People should be familiar with “The Origin of the Species” by Charles R. Darwin (1809-1882), published in 1859. The book started a controversy that still, unfortunately, continues today between some religious and secular people. What is generally ignored is the idea that evolution can, indeed, should, be accepted even by the most conservative religious. They can understand that God created a world that needed to evolve. For example, early humans needed to go through a period when they were convinced that it was sensible to enslave people, butcher animals as sacrificial gifts to God, and “know” that women are a lower class of beings than men. Only after men evolved their thinking and behavior they realized their errors and changed. In essence, religious people can accept that evolution is part of God’s plan. While not addressing Darwin’s view, written long after the time of the sage Maimonides (1138-1204), Maimonides says this.
I agree with evolution as a force of nature, it’s true, of course, why not? It makes sense. There’s no any legit alternative for it really. Jefferson stated that the Creator created and sustains the universe. Evolution was known as far back as Augustine as guided by G-d.
Darwin happens to have been one of the most humblest, honest scientific thinkers. But Darwin lacked a mechanism for his proposal. That would come with Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, with his humble pea plants.
Yes, evolution in species is possible, just as evolution in thinking.
Sounds like apologetics. A way to excuse the immoral parts of the book claimed to be written by god . Further, comparing evolving human behavior to the evolution of all life from simple organisms over billions of years is more than just a stretch. It can’t explain the unbridgeable gap between the torah’s version of life’s appearance on earth vs. evolution’s explanation.
You may be right. I have an open mind on this subject. We have no idea what God does and why God does what is done. It is possible that Darwin is correct. I do not think the idea opposes the Torah. I just do not know. I’m like Socrates.
I second Rabbi Drazin. For Maimonides, everything in the world develops gradually. Even spiritual development. Thus Maimonides felt that God neither needs nor wants sacrifices, and only “allowed” it because people in ancient times felt differently to show love of God. It is a concession to human needs. The Torah hopes later generations will realize that slavery (for example) is wrong and stop the practice. This is evolution.
Thank you, Shmuel.
The article appears to be incomplete. I believe part of the article was not posted.
No. This is all I wanted to say. Thanks for reading it.