Darwin’s Day
February 12, 2009
Today, Feb 12th 2009, is the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin and this year is the 150th Anniversary of the publishing of the Origin of Species. It isn’t hyperbole to state that the concept of the Evolution of Species by the process of Natural Selection may be the single most important concept in biology. It may also be the best supported fact in all biology and provides a grand unifying theory for looking at life on this planet. This Theory (not “just a theory” but a fact supported by many lines of evidence) also broke the church’s hold on the study of life and, as such, invites repeated attacks by various religious organizations. They rightly see that evolution is a dangerous idea when it comes to exposing their theology as simple myth and threatens to deprive them of the power they seek over the minds and hearts of their followers. This attack has come in the form of Scientific Creationism and, recently, the Intelligent Design movement both of which are scientifically bankrupt.
In order to help you get a good grasp on the wonder and excitement of Evolutionary Theory I am providing a list of brief list of basic resources. Enjoy!
Resources:
Origin of Species by Charles Darwin or download here PDF
Kitzmiller vs Dover Ruling (PDF)
The Devil in Dover by Lauri Lebo
Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne
Why Darwin Matters by Michael Shermer
Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin
Ten Major Flaws of Evoution – A Refutation by Steven Novella
National Geographic UK – Professor Richard Dawkins on Darwin (5 Parts)
Ben Stein’s Expelled: No Integrity Displayed by John Rennie (Scientific America) There are additional links at the end of the article.
15 Evolutionary Gems (Nature, Jan 2009, PDF)
Why Intelligent Design Fails: A Scientific Critique of the New Creationism by Young and Edis (eds)
UnIntelligent Design by Mark Perakh