Do you believe that Darwin recanted and begged forgiveness on his death bed?

Question

I've heard this so many times I can't possible say where it started, but most recently in an answer right here a minute ago. I have also seen written somewhere (biography of Darwin? I'm not sure.) that this is a myth, and he did no such thing. Anybody have reliable references?

24 answers in 19 minutes! I think that's a record for me! I'm impressed, folks!

Answer 1

It's a myth. Here's a link that will give you reliable sources.

Answer 2

Do I believe that he recanted and begged forgiveness? No.

The mere fact that the words Recanted and Begged are used in some of the descriptions of Darwin's last day should give some indication of the source of this information.

There are still several versions available as to who the woman was and exactly what her relationship with Charles Darwin was. His work was certainly not better understood when it was new than now after years of data gathering.

What does the story mean? People have a tendency to fill in missing data in Reality with whatever they believe can be chipped or squished into their system of mental functioning.

If he had said that he wished that he had never published some of his works, would anyone hear the rest of the sentence after that "... because I had to spend so much time correcting peoples misconceptions that I couldn't do the work in other areas that I thought was as important."

Evolution is not Darwinism. Give Charlie a break, he was only human. The final sentence in his Autobiography, written from his own notes and edited by his son Francis (5 years after his father died), reads:

"With such moderate abilities as I possess, it is truly surprising that I should have influenced to a considerable extent the belief of scientific men on some important points."

Sound reliable?

Answer 3

that's quite a pity which you have been uncovered to this by ability of somebody you have confidence - because of the fact, rather, it quite is a lie. No Darwin relatives member or pal ever mentioned this. that's been attributed to a house servant with some form of grudge against Darwin, in accordance to Darwin's daughter (who spent Darwin's final days at his bedside). The recanting tale became never corroborated by ability of the different witness. regrettably, some theists have latched onto this and that's stepped forward into something of an city fantasy. yet think of roughly it - why could Darwin without warning recant his existence's artwork? It would not make any logical experience. He knew he became superb approximately evolution and, after the lingering loss of existence of one of his daughters (and quite a few different aggravating activities in his existence) he had no time for the theory of a deity. there is one significant element that factors to this recanting tale being nonsense, by ability of how: Darwin's concept of Evolution did no longer say that the re became no God. sure, it contradicts the introduction tale in lots of aspects yet, like quite a few technology, it never meant to disprove the existence of a deity. That being the case, why could Darwin experience the ought to recant while he became loss of life? What i don't understand is why theists think of this could have been such an significant journey, if the story became actual. It would not make the theory of Evolution any much less valid. i do no longer settle for evolution as actuality merely because of the fact Darwin mentioned so. as a controversy against evolution, "he recanted on his deathbed" is very stupid.

Answer 4

I am taking English 5911 right now as senior in college. The class is called "Evolutionary Discorse." I have just finished reading Darwin's "Descent of Man."

I highly doubt that Darwin begged forginess on his death bed because Darwin never stopped believing in God. If you actually read any of the works he has written, it becomes very obvious that Darwin was a God fearing man, long after he had proposed and defended the theory of evolution.

Although his work eventually became the fuel for much of modern Atheism, it doesn't change the fact that Darwin believed in a higher creative force. He was not specific on who or what that force was, but he was a steadfast believer.

This becomes evident as he tries to explain that human moral capacity is more than just the next step above memory and repetition. In his mind, Human morality was transcending the other, more simple levels of knowledge. Although he never was able to fully justify this claim (nobody else has either), it was still his belief that morality transcended traditional methods of learning in nature, i.e., memory, experience, repetion, and mimicry.

Again, I highly doubt a man who believed in God would suddenly cry out in repentence for proposing a theory he thought was relatively self evident. Evoltuion is real.

Answer 5

The wikipedia article on Charles Darwin tells how this was a myth started by one of the nurses who cared for Charles Darwin during the sickness that claimed his life, though not on his death bed. Ironically, she later admitted near her own death that she had lied and no such thing had happened.

The nurse was a Christian and a staunch anti-evolutionist, who went on to tour America telling the story of how he recanted. Think of the myths that could've been avoided if Christians would stop touring the world telling people nonsense they or someone else made up.

Answer 6

I vaguely remember this idea from lectures years ago. From memory it was said that he sought forgiveness for promoting competition over cooperation. He realized that cooperation was vitally important. He recanted this, asked for forgiveness for his political motivations.

That ideology of competition as opposed to cooperation which was politically unpopular was promoted because of the period and the the social values at that time. Poverty was seen as morally wrong as was disability etc, competition, capitalism and industry was strong political motivators.

If you read Darwin through, you will find, that he changes his position constantly in light of the newer opposing arguments as time goes on he accepts more and more the concept of cooperation and it's importance.

Have a look at Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution
by Peter Kropotkin 1902

Then read some of Darwin's later stuff. Sorry this is from memory, but great question and you have set me off wanting to re-read both Darwin and Kropotkin lol.

Answer 7

I don't have any reliable references but a person on his or her death bed will say and do many things they would not normally do, so even if he DID recant and beg forgiveness, we don't have any real PROOF that he said it while being of sound mind, yet instead said it in a hallucination or because of any drugs that were in his body.

Answer 8

Dude, even Answers in Genesis, the most fundy site out there, says this is a myth and should not be repeated. Apparently Lady Hope started it even though she wasn't there when he died - Darwin's wife was. And she didn't like the theory of evolution, so she would have told everyone if he had said that - and she didn't, so he didn't. But it wouldn't have any effect on the validity of evolution either way, so what does it matter.

Answer 9

It's a lie started by Lady Hope, one of Darwin's neighbours in Kent who was nowhere near him when he died. She only mentioned it for the first time in 1915, 33 years after Darwin died. James Moore writes fairly and comprehensively on the matter in The Darwin Legend.

Answer 10

Belief in God did not compromise Darwin's understanding of evolution. Life is an amazing and complex process. He did not recant before death.

Answer 11

He did not recant, and why should he have, he was right and no amount of creationist horse apples can change the truth that we evolved. They are just trying to do the old routine, that if somthing is repeated enough, people will start to believe it, and that is the only hope that they have.