Page 63 - The Religion of Darwinism
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theory depends on a fairytale about the “Temple of Nature” that he
learned from his grandfather, mistaken inferences derived from an
amateur's knowledge of biology, an extreme prejudice for the rejection
of Creation based on speculations about these mistaken inferences,
and a superficial 19th century culture that believed atheism to be
science. This picture, compiled from ancient pagan cultures, is part of
the false belief known as the Scala Naturae proposed centuries ago by
Aristotle.
The only reason why false religion is stubbornly espoused is that
it is seen as an instrument in the propaganda against true religion, that
is, belief in AllŒh. Phillip E. Johnson of Chicago University, who
occupies an esteemed position in academic circles despite his criticism
of the theory of evolution, explains:
In short, the triumph of Darwinism implied the death of [belief in]
God and set the stage for replacing ...religion with a new faith
based on evolutionary naturalism. 56
In another book Johnson describes this aspect of Darwinism:
Prejudice is a major problem, however, because the leaders of
science see themselves as locked in a desperate battle against
religious fundamentalists, a label which they tend to apply broadly
to anyone who believes in a Creator who plays an active role in
worldly affairs. These fundamentalists are seen as a threat to
liberal freedom, and especially as a threat to public support for
scientific research. As the creation myth of scientific naturalism,
Darwinism plays an indispensable ideological role in the war
against fundamentalism. For that reason, the scientific
organizations are devoted to protecting Darwinism rather than
testing it, and the rules of scientific investigation have been shaped
to help them succeed. 57
As Phillip E. Johnson has said, materialist philosophies found
support for their own views in the theory of evolution and
propagandist activities against religion found strength in Darwinism.
Therefore, the promotion of Darwinism is one of the most important
aims of anti-religious forces, and the most prominent proponents of
Darwinism are adversaries of religion and of those who practice it.
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A A CLOSER LOOK AT THE RELIGION OF DARWINISM
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