XXIV 



THE INFLUENCE OF DARWIN UPON 

 RELIGIOUS THOUGHT 



By P. N. Waggett, M.A, S.S.J.E. 



I. 



The object of this paper is first to point out certain elements 

 of the Darwinian influence upon Religious thought, and then to show 

 reason for the conclusion that it has been, from a Christian point of 

 view, satisfactory. I shall not proceed further to urge that the 

 Christian apologetic in relation to biology has been successful. A 

 variety of opinions may be held on this question, without disturbing 

 the conclusion that the movements of readjustment have been bene- 

 ficial to those who remain Christians, and this by making them more 

 Christian and not only more liberal. The theologians may sometimes 

 have retreated, but there has been an advance of theology. I know 

 that this account incurs the charge of optimism. It is not the worst 

 that could be made. The influence has been limited in personal 

 range, unequal, even divergent, in operation, and accompanied by 

 the appearance of waste and mischievous products. The estimate 

 which follows requires for due balance a full development of many 

 qualifying considerations. For this I lack space, but I must at least 

 distinguish my view from the popular one that our difficulties about 

 religion and natural science have come to an end. 



Concerning the older questions about origins — the origin of the 

 world, of species, of man, of reason, conscience, religion — a large 

 measure of understanding has been reached by some thoughtful men. 

 But meanwhile new questions have arisen, questions about conduct, 

 regarding both the reality of morals and the rule of right action for 

 individuals and societies. And these problems, still far from solution, 

 may also be traced to the influence of Darwin. For they arise from 

 the renewed attention to heredity, brought about by the search for 

 the causes of variation, without which the study of the selection of 

 variations has no sufficient basis. 



Even the existing understanding about origins is very far from 

 universal. On these points there were always thoughtful men who 

 denied the necessity of conflict, and there are still thoughtful men 

 who deny the possibility of a truce. 



