17 February 2009
Methodist Church welcomes celebration of Darwin Day
The Methodist Church has welcomed a day of celebration dedicated
to the achievements of scientist Charles Darwin during the year
marking his 200th birthday and 150-year-old theory of
evolution.
Methodists praised Darwin's ground-breaking work on the theory of
evolution, On the Origin of Species, which sparked a scientific
research programme that has continued to this day.
The Revd Dr Philip Luscombe is Principal of Wesley House,
Cambridge, and President of the Cambridge Theological Federation
where he teaches Systematic Theology, Preaching and Religion and
Science.
He said: "Christians believe that God created the world. Charles
Darwin gave the first successful scientific account of one
important part of God's creation: how life developed from the
simplest of forms into the extraordinary variety that we see around
us. In doing so, Darwin ruled out some of the ways in which many
had assumed that God worked. But as he himself was clear, nothing
that he wrote affected the majesty of God in creation.
"An early Christian commentator on Darwin's work wrote that,
'Darwinism appeared, and, under the guise of a foe, did the work of
a friend.' Darwin cleared away many misconceptions and helped us
towards a better understanding of the truth."
Philip, whose major research interest is the relationship between
science and theology, said that Darwin's thesis demonstrated the
power of the theory of evolution through natural selection.
"The human genome project is only the latest example of research
which is ultimately inspired by Darwin," he added. "All modern
biological science relies on the foundation Darwin provided."
"We join in celebrating the life and work of Darwin because he
helped us all to see better the intricacy of God's creation, and
forced us to wrestle once more with the eternal problems of good
and evil."
The Revd Jenny Ellis, Spirituality and Discipleship Officer, said:
"Darwin's scientific theory of the mechanics of creation frees us
to appreciate the 'faith' truth of the Biblical stories and the
precious value and giftedness of God-inspired creation. The stories
convey the sense of the wonder and goodness of creation; of the
creative, divine Spirit who brings it into being and sustains it;
of creation's deep inter-connectedness, its rhythm and
balance."