• Home
  • The Class
  • The Book
  • The Author
  • Reflections
  • Contact

Charles Darwin

Great Minds Think Alike: Part II

Posted on July 11, 2014 Leave a Comment

Charles Darwin

Am I the only one on the planet who has read, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin? The authors of the link: http://www.evolutionnews.org/2014/07/we_hold_some_tr087471.html
obviously must not have or they would have noted that Darwin actually entertained thoughts very similar to those of Isaac Newton and Thomas Jefferson.

“This follows from the extreme difficulty or rather impossibility of conceiving this immense and wonderful universe, including man with his capacity of looking far backwards and far into futurity, as the result of blind chance or necessity. When thus reflecting I feel compelled to look to a First Cause having an intelligent mind in some degree analogous to that of man; and I deserve to be called a Theist.”

The words could hardly be closer to those of Newton and Jefferson, however, very few high school and university biology students will ever be directed to them. So called “progressive” scientists, teachers and professors have hijacked Darwin’s work and created a soulless, Godless “Darwinism” that liberates man from a “higher moral authority.”
Elsewhere, Darwin admitted that his theory does not address the origin of life, the emergence of human beings and the whole realm of human spirituality.

Amazingly, in most US universities, these mysteries have been ignored, lied about, obfuscated or explained by a bolt of lightning.

Lowell Harrison Young, Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

Posted in: Reflections | Tagged: Charles Darwin, the origin of life

Mandrill Toads—Shakespeare—Sermons on Life

Posted on March 12, 2014 Leave a Comment

Mandrill

Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.

                                                            William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England’s national poet and the “Bard of Avon.” His works, include some collaborations, and about 38 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Many literary experts suggest that no one will likely ever equal his writing talents.

There is little doubt that no small part of his success was due to his living at the end of the culturally explosive periods of the renaissance and protestant reformation. His “tongues in trees, books in running brooks, sermons in stone,” presage the eventual expansion of the sciences of botany, aquatic biology and geology. His reference to “the precious jewel” in the toad’s head is the fact that, unlike frogs, toad eyes often have complex geometric shapes not unlike a kaleidoscope.

However, Charles Darwin and I have problems with the last line, “and good in everything.” Ironically, few people know (or care?) that Darwin struggled with the idea of a “loving God” creating animals that would tear weaker animals limb from limb in a bloodbath of “survival of the fittest.” He was a mild-mannered man and the reality was deeply upsetting. He admitted being “spiritually conflicted” which is an honest and apt description of many people. He died before WWI and WWII so I can only guess that he would have been perplexed about human cruelty. He probably would have been even more skeptical about where God was during the horrendous events. On the other hand, if he understood that humans, indeed, truly possess the phenomenon of “free will” then he must have concluded that they are not governed by a supernatural, Superman.

As for me, Shakespeare wrote the line before WWI or WWII. I can find nothing “good” about the perpetrators of WWI. The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I was over 37 million. There were over 16 million deaths and 20 million wounded ranking it among the deadliest conflicts in human history. I find nothing good in the fact that WW II was the deadliest military conflict in history. Over 60 million people were killed, which was over 2.5% of the world population. Was this simply an example of survival of the fittest as well?

 This paradox is demonstrated in the “Epic Animals” striking portrait of a Mandrill. This beautiful, highly exotic animal is omnivorous, but can be a ferocious killer of other monkeys and smaller animals including the bay duiker, a small deer-like mammal.

 As for “sweet are the uses of adversity” Darwin, Loren Eiseley and I, remain conflicted on the concept and can only conclude that, in human terms, it remains an unsolved mystery.

Posted in: Uncategorized | Tagged: Charles Darwin, irony of life, life adversity, Shakespeare
« Previous 1 2

Recent Posts

  • “Let Freedom Ring!” Dr. Martin Luther King
  • Mark Twain – Half Dome – Moonstruck
  • Erin Sawyer Soper (A Candle In The Wind)
  • The Love Of Words – The Words Of Love
  • Maria: “If God made the Universe, Who Made God?”

Bio-Words

4th of July Advanced Biology Amazing Grace Author Lowell Harrison Young big bang theory Bio-spirituality bio-spirituality. freedom of religion Biodesign Biodesign class Biodesign Out For A Walk Biodesign Out For Walk Charles Darwin evolution existence of God faith freedom of religion Grand Canyon Half Dome Henry David Thoreau intelligent design John Muir John Muir vision Loren Eiseley love lessons Lowell Harrison Young Mendocino Merry Christmas miracle of life mystery of life Nature Power of Music soul soul medicine Spirit of Thanksgiving spiritual evolution spiritual gifts spiritual growth spirituality spiritual origin of music synchronisities the origin of life wilderness Yosemite Yosemite Temple Yosemite Valley

Copyright © 2022 .

Theme by ThemeHall.