Everything in nature is the result of fixed laws.
Charles DarwinRead
I had gradually come, by this time [1839-01], to see that the Old Testament from its manifestly false history of the world, with the Tower of Babel, the rainbow as a sign, etc., etc. and from its attributing to God the feelings of a revengeful tyrant, was no more to be trusted than the sacred books of the Hindoos, or the beliefs of any barbarian.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Darwin critiques the validity of the Old Testament, suggesting it is unreliable compared to other ancient texts.
In this quote, Charles Darwin expresses his growing skepticism towards the historical accounts and divine attributes portrayed in the Old Testament. He argues that its narratives, such as the Tower of Babel and the notion of a vengeful God, lack credibility and should be viewed with the same scrutiny as other ancient religious texts. This reflects a broader philosophical view of questioning traditional religious beliefs and emphasizes the importance of critical evaluation of historical narratives.
Themes
ReligionSkepticismHistoryTruthFaith
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about the validity of religious texts, this quote can be used to illustrate a critical perspective.
More from Charles Darwin
All quotes →The highest possible stage in moral culture is when we recognize that we ought to control our thoughts.
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I am quite conscious that my speculations run beyond the bounds of true science....It is a mere rag of an hypothesis with as many flaw[s] & holes as sound parts.
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We cannot fathom the marvelous complexity of an organic being; but on the hypothesis here advanced this complexity is much increased. Each living creature must be looked at as a microcosm--a little universe, formed of a host of self-propagating organisms, inconceivably minute and as numerous as the stars in heaven.
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I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term of Natural Selection.
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we are always slow in admitting any great change of which we do not see the intermediate steps
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