Neanderthal they basically proved evolution to be a fact, but I still believe in God, the word is the truth but not every word is Literal true, think about it...
2007-07-29 05:17:14 · answer #2 · answered by MidNight Frozen man 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Charles Darwin is NOT important to atheists, but theists would certainly like Darwin to be an important person to atheists so he can be the figure head that they can attack.
2007-07-29 05:17:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Gotta say, I agree with all the above people who tell you to do some research - its quite easy to find the info online or in your library. Try searching Darwin and Evolution...
2007-07-29 06:12:28 · answer #4 · answered by sylvery_fae 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I suggest you google the name,study and learn.
And he is not "important" to atheists.
Atheists do not believe in a god or gods,most however do accept that Darwin was correct with his scientific study on the origins of the species.
2007-07-29 05:01:13 · answer #5 · answered by darwinsfriend AM 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Oh man. Just Google it or ask a Science teacher.
In short he established the modern day theory of evolution and how species come into existence.
2007-07-29 04:57:36 · answer #6 · answered by Skeptic123 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
He is the founder of the theory of evolution based on natural selection. This theory explains the genesis of species.
2007-07-29 04:59:12 · answer #7 · answered by gjmb1960 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
DSE beat me to the first part of your question.
Darwin had nothing particularly important to say about atheism, but he is connected with it in the minds of certain fundamentalist Christians who deny evolution in favour of Bible literalism.
2007-07-29 05:02:58 · answer #8 · answered by Voyager 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Read - don't be so damn lazy.
Darwin is not necessarily important to Atheists as the only thing most Atheists have in common is a non-belief in Invisible Sky Critters.
We don't have rituals, books, dogmas, laws, rewards and punishments.
We just don't believe in Imaginary Friends.
2007-07-29 04:59:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
He's the guy on the outside of the "Quaker Oats" package. Sheesh, don't you eat oatmeal?
2007-07-29 04:59:52 · answer #10 · answered by SDW 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋