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[[Image:CharlesDarwin.jpg|thumb|160px|right|Charles Darwin in 1880 at the age of 71.]]

[[Image:CharlesDarwin.jpg|thumb|160px|right|Charles Darwin in 1880 at the age of 71.]]

Charles Darwin likely abandoned [[Christianity]] as a student when he disappointed his father by refusing to become a minister.  In his autobiography, Charles Darwin wrote about the diminishment of his religious faith and Darwin stated that he was an [[agnostic]].<ref>http://www.update.uu.se/~fbendz/library/cd_relig.htm</ref>  Darwin wrote the following: "The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble to us; and I for one must be content to remain an Agnostic."<ref>http://www.update.uu.se/~fbendz/library/cd_relig.htm</ref>  However, Darwin stated in his private notebooks that he was a [[materialism|materialist]], which is a type of [[atheism|atheist]].<ref>http://www.creation.com/content/view/1877</ref>  

Charles Darwin likely abandoned [[Christianity]] as a student when he disappointed his father by refusing to become a minister.  In his autobiography, Charles Darwin wrote about the diminishment of his religious faith and Darwin stated that he was an [[agnostic]].<ref>http://www.update.uu.se/~fbendz/library/cd_relig.htm</ref>  Darwin wrote the following: "The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble to us; and I for one must be content to remain an Agnostic."<ref>http://www.update.uu.se/~fbendz/library/cd_relig.htm</ref>  However, Darwin stated in his private notebooks that he was a [[materialism|materialist]], which is a type of [[atheism|atheist]].<ref>http://www.creation.com/content/view/1877</ref>  

<ref>Barrett, Paul H. ''Darwin on Man'' 1974:276</ref><ref>''American Scientist''  May 1977:323</ref> In the 1996 ''British Journal for the Philosophy of Science'' Kim Sterelny wrote in a book review the following: "I have no doubt that Darwin was a [[Materialism|materialist]] and a mechanist..."<ref>http://www.jstor.org/view/00070882/ap020188/02a00130/1?frame=noframe&userID=80cdbf39@buffalo.edu/01cce4405c00501c2c38a&dpi=3&config=jstor British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Volume 47, 1996, page 641</ref>  Furthermore, Charles Darwin's casual mentioning of a ‘creator’ in earlier editions of The Origin of Species appears to have been a merely a ploy to downplay the implications of his [[materialism|materialistic]] theory.<ref>http://www.creation.com/content/view/1877</ref>  [[Creation Ministries International]] states the following regarding why it is maintained that Charles Darwin was privately a materialist:

<ref>Barrett, Paul H. ''Darwin on Man'' 1974:276</ref><ref>''American Scientist''  May 1977:323</ref> In the 1996 ''British Journal for the Philosophy of Science'' Kim Sterelny wrote in a book review the following: "I have no doubt that Darwin was a [[Materialism|materialist]] and a mechanist..."<ref>http://www.jstor.org/view/00070882/ap020188/02a00130/1?frame=noframe&userID=80cdbf39@buffalo.edu/01cce4405c00501c2c38a&dpi=3&config=jstor British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Volume 47, 1996, page 641</ref>  Furthermore, Charles Darwin's casual mentioning of a ‘creator’ in earlier editions of The Origin of Species appears to have been merely a ploy to downplay the implications of his [[materialism|materialistic]] theory.<ref>http://www.creation.com/content/view/1877</ref>  [[Creation Ministries International]] states the following regarding why it is maintained that Charles Darwin was privately a materialist:

{{cquote|[[Ernst Mayr]]’s recent book on Darwin, One Long Argument: Charles Darwin and the Genesis of Evolutionary Thought, Harvard, 1991, also acknowledges that Darwin’s references to purpose were to appease both the public and his wife. His early, private notebooks show his materialism well established. For instance, in one of them he addresses himself as, ‘O, you materialist!’ and says, ‘Why is thought, being a secretion of [[brain]], more wonderful than [[gravity]] as a property of matter?’ He clearly already believed that the idea of a separate realm of the spirit was nonsense, as is further shown when he warns himself not to reveal his beliefs, as follows:

{{cquote|[[Ernst Mayr]]’s recent book on Darwin, One Long Argument: Charles Darwin and the Genesis of Evolutionary Thought, Harvard, 1991, also acknowledges that Darwin’s references to purpose were to appease both the public and his wife. His early, private notebooks show his materialism well established. For instance, in one of them he addresses himself as, ‘O, you materialist!’ and says, ‘Why is thought, being a secretion of [[brain]], more wonderful than [[gravity]] as a property of matter?’ He clearly already believed that the idea of a separate realm of the spirit was nonsense, as is further shown when he warns himself not to reveal his beliefs, as follows:

Scholars refer to the private notebook in which Charles Darwin stated he was a materialist as the "M" notebook of 1838.<ref>Barrett, Paul H. ''Darwin on Man'' 1974:276</ref> [[Ernst Mayr]] wrote that "It is apparent that Darwin lost his faith in the years 1836-39, much of it clearly prior to the reading of [[Robert Malthus|Malthus]]. In order not to hurt the feelings of his friends and of his wife, Darwin often used deistic language in his publications, but much in his Notebooks indicates that by this time he had become a 'materialist' (more or less = atheist)".<ref>''American Scientist''  May 1977:323</ref>

Scholars refer to the private notebook in which Charles Darwin stated he was a materialist as the "M" notebook of 1838.<ref>Barrett, Paul H. ''Darwin on Man'' 1974:276</ref> [[Ernst Mayr]] wrote that "It is apparent that Darwin lost his faith in the years 1836-39, much of it clearly prior to the reading of [[Robert Malthus|Malthus]]. In order not to hurt the feelings of his friends and of his wife, Darwin often used deistic language in his publications, but much in his Notebooks indicates that by this time he had become a 'materialist' (more or less = atheist)".<ref>''American Scientist''  May 1977:323</ref>

Charles Darwin's casual mentioning of a ‘creator’ in earlier editions of The Origin of Species appears to have been a merely a ploy to downplay the implications of his materialistic theory.<ref>https://creation.com/charles-darwin-s-real-message-have-you-missed-it</ref> [[Intelligent design]] advocate John Calvert declares that atheists often don't reveal their atheism and stealthily try to promote their atheism.<ref>[https://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=207581 Atheism: A stealth religion]</ref> It can be argued that this was Darwin's approach.  

Charles Darwin's casual mentioning of a ‘creator’ in earlier editions of The Origin of Species appears to have been merely a ploy to downplay the implications of his materialistic theory.<ref>https://creation.com/charles-darwin-s-real-message-have-you-missed-it</ref> [[Intelligent design]] advocate John Calvert declares that atheists often don't reveal their atheism and stealthily try to promote their atheism.<ref>[https://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=207581 Atheism: A stealth religion]</ref> It can be argued that this was Darwin's approach.  

For example, Charles Darwin wrote:

For example, Charles Darwin wrote:

Perhaps the best explanation of Darwin's worldview from 1836 onwards was that Darwin was a [[weak atheism|weak atheist]]/[[agnosticism|agnostic]] who often had overwhelming thoughts that nature was the product of a mind.<ref>[http://www.equip.org/articles/is-darwinism-atheistic- Is Darwinism Atheistic? An Examination of the Beliefs and Practices of Charles Darwin]</ref><ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html</ref><ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=j9MEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=Dr.+Aveling+has+published+an+account+of+a+conversation+with+my+father.+I+think+that+the+readers+of+this+pamphlet+(%27The+Religious+Views+of+Charles+Darwin,%27+Free+Thought+Publishing+Company,+1883)+may+be+misled+into+seeing+more+resemblance+than+really+existed&source=web&ots=-eyumeD-3g&sig=V1ooJ7WLHqu1csnVz39scxdV4Mg&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result</ref>

Perhaps the best explanation of Darwin's worldview from 1836 onwards was that Darwin was a [[weak atheism|weak atheist]]/[[agnosticism|agnostic]] who often had overwhelming thoughts that nature was the product of a mind.<ref>[http://www.equip.org/articles/is-darwinism-atheistic- Is Darwinism Atheistic? An Examination of the Beliefs and Practices of Charles Darwin]</ref><ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html</ref><ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=j9MEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=Dr.+Aveling+has+published+an+account+of+a+conversation+with+my+father.+I+think+that+the+readers+of+this+pamphlet+(%27The+Religious+Views+of+Charles+Darwin,%27+Free+Thought+Publishing+Company,+1883)+may+be+misled+into+seeing+more+resemblance+than+really+existed&source=web&ots=-eyumeD-3g&sig=V1ooJ7WLHqu1csnVz39scxdV4Mg&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result</ref>

[[Scientism]] can also be seen in Darwin's worldview. The scientism in Darwins's worldview can be seen in the previously cited quote of Darwin:

[[Scientism]] can also be seen in Darwin's worldview. The scientism in Darwin's worldview can be seen in the previously cited quote of Darwin:

{{cquote|It appears to me (whether rightly or wrongly) that direct arguments against Christianity and theism produce hardly any effect on the public; and freedom of thought is best promoted by the gradual illumination of men's minds which follows from the advance of science.<ref>http://www.christianitytoday.com/books/features/bccorner/020204.html</ref>}}   

{{cquote|It appears to me (whether rightly or wrongly) that direct arguments against Christianity and theism produce hardly any effect on the public; and freedom of thought is best promoted by the gradual illumination of men's minds which follows from the advance of science.<ref>http://www.christianitytoday.com/books/features/bccorner/020204.html</ref>}}   

== Darwin's obsessive preoccupation with his public persona and reactions to criticism ==

== Darwin's obsessive preoccupation with his public persona and reactions to criticism ==

In 2002, Richard Milner wrote in a Scientific American in an article entitled [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000B62D6-7E63-1D7E-90FB809EC5880000# "Putting Darwin in his Place"], that Darwin ''"clipped, catalogued and indexed hundreds of offprints, about 350 reviews and 1,600 articles, as well as satires, parodies and Punch caricatures, with which he filled hefty scrapbooks..."''  And it appears as if the criticism of his work may have troubled Darwin.  Milner in the aforementioned article, wrote that after [[Charles Lyell]] published a very weak endorsement of Darwin's Antiquity of Man, ''"Darwin's disappointment brought on 10 days of vomiting, faintness and stomach distress".  Also when anatomist St. George Mivart made a strong attack on The Descent of Man,  Milner wrote it "triggered two months of "giddiness" and inability to work..." ''

In 2002, Richard Milner wrote in a Scientific American in an article entitled [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000B62D6-7E63-1D7E-90FB809EC5880000# "Putting Darwin in his Place"], that Darwin ''"clipped, catalogued and indexed hundreds of offprints, about 350 reviews and 1,600 articles, as well as satires, parodies and Punch caricatures, with which he filled hefty scrapbooks..."''  And it appears as if the criticism of his work may have troubled Darwin.  Milner in the aforementioned article, wrote that after [[Charles Lyell]] published a very weak endorsement of Darwin's Antiquity of Man, ''"Darwin's disappointment brought on 10 days of vomiting, faintness and stomach distress".  Also when anatomist St. George Mivart made a strong attack on The Descent of Man,  Milner wrote it "triggered two months of " giddiness" and inability to work..." ''

== Darwin's Sickness and Controversy Regarding His Sickness ==

== Darwin's Sickness and Controversy Regarding His Sickness ==

For more on this topic see: [[Charles Darwin's illness]]

For more on this topic see: [[Charles Darwin's illness]]

For most of his adult life, Charles Darwin suffered from very poor health.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i4/darwins_illness.asp</ref> The 1992 ''New Encyclopaedia Britannica '' stated that Darwin's illness was psychogenic in origin (A psychogenic illness is one that originates in the mind or in mental condition).<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i4/darwins_illness.asp</ref> A 1997 article in the [[Journal of the American Medical Association]] entitled "Charles Darwin and Panic Disorder" states that the "variable intensity of symptoms and chronic, prolonged course without physical deterioration also indicate that his illness was [[Psychiatry|psychiatric]]." <ref>''Charles Darwin and Panic Disorder''" by Thomas J. Barloon, MD and Russel Noyes, Jr., January 8, 1997 ''Journal of the American Medical Association''</ref> In regards to illness associated with evolutionary ideas a journal article in the ''American Journal of Medicine'' declares that Darwin suffered from "psychoneurosis provoked and exaggerated by his [[theory of evolution|evolutionary]] ideas".<ref>"The Illness of Charles Darwin", William B. Bean, September 1978, American Journal of Medicine</ref>  The American Journal of Medicine article also declared that his Darwin's wife, Emma, greatly disapproved of his evolutionist ideas and "This, facsimile of public reaction, must have kept lively his anxiety and torment".<ref>"The Illness of Charles Darwin", William B. Bean, September 1978, American Journal of Medicine</ref> According to the abstract for a 1997 journal article in the ''Notes and Records of the Royal Society'' the psychogenic hypothesis for the origin of Darwin's illness "holds the field" but the article questions the validity of this diagnoses and mentions the work of Ralph Colp Jr. MD, a physician and psychiatrist (For details see: [[Darwin's Sickness]]).<ref>http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/content/c5la8dhfh8v7tbx8/</ref><ref>http://www.pathlights.com/ce_encyclopedia/Encyclopedia/20hist06.htm</ref>  

For most of his adult life, Charles Darwin suffered from very poor health.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i4/darwins_illness.asp</ref> The 1992 ''New Encyclopaedia Britannica'' stated that Darwin's illness was psychogenic in origin (A psychogenic illness is one that originates in the mind or in mental condition).<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i4/darwins_illness.asp</ref> A 1997 article in the [[Journal of the American Medical Association]] entitled "Charles Darwin and Panic Disorder" states that the "variable intensity of symptoms and chronic, prolonged course without physical deterioration also indicate that his illness was [[Psychiatry|psychiatric]]." <ref>''Charles Darwin and Panic Disorder''" by Thomas J. Barloon, MD and Russel Noyes, Jr., January 8, 1997 ''Journal of the American Medical Association''</ref> With regard to illness associated with evolutionary ideas, a journal article in the ''American Journal of Medicine'' declares that Darwin suffered from "psychoneurosis provoked and exaggerated by his [[theory of evolution|evolutionary]] ideas".<ref>"The Illness of Charles Darwin", William B. Bean, September 1978, American Journal of Medicine</ref>  The American Journal of Medicine article also declared that Darwin's wife, Emma, greatly disapproved of his evolutionist ideas and "This, facsimile of public reaction, must have kept lively his anxiety and torment".<ref>"The Illness of Charles Darwin", William B. Bean, September 1978, American Journal of Medicine</ref> According to the abstract for a 1997 journal article in the ''Notes and Records of the Royal Society'' the psychogenic hypothesis for the origin of Darwin's illness "holds the field" but the article questions the validity of this diagnosis and mentions the work of Ralph Colp Jr. MD, a physician and psychiatrist (For details see: [[Darwin's Sickness]]).<ref>http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/content/c5la8dhfh8v7tbx8/</ref><ref>http://www.pathlights.com/ce_encyclopedia/Encyclopedia/20hist06.htm</ref>  

Given Darwin's likely psychogenic or psychobiological illness various [[Creationism|creationists]] have stated that Darwin's illness was the result of guilt and/or fear.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i4/darwins_illness.asp</ref><ref>http://www.pathlights.com/ce_encyclopedia/Encyclopedia/20hist06.htm</ref>

Given Darwin's likely psychogenic or psychobiological illness, various [[Creationism|creationists]] have stated that Darwin's illness was the result of guilt and/or fear.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i4/darwins_illness.asp</ref><ref>http://www.pathlights.com/ce_encyclopedia/Encyclopedia/20hist06.htm</ref>

== Charles Darwin and Pangenesis==

== Charles Darwin and Pangenesis==

{{cquote|Pangenesis is based on the idea that all somatic cells produce ‘gemmules’ or gene material that is ‘thrown off’ into the body’s circulatory system. These gemmules multiply by dividing, and eventually collect in the organism’s eggs and sperm (the gametes). Consequently, the experiences of their bearers are imprinted in the gemmules, and then can be passed on to the organism’s offspring. Darwin discussed his pangenesis idea in great detail, and felt confident that it would provide a feasible mechanism to produce new genetic information.<ref>https://creation.com/images/pdfs/tj/j17_2/j17_2_19-25.pdf</ref>}}

{{cquote|Pangenesis is based on the idea that all somatic cells produce ‘gemmules’ or gene material that is ‘thrown off’ into the body’s circulatory system. These gemmules multiply by dividing, and eventually collect in the organism’s eggs and sperm (the gametes). Consequently, the experiences of their bearers are imprinted in the gemmules, and then can be passed on to the organism’s offspring. Darwin discussed his pangenesis idea in great detail, and felt confident that it would provide a feasible mechanism to produce new genetic information.<ref>https://creation.com/images/pdfs/tj/j17_2/j17_2_19-25.pdf</ref>}}

Despite there being devastating experimental evidence against the notion of pangenesis provided by [[Francis Galton]], Charles Darwin stubbornly held to the notion of pangenesis as he had no [[naturalism|naturalistic]] explanation on how genetic information could be formed.<ref>https://creation.com/images/pdfs/tj/j17_2/j17_2_19-25.pdf</ref>

Despite there being devastating experimental evidence against the notion of pangenesis provided by [[Francis Galton]], Charles Darwin stubbornly held to the notion of pangenesis, as he had no [[naturalism|naturalistic]] explanation on how genetic information could be formed.<ref>https://creation.com/images/pdfs/tj/j17_2/j17_2_19-25.pdf</ref>

==Criticism of the Work of Charles Darwin by Cliff Lillo==

==Criticism of the Work of Charles Darwin by Cliff Lillo==

== Family Life ==

== Family Life ==

Author Peter Brent wrote of Darwin's relationship with his wife Emma and stated that "Their ties to each other were linked to childhood and the very beginnings of memory. They had a common history, a joint tradition. It is hard to think their relationship a passionate one, but it was happy, and the happiness had deep roots."<ref>Peter Brent, "Darwin: A Man of Enlarged Curiosity", page 316</ref> Charles Darwin displayed a dependency on his wife that was childlike.  Darwin wrote a letter to his wife in 1848 that said, "My dearest old Mammy ... Without you, when sick I feel most desolate .. Oh Mammy I do long to be with you and under your protection for then I feel safe."<ref>http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar9.html</ref>  Peter Brent states that it is hard to imagine that the letter was from thirty-nine-year-old man writing to his wife rather than a young child writing to its mother.<ref>http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar9.html</ref>  In their article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, entitled Charles Darwin and Panic stated that Darwin felt "nervousness when Emma leaves me".<ref>''Charles Darwin and Panic Disorder''" by Thomas J. Barloon, MD and Russel Noyes, Jr., January 8, 1997 Journal of the American Medical Association</ref>  Darwin had ten children with his wife Emma,<ref>http://darwin-online.org.uk/EditorialIntroductions/Browne_EmmaDiaries.html</ref> who was also his cousin.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1152536/The-descent-man-We-trace-claim-Charles-Darwin-ancestor.html The descent of man] Mail Online, February 23, 2009</ref>

Author Peter Brent wrote of Darwin's relationship with his wife Emma and stated that "Their ties to each other were linked to childhood and the very beginnings of memory. They had a common history, a joint tradition. It is hard to think their relationship a passionate one, but it was happy, and the happiness had deep roots."<ref>Peter Brent, "Darwin: A Man of Enlarged Curiosity", page 316</ref> Charles Darwin displayed a dependency on his wife that was childlike.  Darwin wrote a letter to his wife in 1848 that said, "My dearest old Mammy ... Without you, when sick I feel most desolate .. Oh Mammy I do long to be with you and under your protection for then I feel safe."<ref>http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar9.html</ref>  Peter Brent states that it is hard to imagine that the letter was from a thirty-nine-year-old man writing to his wife rather than a young child writing to its mother.<ref>http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar9.html</ref>  In their article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, entitled Charles Darwin and Panic, stated that Darwin felt "nervousness when Emma leaves me".<ref>''Charles Darwin and Panic Disorder''" by Thomas J. Barloon, MD and Russel Noyes, Jr., January 8, 1997 Journal of the American Medical Association</ref>  Darwin had ten children with his wife Emma,<ref>http://darwin-online.org.uk/EditorialIntroductions/Browne_EmmaDiaries.html</ref> who was also his cousin.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1152536/The-descent-man-We-trace-claim-Charles-Darwin-ancestor.html The descent of man] Mail Online, February 23, 2009</ref>

==Darwin's Racism==

==Darwin's Racism==

==Charles Darwin and the Cult of Personality==

==Charles Darwin and the Cult of Personality==

There is a cult of personality and type of religiousity currently surrounding Charles Darwin.  [[Stephen Jay Gould]] wrote the following in 1978: ""... all theories [of natural selection] cite God in their support, and ... Darwin comes close to this status among evolutionary biologists ...".<ref>http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar1.html</ref>  In 2002, Michael White similarly wrote: "Of course today, for biologists, Darwin is second only to God, and for many he may rank still higher."<ref>http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar1.html</ref>

There is a cult of personality and type of religiosity currently surrounding Charles Darwin.  [[Stephen Jay Gould]] wrote the following in 1978: ""... all theories [of natural selection]cite God in their support, and ... Darwin comes close to this status among evolutionary biologists ...".<ref>http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar1.html</ref>  In 2002, Michael White similarly wrote: " Of course today, for biologists, Darwin is second only to God, and for many he may rank still higher."<ref>http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar1.html</ref>

==Just how intelligent was Darwin?==

==Just how intelligent was Darwin?==