The Darwin myth
Subtitle: the life and lies of Charles Darwin
By: Benjamin Wiker
Publisher: Regnery Pub.; Distributed to the trade by Perseus Distribution
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Washington, DC; New York, NY
Language: eng
Number of pages: 196
ISBN-13: 9781596980976
Subjects: Biography; Naturalists
Description: In the 150 years since the publication of Origin of Species, Charles Darwin's reputation has wavered between two extremes--secular saint or heretic. But the truth is much more complicated than that. While he was by all accounts a kind and virtuous man, Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection has been one of the most destructive ideas in history. So who is Charles Darwin? What did he really believe--and what did his research really prove? In The Darwin Myth: The Life and Lies of Charles Darwin, Benjamin Wiker cuts through the myths and misconceptions and sets the record straight. Taking a "wars and all" approach, Wiker offers a critical examination of Darwin's theories as well as the scientific, social, and religious implications of his life and work. In The Darwin Myth, Wiker reveals: why Darwin didn't "discover" evolution; how Darwin set out to create a godless version of evolution; why many of his best friends and allies criticized Darwin's theory, and how he never refuted their objections; how "social Darwinism" is not a misapplication of Darwinism, but is Darwinism; why Darwin's theory supported natural slavery, an institution he abhorred; how much of what we know about Darwin comes from his Autobiography--which at key points is downright misleading; how Darwin helped make ideological atheism the battle cry of science. Instructive and illuminating, The Darwin Myth casts aside Darwinism's politically correct veneer and offers a critical, scientific analysis of Darwin's life and his history-changing theory. --Publisher's note.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [175]-186) and index.
Table of contents: title: A very ordinary boy; title: Theology school; title: The great adventurer; title: Hatching the evolutionary plot; title: One long argument, two long books; title: Darwin meets his maker; title: What to make of it all?; title: Darwin and Hitler; title: Christianity and evolution.