Evolution:
Controversies
A poem by William Blake.
A poem by Wilfred Owen.
Information about what evolution has done to humankind.
The long-fought battle between science and religion.
Go to the Think Quest page.
Seldom do scientific theories arouse as much controversy as Darwin's theory of evolution. Strongly held beliefs and religions collide with the evidence provided by scientists. Some people do not accept these discoveries, ideas and interpretations. They know humans to be creations of a single deity or place humans on a branch of life separate from all others. Even among the community of scientists, there is heavy controversy about the how the long process of evolution took place. In fact, Darwin delayed the publication of his book because he was afraid of all the controversies that would arise. Evolution has definitely intensified the classic debate: science vs. religion.
Flaws in the many theories spark the heated controversy. Every theory, scientific or religious, has at least one imperfection. In Genesis, God created the sun on the third day. The problem with this is how was a day measured if there was no sun. In addition, according to traditional Christians, the world is 1,998 years old, but scientists have found thousands of fossils and rocks older than that. If the universe was eternal, with no beginning or end, what can last forever if there is no beginning. Surely, there must have been a start. Nothing can last forever. The "Big Bang Theory" offers that something did come from nothing. A singularity must have come from nothing. At some point, something must have come from nothing, but is this possible? If it were possible, than it would defy many of the natural laws known to scientists. All theories are equally problematic creating intense, controversy.
There are few, but definite faults with the theory of evolution and controversy have sprouted like weeds from them. For example, many links from specie to specie been found, however, there are still many questions and gaps. In addition, in the Precambrian period of time, there occurred many sudden bursts of life on Earth that remain unexplainable. Controversies will forever exist until scientists are capable of explaining all questions. That time has yet to come.