Charles Darwin’s first theory of evolution
Charles Darwin was born 200 years ago, on February 12th 1809. Possibly the most famous scientist ever, his fundamental and beautiful theory of evolution has stood the test of time. Darwin formed his theory as a result of his observations during the voyage of the Beagle, but it was many years from then until he actually published his ideas.
It is less well-known that, in the same voyage, Charles Darwin produced another theory of evolution, not of life but of coral reefs. The formation of coral reefs was a matter of some debate at that time, in fact, one of the mission objectives for the Beagle voyage was to study their nature.
bution of Coral Reefs in May 1842, some 6 years after the Beagle came home, and 17 years ahead of his more famous work, On the Origin of Species.
Darwin’s theory of coral reef formation is all the more remarkable for having been thought out completely before he had ever seen a reef. In his own words:
“No other work of mine was begun in so deductive a spirit as this, for the whole theory was thought out on the west coast of South America, before I had seen a true coral-reef. I had therefore only to verify and extend my views by a careful examination of living reefs.”
Such a statement could imply that Darwin was biased in his views, and it would be natural to believe that he sought only such evidence as supported his theory. That this is not the case becomes apparent on reading the book. Darwin was a meticulous and thorough observer, seeking as much information as he could from a wide variety of sources. The appendix of his book, fully one third as long as the main text, contains a detailed description of a large number of coral reefs, all of which he examined in the light of his theory. The book also includes a map of the world, showing the locations of all these reefs.
ADL condemns this documentary
by peskyNew York, NY, August 22, 2006 � The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today blasted a television documentary produced by Christian broadcaster Dr. D. James Kennedy's Coral Ridge Ministries that attempts to link Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to Adolf Hitler and the atrocities of the Holocaust. ADL also denounced Coral Ridge Ministries for misleading Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute for the NIH, and wrongfully using him as part of its twisted documentary, "Darwin's Deadly Legacy."
After being contacted by the ADL about his name being used to promote Kennedy's project, Dr
Retiring at 82: You've got to like your work — ABC Local
She's spent the last 20 years working as a lecturer in horticulture at Charles Darwin University. "You've to like your work," says Mrs Hagan when asked why she kept working long after she could have put her feet up. "I like the students, the students ..
Uni ratings' big tick — The Australian Financial Review
.. the University of Wollongong, Macquarie University, University of Technology Sydney, the University of South Australia, Deakin University, Murdoch University, Charles Darwin University, Curtin University of Technology, Flinders University, Griffith ..
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Race, Evolution, and Behavior: a Life History Prspective, 2nd, Second Special Abridged Edition
Book (Charles Darwin Research Institute)
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Sugar glider moves around the family tree — ABC Online
Thought for more than 150 years to be a subspecies of sugar glider, researchers based at Charles Darwin University in Darwin have recently found it more closely resembles two other species of glider, and they speculate that it may even represent an ..
FAQ
Atheists view of Charles Darwin quote?
"Another source of conviction in the existence of God, connected with the reason and not with the feelings, impresses me as having much more weight. 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."
Charles Darwin
Its clearly out of context because Charles Darwin would not have thought evolution had anything to do with blind chance now would he? He knew it was nothing of the kind.
Darwin quote.............?
There is grandeur in this [natural selection] view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved.[ix]
Charles Darwin
So what? Even if this is a true quote it does not mean there is a god or that a god is involved with evolution or that the theory of evolution is somehowo flawed.
It is silly attempts like these that really make the creationists look idiotic.
bution of Coral Reefs in May 1842, some 6 years after the Beagle came home, and 17 years ahead of his more famous work, On the Origin of Species.
