
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- DATES OF THE PUBLICATION OF CHARLES DARWIN'S BOOKS AND OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN HIS LIFE
- I Introductory Letter to the Editor from SIR
- II Darwin's Predecessors
- III The Selection Theory
- IV Variation
- V Heredity and Variation in Modern Lights
- VI The Minute Structure of Cells in Relation to Heredity
- VII “The Descent of Man”
- VIII Charles Darwin as an Anthropologist
- IX Some Primitive Theories of the Origin of Man
- X The Influence of Darwin on the Study of Animal Embryology
- XI The Palaeontological Record. I. Animals
- XII The Palaeontological Record. II. Plants
- XIII The Influence of Environment on the Forms of Plants
- XIV Experimental Study of the Influence of Environment on Animals
- XV The Value of Colour in the Struggle for Life
- XVI Geographical Distribution of Plants
- XVII Geographical Distribution of Animals
- XVIII Darwin and Geology
- XIX Darwin's work on the Movements of Plants
- XX The Biology of Flowers
- XXI Mental Factors in Evolution
- XXII The Influence of the Conception of Evolution on Modern Philosophy
- XXIII Darwinism and Sociology
- XXIV The Influence of Darwin upon Religious Thought
- XXV The Influence of Darwinism on the Study of Religions
- XXVI Evolution and the Science of Language
- XXVII Darwinism and History
- XXVIII The Genesis of Double Stars
- XXIX The Evolution of Matter
- INDEX
XXIV - The Influence of Darwin upon Religious Thought
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 September 2010
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- DATES OF THE PUBLICATION OF CHARLES DARWIN'S BOOKS AND OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN HIS LIFE
- I Introductory Letter to the Editor from SIR
- II Darwin's Predecessors
- III The Selection Theory
- IV Variation
- V Heredity and Variation in Modern Lights
- VI The Minute Structure of Cells in Relation to Heredity
- VII “The Descent of Man”
- VIII Charles Darwin as an Anthropologist
- IX Some Primitive Theories of the Origin of Man
- X The Influence of Darwin on the Study of Animal Embryology
- XI The Palaeontological Record. I. Animals
- XII The Palaeontological Record. II. Plants
- XIII The Influence of Environment on the Forms of Plants
- XIV Experimental Study of the Influence of Environment on Animals
- XV The Value of Colour in the Struggle for Life
- XVI Geographical Distribution of Plants
- XVII Geographical Distribution of Animals
- XVIII Darwin and Geology
- XIX Darwin's work on the Movements of Plants
- XX The Biology of Flowers
- XXI Mental Factors in Evolution
- XXII The Influence of the Conception of Evolution on Modern Philosophy
- XXIII Darwinism and Sociology
- XXIV The Influence of Darwin upon Religious Thought
- XXV The Influence of Darwinism on the Study of Religions
- XXVI Evolution and the Science of Language
- XXVII Darwinism and History
- XXVIII The Genesis of Double Stars
- XXIX The Evolution of Matter
- INDEX
Summary
The object of this paper is first to point out certain elements of the Darwinian influence upon Religious thought, and then to show reason for the conclusion that it has been, from a Christian point of view, satisfactory. I shall not proceed further to urge that the Christian apologetic in relation to biology has been successful. A variety of opinions may be held on this question, without disturbing the conclusion that the movements of readjustment have been beneficial to those who remain Christians, and this by making them more Christian and not only more liberal. The theologians may sometimes have retreated, but there has been an advance of theology. I know that this account incurs the charge of optimism. It is not the worst that could be made. The influence has been limited in personal range, unequal, even divergent, in operation, and accompanied by the appearance of waste and mischievous products. The estimate which follows requires for due balance a full development of many qualifying considerations. For this I lack space, but I must at least distinguish my view from the popular one that our difficulties about religion and natural science have come to an end.
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- Darwin and Modern ScienceEssays in Commemoration of the Centenary of the Birth of Charles Darwin and of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Publication of The Origin of Species, pp. 477 - 493Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1909