Changes

''See also:'' [[Atheism and science]] and [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] and [[Christianity and science]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and science]] and [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] and [[Christianity and science]]

The abstract for the ''British Journal for the History of Science'' journal article ''Huxley and scientific agnosticism: the strange history of a failed [[Rhetoric|rhetorical]] strategy'' by B. Lightman declares:

The abstract for the ''British Journal for the History of Science'' journal article ''Huxley and scientific agnosticism: the strange history of a failed [[rhetoric]]al strategy'' by B. Lightman declares:

{{Cquote|Huxley's invention of the term 'agnostic' in 1869 is often seen as a brilliant rhetorical strategy. Portrayed as an effective weapon in Huxley's public debates with defenders of the Anglican establishment, the creation of scientific agnosticism has been interpreted as a turning point in the relationship between [[science]] and religion. In this paper I will challenge this interpretation of the rise of scientific agnosticism. Huxley was reluctant to identify himself unambiguously as an agnostic in public until 1883 and his restricted use of agnostic concepts during the 1870s and 1880s was compromised when other unbelievers, with different agendas, sought to capitalize on the polemical advantages of referring to themselves as agnostics. As a result, he was not always associated with agnosticism in the public mind and his original conception of it was modified by others to the point where he felt compelled to intervene in 1889 to set the record straight. But Huxley could not control the public meaning of 'agnosticism' and its value to him as a rhetorical strategy was severely limited.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12395796 Br J Hist Sci. 2002 Sep;35(126 Pt 3):271-89.]</ref>}}

{{Cquote|Huxley's invention of the term 'agnostic' in 1869 is often seen as a brilliant rhetorical strategy. Portrayed as an effective weapon in Huxley's public debates with defenders of the Anglican establishment, the creation of scientific agnosticism has been interpreted as a turning point in the relationship between [[science]] and religion. In this paper I will challenge this interpretation of the rise of scientific agnosticism. Huxley was reluctant to identify himself unambiguously as an agnostic in public until 1883 and his restricted use of agnostic concepts during the 1870s and 1880s was compromised when other unbelievers, with different agendas, sought to capitalize on the polemical advantages of referring to themselves as agnostics. As a result, he was not always associated with agnosticism in the public mind and his original conception of it was modified by others to the point where he felt compelled to intervene in 1889 to set the record straight. But Huxley could not control the public meaning of 'agnosticism' and its value to him as a rhetorical strategy was severely limited.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12395796 Br J Hist Sci. 2002 Sep;35(126 Pt 3):271-89.]</ref>}}

[[Charles Darwin]] was an agnostic and [[evolution]]ist.  

[[Charles Darwin]] was an agnostic and [[evolution]]ist.  

There have been many [[Social effects of the theory of evolution|social effects of evolution]] in regards to its acceptance by various individuals in the course of history.  The theory of [[Evolution|evolution]] has been influential in regards to [[Social Darwinism]], [[Nazism]], [[Communism]], and [[racism]].<ref>http://www.icr.org/article/454/</ref><ref>http://www.creationism.org/csshs/v09n1p04.htm</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3031/</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3054/</ref><ref>http://www.icr.org/article/55/</ref>

There have been many [[Social effects of the theory of evolution|social effects of evolution]] in regards to its acceptance by various individuals in the course of history.  The theory of [[evolution]] has been influential in regards to [[Social Darwinism]], [[Nazism]], [[Communism]], and [[racism]].<ref>http://www.icr.org/article/454/</ref><ref>http://www.creationism.org/csshs/v09n1p04.htm</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3031/</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3054/</ref><ref>http://www.icr.org/article/55/</ref>

=== Social Darwinism ===

=== Social Darwinism ===

''See also:'' [[Social Darwinism]]

''See also:'' [[Social Darwinism]]

is a belief, popular in the late [[Victorian era]] in [[England]], [[United States|America]], and elsewhere, which states that the strongest or fittest should survive and flourish in society, while the weak and unfit should be allowed to die. The [[theory]] was chiefly expounded by [[Herbert Spencer]], whose ethical [[philosophies]] always held an elitist view and received a boost from the application of [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]]ian ideas such as adaptation and [[natural selection]].<ref>[http://library.thinkquest.org/C004367/eh4.shtml Social Darwinism] at Thinkquest, retrieved on 08/04/2008</ref> Its leading proponents opine [[atheism]].<ref name="Manfred Berg, Geoffrey Cocks">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=xVgDiuOxEP4C&pg=PA65&dq=atheists+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=v56zTc3LB-f00gGmmrX7CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFIQ6AEwCDgU#v=onepage&q&f=false|author=Manfred Berg, Geoffrey Cocks| title = Medicine and Modernity: Public Health and Medical Care in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Germany|publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]]|quote=The Christian-conservative Ritter went on to argue that social Darwnism was an aspect of the materialist worldview of the Weimar Republic, which encompassed Marxism and atheism as well and displaced the religious values that he thought had dominated in the imperial period and that alone could guarantee political stablility in the age of the masses. |accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref><ref name="Mohammed Talib">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Ap9WyyINclUC&pg=PA10&dq=atheism+and+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=FJ6zTde4GKjk0QG46LybBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=atheism%20and%20social%20darwinism&f=false|author=Mohammed Talib| title = Universal Peace|publisher = [[Lulu]]|quote=At this point, we must recall another atheist ideology-Social Darwinism-which was among the causes for the outbreak of both the First and Second World Wars.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref><ref name="Jonas E. Alexis">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=WZEXJm4JIbEC&pg=PA39&dq=atheists+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=oZ6zTZnPGJCC0QGjg5n1CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=atheists%20social%20darwinism&f=false|author=Jonas E. Alexis| title = Christianity's Dangerous Idea|publisher = [[AuthorHouse]]|quote=What is even more interesting to point out is that the leading social Darwinists were not Protestants at all-they were mostly atheists who were trying to force their own ideologies upon society at large.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref>

is a belief, popular in the late [[Victorian era]] in [[England]], [[United States|America]], and elsewhere, which states that the strongest or fittest should survive and flourish in society, while the weak and unfit should be allowed to die. The [[theory]] was chiefly expounded by [[Herbert Spencer]], whose ethical [[philosophies]] always held an elitist view and received a boost from the application of [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]]ian ideas such as adaptation and [[natural selection]].<ref>[http://library.thinkquest.org/C004367/eh4.shtml Social Darwinism] at Thinkquest, retrieved on 08/04/2008</ref> Its leading proponents opine [[atheism]].<ref name="Manfred Berg, Geoffrey Cocks">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=xVgDiuOxEP4C&pg=PA65&dq=atheists+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=v56zTc3LB-f00gGmmrX7CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFIQ6AEwCDgU#v=onepage&q&f=false|author=Manfred Berg, Geoffrey Cocks| title = Medicine and Modernity: Public Health and Medical Care in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Germany|publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]]|quote=The Christian-conservative Ritter went on to argue that social Darwnism was an aspect of the materialist worldview of the Weimar Republic, which encompassed Marxism and atheism as well and displaced the religious values that he thought had dominated in the imperial period and that alone could guarantee political stablility in the age of the masses. |accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref><ref name="Mohammed Talib">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Ap9WyyINclUC&pg=PA10&dq=atheism+and+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=FJ6zTde4GKjk0QG46LybBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=atheism%20and%20social%20darwinism&f=false|author=Mohammed Talib| title = Universal Peace|publisher = [[Lulu]]|quote=At this point, we must recall another atheist ideology-Social Darwinism-which was among the causes for the outbreak of both the First and Second World Wars.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref><ref name="Jonas E. Alexis">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=WZEXJm4JIbEC&pg=PA39&dq=atheists+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=oZ6zTZnPGJCC0QGjg5n1CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=atheists%20social%20darwinism&f=false|author=Jonas E. Alexis| title = Christianity's Dangerous Idea|publisher = [[AuthorHouse]]|quote=What is even more interesting to point out is that the leading social Darwinists were not Protestants at all-they were mostly atheists who were trying to force their own ideologies upon society at large.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref>

Beginning in 1887, social [[scientists]] were using the term "social Darwinism" to apply the [[survival of the fittest]] theory to social situations.  Under this theory, the wealthiest or most powerful in society must be [[biologically]] superior, and less "fit" persons should die.   

Beginning in 1887, social [[scientists]] were using the term "social Darwinism" to apply the [[survival of the fittest]] theory to social situations.  Under this theory, the wealthiest or most powerful in society must be [[biologically]] superior, and less "fit" persons should die.   

Soon many began to view [[racial]] struggles, and [[war]] itself, as a perfectly natural example of survival-of-the-fittest in the human race.  The horrific wars of the 20th century, employing shockingly brutal tactics, were encouraged by a belief in survival-of-the-fittest among humans.  While social Darwinism itself was applied to social and economic situations rather than military ones, it is easy how extreme versions of social Darwinism could justify physical struggles among races.

Soon many began to view [[racial]] struggles, and [[war]] itself, as a perfectly natural example of survival-of-the-fittest in the human race.  The horrific wars of the 20th century, employing shockingly brutal tactics, were encouraged by a belief in survival-of-the-fittest among humans.  While social Darwinism itself was applied to social and economic situations rather than military ones, it is easy how extreme versions of social Darwinism could justify physical struggles among races.

Social Darwinism has been linked with [[racism]], [[nationalism]], [[imperialism]], and [[atheism]].<ref>Hall, Timothy C. (M.A.) "''The Complete Idiot's Guide to World History''". pg. 248: "Others like Herbert Spenser took Darwin's concepts of survival of the fittest and applied them to human society. Spenser saw social progress coming from the struggle for survival. This application became the rationale for many movements and injustices of the nineteenth century, including imperialism, nationalism, capitalism, and racism." ISBN: 978-1-59257-712-5.</ref><ref name="Marvin Perry, Myrna Chase, Margaret C. Jacob, James R. Jacob">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=kKGgoNo4un0C&pg=PA653&lpg=PA653&dq=social+darwinism+missionaries+india&source=bl&ots=Y_LLqh3b93&sig=zQsURzU455ZsXRa-SOQJIzIzP8w&hl=en&ei=7TuhTLfJM8aNnQfF5bSiAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=social%20darwinism%20missionaries%20india&f=false| title = Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society|publisher = [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company]]|quote=The most extreme ideological expression of nationalism and imperialism was Social Darwinism. In the popular mind, the concepts of evolution justifed the exploitation of "lesser breeds without the law" by superior races. This language of raece and conflict, of superior and inferior people, had wide currency in the Western states. Social Darwinists vigourously advocated the acquistion of empires, saying that strong nations-by definition, those that were successful at expanding industry and empire-would survive and that others would not. To these elitists, all white men were more fit than nonwhites to prevail in the struggle for dominance. Even among Europeans, some nations were deemed more fit than others for the competition. Usually, Social Darwinists thought their own nation the best, an attitude that sparked their competitive enthusiasm. In the nineteenth centruy, in contrast to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europeans, except for missionaries, rarely adopted the customs or learned the languages of local people. They had little sense that other cultures and other people had merit or deserved respect. Many westerners believed that it was their duty as Christians to set an example and to educate others. Missionaries were the first to meet and learn about many peoples and were the first to develop writing for those without a written language. Christian missionaries were ardently opposed to slavery.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref><ref name="Manfred Berg, Geoffrey Cocks">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=xVgDiuOxEP4C&pg=PA65&dq=atheists+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=v56zTc3LB-f00gGmmrX7CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFIQ6AEwCDgU#v=onepage&q&f=false|author=Manfred Berg, Geoffrey Cocks| title = Medicine and Modernity: Public Health and Medical Care in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Germany|publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]]|quote=The Christian-conservative Ritter went on to argue that social Darwnism was an aspect of the materialist worldview of the Weimar Republic, which encompassed Marxism and atheism as well and displaced the religious values that he thought had dominated in the imperial period and that alone could guarantee political stablility in the age of the masses. |accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref><ref name="Mohammed Talib">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Ap9WyyINclUC&pg=PA10&dq=atheism+and+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=FJ6zTde4GKjk0QG46LybBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=atheism%20and%20social%20darwinism&f=false|author=Mohammed Talib| title = Universal Peace|publisher = [[Lulu]]|quote=At this point, we must recall another atheist ideology-Social Darwinism-which was among the causes for the outbreak of both the First and Second World Wars.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref><ref name="Jonas E. Alexis">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=WZEXJm4JIbEC&pg=PA39&dq=atheists+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=oZ6zTZnPGJCC0QGjg5n1CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=atheists%20social%20darwinism&f=false|author=Jonas E. Alexis| title = Christianity's Dangerous Idea|publisher = [[AuthorHouse]]|quote=What is even more interesting to point out is that the leading social Darwinists were not Protestants at all-they were mostly atheists who were trying to force their own ideologies upon society at large.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref> To elitists, strong nations were composed of white people who successful at expanding their empires, and as such, these strong nations would survive in the struggle for dominance.<ref name="Marvin Perry, Myrna Chase, Margaret C. Jacob, James R. Jacob">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=kKGgoNo4un0C&pg=PA653&lpg=PA653&dq=social+darwinism+missionaries+india&source=bl&ots=Y_LLqh3b93&sig=zQsURzU455ZsXRa-SOQJIzIzP8w&hl=en&ei=7TuhTLfJM8aNnQfF5bSiAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=social%20darwinism%20missionaries%20india&f=false| title = Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society|publisher = [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company]]|quote=The most extreme ideological expression of nationalism and imperialism was Social Darwinism. In the popular mind, the concepts of evolution justifed the exploitation of "lesser breeds without the law" by superior races. This language of raece and conflict, of superior and inferior people, had wide currency in the Western states. Social Darwinists vigourously advocated the acquistion of empires, saying that strong nations-by definition, those that were successful at expanding industry and empire-would survive and that others would not. To these elitists, all white men were more fit than nonwhites to prevail in the struggle for dominance. Even among Europeans, some nations were deemed more fit than others for the competition. Usually, Social Darwinists thought their own nation the best, an attitude that sparked their competitive enthusiasm. In the ninteteenth centruy, in contrast to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europeans, except for missionaries, rarely adopted the customs or learned the languages of local people. They had little sense that other cultures and other people had merit or deserved respect. Many westerners believed that it was their duty as Christians to set an example and to educate others. Missionaries were the first to meet and learn about many peoples and were the first to develop writing for those without a written language. Christian misisonaries were ardently opposed to slavery.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref> With this attitude, Europeans, except for [[Christian]] missionaries, seldom adopted the customs and lanugages of local people under their empires.<ref name="Marvin Perry, Myrna Chase, Margaret C. Jacob, James R. Jacob">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=kKGgoNo4un0C&pg=PA653&lpg=PA653&dq=social+darwinism+missionaries+india&source=bl&ots=Y_LLqh3b93&sig=zQsURzU455ZsXRa-SOQJIzIzP8w&hl=en&ei=7TuhTLfJM8aNnQfF5bSiAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=social%20darwinism%20missionaries%20india&f=false| title = Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society|publisher = [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company]]|quote=The most extreme ideological expression of nationalism and imperialism was Social Darwinism. In the popular mind, the concepts of evolution justifed the exploitation of "lesser breeds without the law" by superior races. This language of raece and conflict, of superior and inferior people, had wide currency in the Western states. Social Darwinists vigourously advocated the acquistion of empires, saying that strong nations-by definition, those that were successful at expanding industry and empire-would survive and that others would not. To these elitists, all white men were more fit than nonwhites to prevail in the struggle for dominance. Even among Europeans, some nations were deemed more fit than others for the competition. Usually, Social Darwinists thought their own nation the best, an attitude that sparked their competitive enthusiasm. In the ninteteenth centruy, in contrast to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europeans, except for missionaries, rarely adopted the customs or learned the languages of local people. They had little sense that other cultures and other people had merit or deserved respect. Many westerners believed that it was their duty as Christians to set an example and to educate others. Missionaries were the first to meet and learn about many peoples and were the first to develop writing for those withouth a written language. Christian misisonaries were ardently opposed to slavery.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref> Christian [[missionaries]], on the other hand, were the very first individuals to meet new peoples and develop writing systems for local inhabitants' languages that lacked one.<ref name="Marvin Perry, Myrna Chase, Margaret C. Jacob, James R. Jacob">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=kKGgoNo4un0C&pg=PA653&lpg=PA653&dq=social+darwinism+missionaries+india&source=bl&ots=Y_LLqh3b93&sig=zQsURzU455ZsXRa-SOQJIzIzP8w&hl=en&ei=7TuhTLfJM8aNnQfF5bSiAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=social%20darwinism%20missionaries%20india&f=false| title = Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society|publisher = [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company]]|quote=The most extreme ideological expression of nationalism and imperialism was Social Darwinism. In the popular mind, the concepts of evolution justifed the exploitation of "lesser breeds without the law" by superior races. This language of raece and conflict, of superior and inferior people, had wide currency in the Western states. Social Darwinists vigourously advocated the acquistion of empires, saying that strong nations-by definition, those that were successful at expanding industry and empire-would survive and that others would not. To these elitists, all white men were more fit than nonwhites to prevail in the struggle for dominance. Even among Europeans, some nations were deemed more fit than others for the competition. Usually, Social Darwinists thought their own nation the best, an attitude that sparked their competitive enthusiasm. In the ninteteenth centruy, in contrast to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europeans, except for missionaries, rarely adopted the customs or learned the languages of local people. They had little sense that other cultures and other people had merit or deserved respect. Many westerners believed that it was their duty as Christians to set an example and to educate others. Missionaries were the first to meet and learn about many peoples and were the first to develop writing for those withouth a written language. Christian misisonaries were ardently opposed to slavery.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref> Being critics of Darwinism, they ardently [[Abolitionism|opposed slavery]] and  provided an [[education]] and religious instruction to the new peoples they interacted with since they felt that this was their duty as [[Christians]].<ref name="Marvin Perry, Myrna Chase, Margaret C. Jacob, James R. Jacob">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=kKGgoNo4un0C&pg=PA653&lpg=PA653&dq=social+darwinism+missionaries+india&source=bl&ots=Y_LLqh3b93&sig=zQsURzU455ZsXRa-SOQJIzIzP8w&hl=en&ei=7TuhTLfJM8aNnQfF5bSiAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=social%20darwinism%20missionaries%20india&f=false| title = Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society|publisher = [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company]]|quote=The most extreme ideological expression of nationalism and imperialism was Social Darwinism. In the popular mind, the concepts of evolution justifed the exploitation of "lesser breeds without the law" by superior races. This language of raece and conflict, of superior and inferior people, had wide currency in the Western states. Social Darwinists vigourously advocated the acquistion of empires, saying that strong nations-by definition, those that were successful at expanding industry and empire-would survive and that others would not. To these elitists, all white men were more fit than nonwhites to prevail in the struggle for dominance. Even among Europeans, some nations were deemed more fit than others for the competition. Usually, Social Darwinists thought their own nation the best, an attitude that sparked their competitive enthusiasm. In the ninteteenth centruy, in contrast to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europeans, except for missionaries, rarely adopted the customs or learned the languages of local people. They had little sense that other cultures and other people had merit or deserved respect. Many westerners believed that it was their duty as Christians to set an example and to educate others. Missionaries were the first to meet and learn about many peoples and were the first to develop writing for those withouth a written language. Christian misisonaries were ardently opposed to slavery.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref>

Social Darwinism has been linked with [[racism]], [[nationalism]], [[imperialism]], and [[atheism]].<ref name="Manfred Berg, Geoffrey Cocks">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=xVgDiuOxEP4C&pg=PA65&dq=atheists+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=v56zTc3LB-f00gGmmrX7CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFIQ6AEwCDgU#v=onepage&q&f=false|author=Manfred Berg, Geoffrey Cocks| title = Medicine and Modernity: Public Health and Medical Care in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Germany|publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]]|quote=The Christian-conservative Ritter went on to argue that social Darwnism was an aspect of the materialist worldview of the Weimar Republic, which encompassed Marxism and atheism as well and displaced the religious values that he thought had dominated in the imperial period and that alone could guarantee political stablility in the age of the masses. |accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref><ref name="Mohammed Talib">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Ap9WyyINclUC&pg=PA10&dq=atheism+and+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=FJ6zTde4GKjk0QG46LybBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=atheism%20and%20social%20darwinism&f=false|author=Mohammed Talib| title = Universal Peace|publisher = [[Lulu]]|quote=At this point, we must recall another atheist ideology-Social Darwinism-which was among the causes for the outbreak of both the First and Second World Wars.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref><ref name="Jonas E. Alexis">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=WZEXJm4JIbEC&pg=PA39&dq=atheists+social+darwinism&hl=en&ei=oZ6zTZnPGJCC0QGjg5n1CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=atheists%20social%20darwinism&f=false|author=Jonas E. Alexis| title = Christianity's Dangerous Idea|publisher = [[AuthorHouse]]|quote=What is even more interesting to point out is that the leading social Darwinists were not Protestants at all-they were mostly atheists who were trying to force their own ideologies upon society at large.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref><ref name="Marvin Perry, Myrna Chase, Margaret C. Jacob, James R. Jacob">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=kKGgoNo4un0C&pg=PA653&lpg=PA653&dq=social+darwinism+missionaries+india&source=bl&ots=Y_LLqh3b93&sig=zQsURzU455ZsXRa-SOQJIzIzP8w&hl=en&ei=7TuhTLfJM8aNnQfF5bSiAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=social%20darwinism%20missionaries%20india&f=false| title = Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society|publisher = [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company]]|quote=The most extreme ideological expression of nationalism and imperialism was Social Darwinism. In the popular mind, the concepts of evolution justifed the exploitation of "lesser breeds without the law" by superior races. This language of raece and conflict, of superior and inferior people, had wide currency in the Western states. Social Darwinists vigourously advocated the acquistion of empires, saying that strong nations-by definition, those that were successful at expanding industry and empire-would survive and that others would not. To these elitists, all white men were more fit than nonwhites to prevail in the struggle for dominance. Even among Europeans, some nations were deemed more fit than others for the competition. Usually, Social Darwinists thought their own nation the best, an attitude that sparked their competitive enthusiasm. In the nineteenth centruy, in contrast to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europeans, except for missionaries, rarely adopted the customs or learned the languages of local people. They had little sense that other cultures and other people had merit or deserved respect. Many westerners believed that it was their duty as Christians to set an example and to educate others. Missionaries were the first to meet and learn about many peoples and were the first to develop writing for those without a written language. Christian missionaries were ardently opposed to slavery.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref><ref>Hall, Timothy C. (M.A.) "''The Complete Idiot's Guide to World History''". pg. 248: "Others like Herbert Spenser took Darwin's concepts of survival of the fittest and applied them to human society. Spenser saw social progress coming from the struggle for survival. This application became the rationale for many movements and injustices of the nineteenth century, including imperialism, nationalism, capitalism, and racism." ISBN 978-1-59257-712-5.</ref> To elitists, strong nations were composed of white people who successful at expanding their empires, and as such, these strong nations would survive in the struggle for dominance.<ref name="Marvin Perry, Myrna Chase, Margaret C. Jacob, James R. Jacob">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=kKGgoNo4un0C&pg=PA653&lpg=PA653&dq=social+darwinism+missionaries+india&source=bl&ots=Y_LLqh3b93&sig=zQsURzU455ZsXRa-SOQJIzIzP8w&hl=en&ei=7TuhTLfJM8aNnQfF5bSiAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=social%20darwinism%20missionaries%20india&f=false| title = Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society|publisher = [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company]]|quote=The most extreme ideological expression of nationalism and imperialism was Social Darwinism. In the popular mind, the concepts of evolution justifed the exploitation of "lesser breeds without the law" by superior races. This language of raece and conflict, of superior and inferior people, had wide currency in the Western states. Social Darwinists vigourously advocated the acquistion of empires, saying that strong nations-by definition, those that were successful at expanding industry and empire-would survive and that others would not. To these elitists, all white men were more fit than nonwhites to prevail in the struggle for dominance. Even among Europeans, some nations were deemed more fit than others for the competition. Usually, Social Darwinists thought their own nation the best, an attitude that sparked their competitive enthusiasm. In the ninteteenth centruy, in contrast to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europeans, except for missionaries, rarely adopted the customs or learned the languages of local people. They had little sense that other cultures and other people had merit or deserved respect. Many westerners believed that it was their duty as Christians to set an example and to educate others. Missionaries were the first to meet and learn about many peoples and were the first to develop writing for those without a written language. Christian misisonaries were ardently opposed to slavery.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref> With this attitude, Europeans, except for [[Christian]] missionaries, seldom adopted the customs and lanugages of local people under their empires.<ref name="Marvin Perry, Myrna Chase, Margaret C. Jacob, James R. Jacob">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=kKGgoNo4un0C&pg=PA653&lpg=PA653&dq=social+darwinism+missionaries+india&source=bl&ots=Y_LLqh3b93&sig=zQsURzU455ZsXRa-SOQJIzIzP8w&hl=en&ei=7TuhTLfJM8aNnQfF5bSiAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=social%20darwinism%20missionaries%20india&f=false| title = Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society|publisher = [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company]]|quote=The most extreme ideological expression of nationalism and imperialism was Social Darwinism. In the popular mind, the concepts of evolution justifed the exploitation of "lesser breeds without the law" by superior races. This language of raece and conflict, of superior and inferior people, had wide currency in the Western states. Social Darwinists vigourously advocated the acquistion of empires, saying that strong nations-by definition, those that were successful at expanding industry and empire-would survive and that others would not. To these elitists, all white men were more fit than nonwhites to prevail in the struggle for dominance. Even among Europeans, some nations were deemed more fit than others for the competition. Usually, Social Darwinists thought their own nation the best, an attitude that sparked their competitive enthusiasm. In the ninteteenth centruy, in contrast to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europeans, except for missionaries, rarely adopted the customs or learned the languages of local people. They had little sense that other cultures and other people had merit or deserved respect. Many westerners believed that it was their duty as Christians to set an example and to educate others. Missionaries were the first to meet and learn about many peoples and were the first to develop writing for those withouth a written language. Christian misisonaries were ardently opposed to slavery.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref> Christian [[missionaries]], on the other hand, were the very first individuals to meet new peoples and develop writing systems for local inhabitants' languages that lacked one.<ref name="Marvin Perry, Myrna Chase, Margaret C. Jacob, James R. Jacob">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=kKGgoNo4un0C&pg=PA653&lpg=PA653&dq=social+darwinism+missionaries+india&source=bl&ots=Y_LLqh3b93&sig=zQsURzU455ZsXRa-SOQJIzIzP8w&hl=en&ei=7TuhTLfJM8aNnQfF5bSiAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=social%20darwinism%20missionaries%20india&f=false| title = Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society|publisher = [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company]]|quote=The most extreme ideological expression of nationalism and imperialism was Social Darwinism. In the popular mind, the concepts of evolution justifed the exploitation of "lesser breeds without the law" by superior races. This language of raece and conflict, of superior and inferior people, had wide currency in the Western states. Social Darwinists vigourously advocated the acquistion of empires, saying that strong nations-by definition, those that were successful at expanding industry and empire-would survive and that others would not. To these elitists, all white men were more fit than nonwhites to prevail in the struggle for dominance. Even among Europeans, some nations were deemed more fit than others for the competition. Usually, Social Darwinists thought their own nation the best, an attitude that sparked their competitive enthusiasm. In the ninteteenth centruy, in contrast to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europeans, except for missionaries, rarely adopted the customs or learned the languages of local people. They had little sense that other cultures and other people had merit or deserved respect. Many westerners believed that it was their duty as Christians to set an example and to educate others. Missionaries were the first to meet and learn about many peoples and were the first to develop writing for those withouth a written language. Christian misisonaries were ardently opposed to slavery.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref> Being critics of Darwinism, they ardently [[Abolitionism|opposed slavery]] and  provided an [[education]] and religious instruction to the new peoples they interacted with since they felt that this was their duty as [[Christians]].<ref name="Marvin Perry, Myrna Chase, Margaret C. Jacob, James R. Jacob">{{cite book|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=kKGgoNo4un0C&pg=PA653&lpg=PA653&dq=social+darwinism+missionaries+india&source=bl&ots=Y_LLqh3b93&sig=zQsURzU455ZsXRa-SOQJIzIzP8w&hl=en&ei=7TuhTLfJM8aNnQfF5bSiAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=social%20darwinism%20missionaries%20india&f=false| title = Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society|publisher = [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company]]|quote=The most extreme ideological expression of nationalism and imperialism was Social Darwinism. In the popular mind, the concepts of evolution justifed the exploitation of "lesser breeds without the law" by superior races. This language of raece and conflict, of superior and inferior people, had wide currency in the Western states. Social Darwinists vigourously advocated the acquistion of empires, saying that strong nations-by definition, those that were successful at expanding industry and empire-would survive and that others would not. To these elitists, all white men were more fit than nonwhites to prevail in the struggle for dominance. Even among Europeans, some nations were deemed more fit than others for the competition. Usually, Social Darwinists thought their own nation the best, an attitude that sparked their competitive enthusiasm. In the ninteteenth centruy, in contrast to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Europeans, except for missionaries, rarely adopted the customs or learned the languages of local people. They had little sense that other cultures and other people had merit or deserved respect. Many westerners believed that it was their duty as Christians to set an example and to educate others. Missionaries were the first to meet and learn about many peoples and were the first to develop writing for those withouth a written language. Christian misisonaries were ardently opposed to slavery.|accessdate = 2007–03–25}}</ref>

=== Darwinism and brutality in war  ===

=== Darwinism and brutality in war  ===

[[Image:Hitlerrisetopower.jpg|right|225px|thumb]]

[[Image:Hitlerrisetopower.jpg|right|225px|thumb]]

The staunch [[evolution|evolutionist]] Stephen Gould admitted the following:  

The staunch [[evolution]]ist Stephen Gould admitted the following:  

{{cquote|[[Ernst Haeckel|[Ernst] Haeckel]] was the chief apostle of evolution in [[Germany]].... His evolutionary racism; his call to the German people for racial purity and unflinching devotion to a "just" state; his belief that harsh, inexorable laws of evolution ruled human civilization and nature alike, conferring upon favored races the right to dominate others; the irrational mysticism that had always stood in strange communion with his brave words about objective science - all contributed to the rise of Nazism. -  Stephen J. Gould, "Ontogeny and Phylogeny," Belknap Press: Cambridge MA, 1977, pp.77-78).<ref>http://members.iinet.net.au/~sejones/social.html</ref>}}

{{cquote|[[Ernst Haeckel|[Ernst] Haeckel]] was the chief apostle of evolution in [[Germany]].... His evolutionary racism; his call to the German people for racial purity and unflinching devotion to a "just" state; his belief that harsh, inexorable laws of evolution ruled human civilization and nature alike, conferring upon favored races the right to dominate others; the irrational mysticism that had always stood in strange communion with his brave words about objective science - all contributed to the rise of Nazism. -  Stephen J. Gould, "Ontogeny and Phylogeny," Belknap Press: Cambridge MA, 1977, pp.77-78).<ref>http://members.iinet.net.au/~sejones/social.html</ref>}}

Robert E.D. Clark in his work ''Darwin: Before and After'' wrote concerning Hitler's evolutionary racism:

Robert E.D. Clark in his work ''Darwin: Before and After'' wrote concerning Hitler's evolutionary racism:

{{cquote|The Germans were the higher race, destined for a glorious evolutionary future. For this reason it was essential that the Jews should be segregated, otherwise mixed marriages would take place. Were this to happen, all nature’s efforts 'to establish an evolutionary higher stage of being may thus be rendered futile' (''Mein Kampf''). <ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1675</ref>}}

{{cquote|The Germans were the higher race, destined for a glorious evolutionary future. For this reason it was essential that the Jews should be segregated, otherwise mixed marriages would take place. Were this to happen, all nature’s efforts 'to establish an evolutionary higher stage of being may thus be rendered futile' (''Mein Kampf'').<ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1675</ref>}}

Hitler wrote in ''Mein Kampf'':

Hitler wrote in ''Mein Kampf'':

== 20th century rise and decline of agnosticism ==

== 20th century rise and decline of agnosticism ==

[[File:Europe map CIA 2005.jpg|thumbnail|right|165px|[[Secular Europe]] has one of the highest rates of [[agnosticism]] rates in the world.  

[[File:Europe map CIA 2005.jpg|thumbnail|right|165px|[[Secular Europe]] has one of the highest rates of [[agnosticism]] rates in the world.  

 

In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that [[Europe]] will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/02/03/10-projections-for-the-global-population-in-2050/ 10 projections for the global population in 2050] By Rakesh Kochhar, Pew Research Forum, February 3, 2014</ref>

In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that [[Europe]] will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/02/03/10-projections-for-the-global-population-in-2050/ 10 projections for the global population in 2050] By Rakesh Kochhar, Pew Research Forum, February 3, 2014</ref>

 

According to the agnostic scholar [[Eric Kaufmann]], in the Europe of tomorrow, immigration and religious fertility will increase the proportion of committed Christians in Europe, many from the developing world.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf  Shall the Righteous Inherit the Earth? Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century] by [[Eric Kaufmann]]</ref> ]]

According to the agnostic scholar [[Eric Kaufmann]], in the Europe of tomorrow, immigration and religious fertility will increase the proportion of committed Christians in Europe, many from the developing world.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf  Shall the Righteous Inherit the Earth? Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century] by [[Eric Kaufmann]]</ref> ]]

In 1900, about '''.'''18% (about 1/5 of one percent) of the world's population were agnostics. By 1970, about 14.7% of the world's population were agnostics.<ref>[http://www.internationalbulletin.org/issues/2015-01/2015-01-029-table.html Status of Global Christianity, 2015, in the Context of 1900–2050]</ref>  

In 1900, about '''.'''18% (about 1/5 of one percent) of the world's population were agnostics. By 1970, about 14.7% of the world's population were agnostics.<ref>[http://www.internationalbulletin.org/issues/2015-01/2015-01-029-table.html Status of Global Christianity, 2015, in the Context of 1900–2050]</ref>  

=== Causes of the rise and decline of agnosticism ===

=== Causes of the rise and decline of agnosticism ===

See also: [[Causes of atheism]]

{{See also|Causes of atheism}}

==== Causes of agnosticism ====

==== Causes of agnosticism ====

''See also:'' [[Agnosticism debates]]

''See also:'' [[Agnosticism debates]]

Despite there being more self-described agnostics in the world than self-described atheists (See also: [[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic]])<ref>[http://www.internationalbulletin.org/issues/2015-01/2015-01-029-table.html Table on the projected global shrinkage/growth of various worldviews including atheism and agnosticism] (Source: Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary)</ref>, since at least the latter part of the 20th century, there have been more [[atheism vs. Christianity]] debates than atheism vs. agnosticism debates (see: [[Atheism debates]] and [[Christianity vs. atheism debates]]).  In recent times, however, there have been notable cases of atheists being unwilling to engage in debates (see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).  

Despite there being more self-described agnostics in the world than self-described atheists (See also: [[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic]]),<ref>[http://www.internationalbulletin.org/issues/2015-01/2015-01-029-table.html Table on the projected global shrinkage/growth of various worldviews including atheism and agnosticism] (Source: Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary)</ref> since at least the latter part of the 20th century, there have been more [[atheism vs. Christianity]] debates than atheism vs. agnosticism debates (see: [[Atheism debates]] and [[Christianity vs. atheism debates]]).  In recent times, however, there have been notable cases of atheists being unwilling to engage in debates (see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).  

For a listing of notable agnosticism related debates, please see: [[Agnosticism debates]]

For a listing of notable agnosticism related debates, please see: [[Agnosticism debates]]

== Notes ==

== Notes ==

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

[[Category: Agnosticism]]

[[Category:Agnosticism]]