Is Evolutionary Theory Harmful?
What Has Evolutionary Theory Done?
What if I were to tell you that there is a theory out there that has lead to movements that have killed millions of people and have oppressed thousands more since its inception. Because it has devalued human life so much it colored the thinking of men like Nicolai Lenin who was the first murderous communist dictator of the Soviet Union. His successor, Joseph Stalin went on a killing spree because of this poisonous worldview.
And Adolf Hitler has used it to promote his "master race" which, during World War II, lead to the killing of 6 million Jews and around 11 million people in total.
Or how about Francis Galton's horrible eugenics ideas?
This poisonous theory is known as evolution. The major idea in evolution of the "survival of the fittest", if applied to human beings, makes all human life no better in any way than that of a snail leaving its slimy trail across my driveway. While I have nothing against snails, they are not to be compared with human beings created in the very image of their creator. Let us look a little more closely at the beliefs of the men that were influenced by this fantasy called evolution.
I. Nicolai Lenin
Though many try to deny the connection between evolutionary theory and the many atrocities that came about in the 20th century, there is no denying that ideas have consequences. And Nicolai Lenin was steeped in this theory, leading him to the horrible things that he did.
He was an unabashed atheist dedicated to the destruction of all religious worship. It has been said by contemporaries that he regarded Christ with "undisguised hatred." On his desk was a prominent bronze statue. The statue was that of an ape looking at an over sized human skull. This symbolized Lenin's evolutionary atheistic belief. It also symbolized the Marxist Communism that he imposed upon Russia.
II. Joseph Stalin
In a book on this man entitled: Landmarks in the Life of Stalin there is a quote that gives us some insight on him. It states:
"At a very early age, while still a pupil at the ecclesiastical school, Comrade Stalin developed a critical mind and revolutionary sentiments. He began to read Darwin and became an atheist."
It was with that belief system that Stalin began his iron-fisted rule that was imposed upon the Soviet Union for thirty years. He was said to be an amoral psychopath and had a gangster-like mentality. He would kill anyone who got in his way, including those that were former allies.
It isn't even agreed upon just how many Stalin killed, but reputed scholars have given estimates of between 20 and 60 million people.
III. Adolf Hitler
Looking at the evidence, there can be no doubt that Hitler was heavily influenced by evolutionary theory. Dr. Jerry Bergman, a college professor who put together studies from various authorities, concurs with this. He states:
"Adolf Hitler's mind was captivated by evolutionary teaching- probably since he was a boy."
In another place Bergman tells us:
The whole Hitlerian idea of the "master race" of "supermen" was based on the Darwinian principle of "survival of the fittest" which Hitler proposed to speed up by various policies. Jews and blacks were singled out as retards on the evolutionary scale, who must not be allowed to contaminate the more evolved i.e. the more advanced Aryan race."
IV. Francis Galton
Francis Galton was the cousin of Charles Darwin and accepted evolutionary theory, though disagreeing on some points. Galton wrote a novel that described his vision of society in which science bred the best of human stock and eliminated the unfit. He believed that the unfit, weak or mentally infirm should not be allowed to breed. Galton thought that only those who were determined to be "high quality." should be allowed to reproduce.
These beliefs made Galton the father of the movement which attempted to put his theories into practice. It was called eugenics. One of the evil fruits of this was Adolf Hitler's horrible experiments with people during World War II.
Conclusion
Many atheists have wanted to put an end to all organized religion in general and Christianity specifically, being the world's biggest "religion". They say this because they believe that organized religion has caused all the wars and social injustice man has experienced throughout history. While I do not defend any injustice that so called Christians have caused throughout history, I wholeheartedly disagree with the assumption that religious belief has caused all of the hatred and violence that human beings have experienced. Indeed, just a cursory glimpse into history shows that many of the horrors of the past century have come from throwing God out of the picture and putting atheistic evolution in His place. And the sad thing is, that it could happen again as our own culture becomes more godless.
It is my hope that evolutionary theory will be seen for the false system that it surely is, and that a great revival will take place in the lands that once stood so tall in fighting the atrocities caused by this invalid and dangerous belief system. May God help His people to remain strong in the defense of the truth!