Did Darwin’s theory cause a great change in the way Christians view science?

Question

For some reason, the analogy I picture in my mind is as scientists being children with Christians as grown ups, laughing at the children’s attempts to explain the universe without God. You know, Galileo shook things up a bit and the fossils being dug up by archaeologists might have caused some concern but Christians were still entertained by the discoveries of scientists. But then Darwin’s theory came along and all of a sudden, the children knew more than the grown ups and could explain how life develops without God. This turned the tables and the Christians were more like children clinging on to fairytale beliefs and ever since then, they haven’t been able to trust science.

Answer 1

atheism became a force to be reckoned with in europe during the eighteenth century - a hundred years before the publication of 'the origin of species'.

the great watershed between belief and skepticism was the french revolution (1789) when the first explicitly atheist government was tried in europe.

the french revolution eventually petered out, but not before it had put about ideas like universal suffrage, metrication, freedom of speech, equality for women, and free education.

all of these ideas seeped into the young state of america (which had always been based on the atheist principles of tom paine).

and religion was in trouble from then on.

Answer 2

I don't think that's necessarily true. The shift away from geocentrism was coincident with the reformation and the religious wars, where the 'old way' was being massively shaken up, and the 'new way' was finding its feet. The Galileo affair was right at the start of the scientific revolution, and it very much shook up the Catholic church. As various Protestant governments gained footholds in northern Europe, it was in these societies that science had a much freer reign. As these were the results of societies already shaken up, the advent of heliocentrism and the flood of new ideas were not such a big deal compared to the travails of the religious struggles. At that time, society was still largely divided between a small educated elite and a large peasantry/urban poor, though the growth of commerce was changing that. Those doing the judging were often well-educated and progressive. By the time of Darwin, the religious struggles were a thing of the past, and the middle classes had become the real power. The freedom of religion in Britain had allowed the Enlightenment and its intellectual advances, and science accelerated. However, the publication by Darwin was judged by a much larger audience than the small elites of the past, many of whom were socially conservative middle classes, comfortable with their place in society. So, intellectually, heliocentrism and the advent of planetary orbits were a much bigger shake-up, but socially, evolution caused more of a storm because of the conservative social conditions at the time. Arguably it is certain modern inheritors of that same social conservatism that is most opposed to evolution today. It is not an issue with the educated elites, or in modern Britain, with the mainstream.

Answer 3

You are right religions is crumbling under science. Every year the religious rite's step back allowing the beliefs of more and more science for their followers. Having to ever adapt to the changing evolutionary beliefs of the masses. Region is still very strong in some parts of the world, particularly in areas with little education, but I think the next 100 years great changes will be occurring. Just look at how many atheists are on this answer board.

Answer 4

Darwin's theory was not taught in to the young for generations. Your fantasy is just that, but it hasn't missed the mark entirely. Some parts of the church opposed some of the Darwin thought, but the Enlightenment still had enough impact to keep people following the evidence without regard to an irrelevant ancient manuscript. But it was an argument held between adults, not children vs. adults.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 5

The reason Darwin's studies are referred to as a theory are because there are flaws in them and they are not based in scientific fact. Though it may not be a Christian God, many scientist do believe in a higher being playing a part in the creation of this world. Many Christians are not these backwards thinkers you depict them as being in your question. If anything, believing the world was created by some astronomical collision and that we have evolved as a species from who knows what, requires more faith than a creator.
Robert Jastrow (self-proclaimed agnostic): "For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries."

Answer 6

Unfortunately, many Christians do not accept some parts of modern science. Once they do, it may change their world view, and cause them to better appreciate the complex mechanisms and ancient origins of our universe.

How much hold can a 2,000 year old book have over people when the stars in front of our eyes show a universe that is complex, beautiful, and billions of years old?

Answer 7

Who said Christians didn't trust science? Wow. You're a piece of work. All you can do with your spare time is knock on Christians, "I'm all for science!" blah blah blah "Christians follow a fairy tale" blah blah blah. You're a moron.

For the record, do I even need to mention how many scientists throughout history have believed in God and followed some form of faith, whether it be Christianity, Judaism, (et cetera). What about Albert Einstein? <---Sorry to burst your bubble miss, but he explained science as a way to better understand God and his creations. In fact, many scientists agree. Furthermore, there IS scientific evidence to support intelligent design.

But you seem like an angry outcast who can't look outside of the tiny box she's in. I feel bad for you. You'll only look into something that supports your claim, but never what goes against it. You're just angry at the concept of faith, and can't look at the scientific back up for it.

There are tons of Christian scientists, or scientists following a faith. But I'm sure if you found out they had a faith you'd reject them, because that's just how closed minded you are.

Answer 8

Cults have stood in the way of scientific discovery for thousands of years. This ignorance among christian cults did not begin with Darwin, but was just another in a long series of attempts to silence reality. People who believe the delusions of their cult are ignorant to anything that lies outside it.

Answer 9

One of the things Public (government run is what they really are) schools fail to leave out when teaching Darwinism is that he wasn't an Atheist as public school teachers claim, rather he did believe in God. See link below.

Darwin had what he even confessed was a THEORY. He never said he was sure about it.

When I was in public schools they taught us that we came from apes and such and they really tried to indoctrinate us with this. When I was a kid I didn't think for myself but was TOLD what to believe.

As I became more educated and free to believe more intelligent things that out of nothing came something because of chance or randomness.

It would be like if I showed you a wrist watch and we opened the back of it and you saw all the gears turning and the springs and the metal and then I told you that "All this came about by chance, it just put itself together"...Well, you would think I was an idiot...but this is what the teachers in public schools are teaching.

To me the most evil criminal in our society is the teacher that teaches this. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Answer 10

Thats a pretty interesting way of seeing things. It seems the church has had a fight or 2 with science. They been loosing the last "couple" of times but there is no real way to prove evolution outright, its all in little pieces, so they want to stand their ground now.