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Monkeys Are People Too Charles Darwin published his book “On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection” in 1859, and the scientific as well as religious worlds would never be the same. At first the theory presented by Darwin was criticized by many people in the scientific world, but was eventually accepted as the predominant theory for our human existence. Religious leaders on the other hand did not feel the same way, and even today evolution is a touchy subject, especially in schools and churches. Darwin’s theory will always cause conflict, some people do not like the doubt it can present to their religion, while others simply refuse to believe they are related to monkeys. Charles Darwin began school studying medicine, but it did not take long for him to realize it was not for him. He transferred to Cambridge where he, ironically enough studied theology. Darwin was later invited along on a 5-year voyage on the Beagle (1831-1836). The voyage set out to explore and map the islands along the coast of South America. While on board the vessel, Darwin served as a geologist, botanist, zoologist, and general man of science (Landry). Darwin was able to do a lot of research on the voyage, but his most pivotal findings were subtle differences between birds found in the Galapagos Islands. He noticed differences in beak shape that allowed birds to eat the food available on their islands. This presented Darwin with the idea that present forms of life descended, with modifications from previously existing forms. This developed into Darwin’s theory of natural selection, which is based on 4 observations: 1. Individual members of a species show some variation from one another. 2. Organisms produce many more offspring than will survive to reproduce 3. Organisms compete for necessary resources such as food, sunlight and space. Individuals with characteristics that help them obtain and use these resources are more likely to survive. 4. The survivors that reproduce pass their adaptations for survival onto their offspring. (Pearl, R., and W.) These observations are all very logical, and have been proven time and time again. One U.S. Geneticist stated that, “the concept of evolution is the cornerstone to biology.” And Theodosius Dobzhansky claimed, “Nothing in Biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.”(Pearl, R. and W.) So with so much support for his theory why is there such debate about its validity, still to this day? Protestants were the first religious group to oppose Evolution with bitter resentment and denial of its validity. This lasted about 10 years and began to die down, but was rekindled when Darwin published his book “The Descent of Man” in 1871. This is was his second book, which focused on the evolution of humans as well as sexual selection. The second uprising began to settle by 1885, when Sir Henry Chadwick, a Church of England Clergyman noted, “A steady acceptance of evolution among educated Christians.”(R.) Many major religions reject Evolution, because it does not support their idea of creation. With certain variations, these religious groups believe that God, or some form of higher power created the earth and everything on it, including the human race. Some people have come to accept evolution as something simply guided by God, or a higher being. Pope John Paul II acknowledged all the support of the theory of evolution, but pointed out that the theory could not support an origin of the “soul”. For the most part well-educated people support evolution, even those with strong religious beliefs. Evolution does not deny the existence of a higher being, it simply gives an explanation for the diversity and complexity we see on our earth. However anything that may shed doubt on any religious belief is sure to cause conflict. The biggest conflict over evolution is weather or not it should be taught in schools. There have been several trials, which have gained national attention over the debate. The first major case was “the state v. John Scopes” or better known as “The Scopes Monkey Trial.” This case took place in Dayton Tennessee when the High School Biology teacher John Scopes admitted to teaching evolution in his classroom. At the time Tennessee was one of the 15 states trying to pass legislation prohibiting the teaching of evolution. (Linder) The trial was very heated and included several powerful testimonies. Everyone involved for the prosecution was very religious, and the judge himself attended the same Methodist church as Prosecution Attorney William Jennings Bryan. After Bryan made an extended speech criticizing the theory of evolution, defense attorney Dudley Malone delivered a powerful speech. During which he stated, “The prosecutions defense was born of the same ignorance which made it possible for Theologians to bring Galilee to trial.” (Linder) During the trial the Prosecution called their own William Jennings Bryan to the stand to testify as an expert on the Bible. The defenses interrogation, used questions referring to segments of the bible in a literal sense to challenge his statement that, ”Everything in the Bible should be accepted as it is given there”. Asking about the validity of a whale swallowing a man, and the world being flooded in the story of Noah’s Ark. Bryan was flustered and went on to make a fool of himself through out the questioning. Despite several minor successes for the defense, the jury delivered a guilty verdict. The case was later appealed to the Supreme Court and the verdict overturned. This was not the last time Evolution would be put on trial. A more recent case is the “Kitzmiller v. Dover” trial, which took place in 2005. The plaintiffs requested that intelligent design be taught along side of evolution. Intelligent Design is an attempt to justify creationism as science, by saying certain things were put her by an “intelligent designer”. After a 2 month long trial the judge delivered a 139-page decision. In which he stated that, “the religious nature of Intelligent Design would be readily apparent to an objective observer, adult or child.”(Page 24) He also went on to state, “The evidence at trial demonstrates that Intelligent Design is nothing less than the progeny of creationism.”(Page 31) The Dover case also took a good look at Darwin’s theory of evolution’s status as a “theory”. A theory in scientific terms is simply an explanation of some aspect of nature that unifies a vast array of knowledge. Theories can be tested and disproven, Darwin himself stated that, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down. But I can find out no such case." (Darwin). Darwin was very special, because he stood by his research and statements. He made his own observations and was well educated. He built his theory around work of former scientists, and paved the way for most of modern day Biological thought. In April of 1982 Christopher Booker delivered the article “The descent of Darwin—100 years on” for the London times. The article was delivered in a “sour, even surly, tone and is plainly derogatory as an accompanying cartoon demonstrates.” (Marcy) The said cartoon depicts Darwin slipping on a Banana peel. Booker goes on to admit Darwin’s fame, but also blames him for, “not discovering what yet remains to be accomplished by biological science.” (Marcy) He goes on to say that there is no doubting life has advanced from simpler forms to more complex, but the reason for these advancements, “Remain God’s secret.” This is one way many creationists use to accept evolution alongside their own beliefs. No longer denying the process of Natural Selection took place, but insisting it was and is guided by a higher being. Any time this “higher being” comes into play the line between Science and religion is blurred. The existence of a higher power can neither be proven, nor disproven. Many creationists will argue that evolution is a form of religion, rather than science. Often times referring to those who accept evolution as “Creationists or Darwinists.” The debate within the scientific world eventually turned from, if evolution occurred, to simply how it occurred. In 1980 this question was discussed in a fourday meeting in Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History. (Marcy) In attendance were top geneticists and Evolutionary experts. No general consensus was reached, and the debate to how exactly evolution occurred rages on today. With most of the world willing to accept Darwin’s theory as fact, it seems silly that it was ever doubted. Just as when the church first rejected Galileo’s findings that our solar system is Heliocentric. In 2008 the Church of England issued an apology to Darwin himself for, “misunderstanding his theory of Evolution, and by getting their first reaction wrong causing others to misunderstand him still.” (Petre) In the apology the church more or less admits to persecuting any ideas, which challenge its beliefs, as with Galileo and Darwin. The church then goes on to say that Darwin’s theory and those adopted by Christians are not entirely incompatible. The simple fact that the church decided to issue a report 126 years after his death should illustrate how ridiculous and selfish they are. Wanting nothing more than to erase their reputation for making such asinine accusations. In the end it is impossible for everyone to accept Darwin’s theory of natural selection, and the theories validity will continue to be debated. As more people begin to accept the theory it can only help with our societies overall knowledge of Bilology. Pearl, Eldra, Linda R., and Diana W. Biology. 8th. BrooksCole Pub Co, 2007. Print. (Pearl, R., and W. ) Moore, James. Darwin : The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist. Norton, 1991. Print. (Moore) R., James. The post-Darwinian controversies: a study of the Protestant struggle to come to terms with Darwin in Great Britain and America, 1870-1900. Cambridge Univ Pr, 1981. Print. (R.) Landry, Peter. "BluePete." Biographies. N.p., Jan, 2003. Web. 5 Dec 2010. <http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Biographies/Science/Darwin.htm>. (landry) Linder, Douglas. "State Vs. John Scopes ("The Monkey Trial")." (2000): n. pag. Web. 5 Dec 2010. (Linder) Petre, Jonathan. "Church makes ludicrous apology Charles Darwin 126 years death." 12/13/2008: n. pag. Web. 5 Dec 2010. (Petre) Marcy, Sam. "Marx, Darwin, and the upheaval in the biological sciences ." Workers World (2009): n. pag. Web. 5 Dec 2010. (Marcy) Darwin, Charles. On the origin of Species. 1859. Print. (Darwin)