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A review by kevin_shepherd
What is Darwinism by Charles Hodge
1.0
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution" -Theo Dobzhansky, evolutionary biologist, 1973
Charles Hodge’s What Is Darwinism? was originally published in 1874 and contains essays written as early as 1862, a scant three years after Charles Darwin’s landmark publication of On the Origin of Species. The fact that almost no one today is familiar with the works of Charles Hodge points to the significance, or rather the insignificance, of Hodge’s ecclesiastical claptrap.
Charles Hodge was on staff at the Princeton Theological Seminary when he first wrote of his objections to Darwinistic thought. In the July 1862 issue of Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review he asserted his advocacy for biblical inerrancy and his staunch commitment to the “truthful” origin of humanity as described in the first chapter of Genesis. (pg 49) Less than a year later Hodge wrote the following to the editors of the New York Observer:
“. . . the Bible can teach no error, whether in reference to doctrines, morals, or facts; whether those facts be historical, geographical, geological or astronomical . . . every enlightened Christian votary of science knows that if his investigations seem to lead to conclusions contrary to the Bible, there must be some error in his process.” (pg 53-55)
Those who assert that Charles Hodge was actually “pro-science” aren’t entirely wrong. He did indeed write on numerous occasions that science had an important purpose—that purpose was to help theologians interpret the bible. In fact, he insisted that Christians “treat scientific results with all the respect possible within the general framework of faithfulness to Scripture.” (pg 57)
According to the Gospel of Hodge, the misinformation in the bible isn’t really misinformation at all—it is just a correctable misinterpretation of scripture. He concedes that, when painted into a corner by incontrovertible science, theologians have been obliged to make concessions:
“The Church has been forced more than once to alter her interpretation of the Bible to accommodate the discoveries of science. But this has been done without doing any violence to the Scriptures . . . [emphasis mine]” (pg 59)
Of course there was never any “violence to the scriptures.” That would be ghastly. But what about the violence to the human beings who dared question the unquestionable? What of those who had the audacity to declare that the earth isn’t really flat, or that the sun doesn’t really orbit the earth, or even that the earth is really billions of years old? While theologians were standing guard over their precious narrative Hypatia was literally being ripped apart by an angry mob and Giordano Bruno was being staked and burned alive. Their only crime was telling the truth too soon. Charles Hodge leaves them (and the thousands like them) completely out of the conversation. How convenient.
HODGE vs DARWIN
“Men who are assiduously poisoning the fountains of religion, morality, and social order cannot be let alone.” (pg 136)
It’s obvious that Hodge saw Darwinism as a threat. In his mind, Darwin’s theories eliminated the necessity of the supernatural and thus the necessity of God. He equated Darwinism with atheism and he unequivocally DESPISED atheism. Hodge is a relic whose legacy, like a parasitic tapeworm, lives on today in the teachings of people like Ken Ham and Michael Behe. He was a monkey on the back of knowledge and progress and I, for one, am ready to lance this festering boil of a book and move on. One star.
Charles Hodge’s What Is Darwinism? was originally published in 1874 and contains essays written as early as 1862, a scant three years after Charles Darwin’s landmark publication of On the Origin of Species. The fact that almost no one today is familiar with the works of Charles Hodge points to the significance, or rather the insignificance, of Hodge’s ecclesiastical claptrap.
Charles Hodge was on staff at the Princeton Theological Seminary when he first wrote of his objections to Darwinistic thought. In the July 1862 issue of Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review he asserted his advocacy for biblical inerrancy and his staunch commitment to the “truthful” origin of humanity as described in the first chapter of Genesis. (pg 49) Less than a year later Hodge wrote the following to the editors of the New York Observer:
“. . . the Bible can teach no error, whether in reference to doctrines, morals, or facts; whether those facts be historical, geographical, geological or astronomical . . . every enlightened Christian votary of science knows that if his investigations seem to lead to conclusions contrary to the Bible, there must be some error in his process.” (pg 53-55)
Those who assert that Charles Hodge was actually “pro-science” aren’t entirely wrong. He did indeed write on numerous occasions that science had an important purpose—that purpose was to help theologians interpret the bible. In fact, he insisted that Christians “treat scientific results with all the respect possible within the general framework of faithfulness to Scripture.” (pg 57)
According to the Gospel of Hodge, the misinformation in the bible isn’t really misinformation at all—it is just a correctable misinterpretation of scripture. He concedes that, when painted into a corner by incontrovertible science, theologians have been obliged to make concessions:
“The Church has been forced more than once to alter her interpretation of the Bible to accommodate the discoveries of science. But this has been done without doing any violence to the Scriptures . . . [emphasis mine]” (pg 59)
Of course there was never any “violence to the scriptures.” That would be ghastly. But what about the violence to the human beings who dared question the unquestionable? What of those who had the audacity to declare that the earth isn’t really flat, or that the sun doesn’t really orbit the earth, or even that the earth is really billions of years old? While theologians were standing guard over their precious narrative Hypatia was literally being ripped apart by an angry mob and Giordano Bruno was being staked and burned alive. Their only crime was telling the truth too soon. Charles Hodge leaves them (and the thousands like them) completely out of the conversation. How convenient.
HODGE vs DARWIN
“Men who are assiduously poisoning the fountains of religion, morality, and social order cannot be let alone.” (pg 136)
It’s obvious that Hodge saw Darwinism as a threat. In his mind, Darwin’s theories eliminated the necessity of the supernatural and thus the necessity of God. He equated Darwinism with atheism and he unequivocally DESPISED atheism. Hodge is a relic whose legacy, like a parasitic tapeworm, lives on today in the teachings of people like Ken Ham and Michael Behe. He was a monkey on the back of knowledge and progress and I, for one, am ready to lance this festering boil of a book and move on. One star.