Morals decline linked to belief in evolution

October 22, 3:46 PMIndianapolis Christian Issues ExaminerJim Pappas

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Dr. David Catchpoole

Creation Ministries International

Morals decline linked to belief in evolution
by David Catchpoole

For years, many people have scoffed at any suggestion that the evils in society could be linked with the teaching of the theory of evolution. But new research has confirmed what Bible-believers have known all along—that the rising acceptance of Darwin’s theory is related to declining morality in the community.

The research survey of 1535 people, conducted by the Australian National University, revealed that belief in evolution is associated with moral permissiveness. Darwin himself apparently feared that belief in evolution by the common man would lead to social decay. The survey showed that people who believed in evolution were more likely to be in favour of premarital sex than those who rejected Darwin’s theory. Another issue which highlighted the contrast between the effect of evolutionary ideas and that of biblical principles was that Darwinians were reported to be ‘especially tolerant’ of abortion.

In identifying the primary factors determining these differences in community attitudes, the author of the research report, Dr Jonathan Kelley, said: ‘The single most important influence after church attendance is the theory of evolution.’

While the newspaper report of the results referred to the moral influence of Darwinian theory on society as being surprising, the findings should not surprise Bible-believing Christians. However, many Christians may find disturbing Dr Kelley’s observation that, in relation to ‘the age-old conflict’ with evolution, the church and theologians ‘have made their peace with this issue much more than ordinary people have’.

The survey showed that about 45% of Australians doubted, or were not sure, if humans evolved via natural selection, as opposed to about 55% who thought this was definitely or probably true.

References

1. The Australian, February 1, 2000.

2. Himmelfarb, G., Darwin and the Darwinian Revolution, Chatto & Windus, London, 1959.

Source: Creation Ministries International