Page 125 - The importance of conscience in the Qur'an

The Evolution Deception 123

Darwin based his evolution allegation entirely on the
mechanism of "natural selection." The importance he placed on
this mechanism was evident in the name of his book: The
Origin of Species, By Means of Natural Selection…
Natural selection holds that those living things that are
stronger and more suited to the natural conditions of their habi-
tats will survive in the struggle for life. For example, in a deer herd
under the threat of attack by wild animals, those that can run
faster will survive. Therefore, the deer herd will be comprised of
faster and stronger individuals. However, unquestionably, this
mechanism will not cause deer to evolve and transform them-
selves into another living species, for instance, horses.
Therefore, the mechanism of natural selection has no evo-
lutionary power. Darwin was also aware of this fact and had to
state this in his book The Origin of Species:
Natural selection can do nothing until favourable indi-
vidual differences or variations occur. 10

Lamarck's Impact
So, how could these "favorable variations" occur? Darwin
tried to answer this question from the standpoint of the primi-
tive understanding of science at that time. According to the
French biologist Chevalier de Lamarck (1744-1829), who lived
before Darwin, living creatures passed on the traits they
acquired during their lifetime to the next generation. He assert-
ed that these traits, which accumulated from one generation to
another, caused new species to be formed. For instance, he
claimed that giraffes evolved from antelopes; as they struggled
to eat the leaves of high trees, their necks were extended from