[asa] On Darwin the secular saint

I do think that the Darwin thing can be more than a bit overblown. For
example, I don't see the churches' Darwin celebrations as anything more than
strict political correctness. Most churches of whatever theological flavor
don't have special days to celebrate Lincoln's 200th, e.g., even though
Lincoln actually helped to a lot more for Christians than evolution ever
did: he helped convince Christians of the evils of slavery and racism (even
though by our standards today he was a bit of a racist himself). This whole
idea of praising Darwin for helping us theologically is just weak and silly,
IMO. You won't find my name on any clergy letters celebrating Darwin and/or
evolution.

Just to make the point more fully: Darwin is being celebrated by a lot of
secularists as if he were a saint--except that in those cases it was
traditionally the death date that counted since no one knew exactly when
anyone was born in those days. Right outside of Dover, PA, e.g., someone
just erected a billboard featuring Darwin's visage as part of "freedom from
religion" day. We are all to "evolve beyond belief." With friends like
these, Mr Darwin doesn't need enemies.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/02/darwin_billboard_brings_back_d.html

If I were to get involved in anything commemorative--and I agreed to speak
at one such event in Dayton later this month--it will be an academic
exercise, not the equivalent of a religious or political celebration.

Ted

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Received on Fri Feb 13 09:06:41 2009