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On Monday night “Spinning Reels” our local Film Society provided a viewing of the movie, “Creation”. Set in 1858 it tells the story of Charles Darwin at the time that he was writing his book “On the Origin of the Species”. It was a good movie. I was expecting to learn more about Darwin’s theory of evolution but the movie focused on his relationship with his wife Emma, a deeply pious woman, and his grief over the death of their nine-year-old daughter Annie.
The screenplay is an adaptation of the book, “Annie’s Box” by Randal Keynes a British conservationist, author and great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin. To write his books Keynes drew on family records. Through the unfolding story we are drawn into the family relationships and the profound impact Annie’s death had on this great scientist.
The movie presents the deep emotionality of Darwin’s nature and demonstrates how far he was from the picture of the dispassionate intellectual that we so often see. Woven through the story is Darwin’s changing perspective on his religious beliefs and his attitude to the church. His theory of evolution flies in the face of the beliefs held by his deeply religious wife. Darwin finds himself caught in a battle between faith and reason, love and truth.
Our modern-day acceptance of the Theory of Evolution makes it hard for us to fully grasp the global revolution that it caused. What was played out in the Darwin home and in their small English village became a sea-change of thought and belief for the world. Even today the debate continues when those who accept the Bible as literal truth dismiss Darwin’s theory as false.
In the movie as Darwin struggled to even write the book his friend Joseph Hooker visits him. Hooker brings with him the uninvited guest of Thomas Huxley. Huxley is adamant that Darwin must publish his theories. He tries to encourage him with the words, “You are killing God. And for my part I will be glad to see the end of the old bugger.”
The interplay of science and religion continues to be troubling for some while inseparable for others. I heard a biologist say, “The first time I looked at a cell under the microscope was a religious experience for me; such intricacy and beauty in one small cell. It convinced me there has to be a creator.” But, for others the awesome mystery of creation discounts the possibility of a higher power. A couple of years ago Kevin preached a sermon series on the book, “Thank God for Evolution” written by Michael Dowd. He explores the notion that science and religion are two sides of the same coin and that the marriage of science and religion transforms us.
What about you? Where do you sit on the religion – science continuum? Are they contrary or complimentary?
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