Worldview

Rev. W. Visscher, Amersfoort, the Netherlands

Translated from De Saambinder

Some time ago the chairman of the Department of Education of the Royal Society (the British Academy for Science) resigned his position because he had said some things about creationism, the belief which supports the idea that the world was created. He was thought to have left the impression that creationism deserves a place in education. An immediate alarm was sounded indicating that he should give up his chairmanship of the education department. In the Western world the teachings of Charles Darwin have become more important than ever. In the year 2009, which has been called the Year of Darwin, we will become aware of that in many ways.

Darwin

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) is known for his theory of evolution. He developed the thought that what we recognize as God’s Creation has come into being through a very lengthy and gradual evolutionary process. Darwin has expanded his thoughts on these matters in a pair of books. In 1859, his first book, The Origin of Species, was published, and in 1871, his second book, The Descent of Man, was published. These two books laid the foundation for the theory of evolution. In them, Darwin states that all that is visible has not been created but has occurred through a casual or accidental process of evolution. Taking this theory to its final conclusion, man has not been created but has evolved through a long period of gradual development. Through the development of fish, mammals, and apes, man has gradually appeared upon the earth according to the “science” of evolution. There can be no disagreement that this vision is in direct contradiction with the Bible. In spite of this, the theory of evolution has been accepted, in greater or lesser measure, by the scientific community.

The Year of Darwin

2009 is the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Darwin. It is the intention of the followers of Darwin that a great deal of attention will be given to this fact. Therefore, 2009 has been called the Year of Darwin. I read in an article the following: “All over the world educators are busy to make 2009 an illustrious Darwin Year....There is today virtually no area of knowledge which is not permeated by Darwins thought.” Further on in the article a well-known American educator by the name of David Sloan Wilson states that he is of the opinion that “the theory of evolution should have a prominent place in the curriculum of all academic education.”

In any case, many educators will underscore the dogma promoted by Daniel Dennett, among others, that the evolutionary theory of Darwin has been the best idea ever. “If he had to give out a prize for the best idea ever, he would give it to Darwin hands down, even before Einstein, Newton, or whoever.” There are many who completely agree with him. The theory of evolution has indeed conquered the modern scientific world. It is a well-known fact that someone who speaks out for Creation can expect a storm of protest. The recent discussions about Intelligent Design, which really is quite different from the fact of Creation, speak volumes.

Life

In the first place, the theory of evolution is concerned with the age of the earth and the development of life. Darwin was especially occupied with the development of life. The sciences of biology and geology have been thoroughly influenced by the theory of evolution. In geology, for example, many scientists are of the opinion that the universe is approximately thirteen to fourteen million years old and that the earth is approximately 3.4 million years old. In biology it is asserted that all living creatures, including man, are derived from very primitive forms of life. For example, they say man has common ancestors with the chimpanzee and the monkey. Through gradual evolution, a process which has taken millions of years, eventually man came into being.

Central to this theory is the thought of evolutionary selection. Evolutionary selection supposes that the weakest forms of life will die and that the stronger ones will survive. It also means that the most fit and suitable forms of life will remain and that gradually only the most suitable and becoming forms of life remain. The theory of evolution teaches that there is a struggle for life and there is a survival of the fittest. The most fit remain each time and continue to propagate. It is in this manner that eventually man has made his appearance. I believe that no argument is needed to establish that this is in direct opposition to the biblical history regarding the origin of man. The theory of evolution, and in particular the macro-evolution theory, does not in any way agree with Genesis 1:1.

Broad

The theory of evolution has not limited itself to biology and geology in the twentieth century. I recently read a book titled Evolutionary Thinking: The Influence of Darwin upon Our Worldview. Chris Buskes, who wrote the book, received the Challenge Cup of Socrates for the most provocative philosophical book in the Dutch language in 2007. Buskes’ book is educational and revealing. Let me begin with the educational aspect. Buskes has the ability to make understandable what the meaning and content of the theory of evolution is. In a simple manner he is able to explain a difficult portion of scientific thought. For neophytes, and that is how I view myself, this is a book which describes the gist and the influence of the theory of evolution in a very clear and concise manner. Buskes, who is himself a strong proponent of this theory, at least is able to explain this theory in a simple manner. That, I think, is the value of such a book. It is clear and simple.

The revealing and shocking aspect of this book is in the first place the unremitting propaganda which is used to promote this theory. Unfortunately, there are many who agree with him. The book becomes even more compelling as he describes how the theory of evolution is influential upon a broad field of scientific and societal norms. Let me relate some of the titles of the chapters in this book: Chapter 7: Evolution and Culture; Chapter 11: Evolution and Religion; Chapter 12: Evolution and Morals, etc. There is virtually no area of life that has not been influenced by the evolutionary ideas.

For me, it was a shocking but also an enlightening insight—shocking because I really did not know what morals and evolution had to do with each other—enlightening because after reading this book, for the first time I truly came to understood why societal discussions about embryo selection are permeated with the teachings of Darwin. The theory of evolution has a strong hold upon our present society. The present debate about euthanasia can only be explained when we realize how strongly the theory of evolution has taken hold upon a person’s worldview. Many of modern society’s norms, values, and early developments have their root in this theory. Today’s worldview of Western society is for a large part determined by Darwinian thought. It will be quite difficult to bring anything with teeth in it to counter these ideas. Let us hope that there are well-grounded Christian scientists who are knowledgeable in the matters being discussed and who are committed to the truth of God’s Word so that they may provide a defensive argument. This is very important to counter the spirit of our times.

Some time ago I listened to several colleagues of a well-known professor speak about evolution and morality. What I heard and saw there, and that is the scientific world wherein my children are receiving instruction, gave much food for thought. Perhaps I will write about that on another occasion. In any event let us try in this year, which is also the five-hundredth anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, to remember that there were also other movements which, unfortunately, have a much greater following in 2009 than that of John Calvin. The former chairman of the Royal Society knows that all too well at this time.

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