The 'battle' between science and religion over evolution in nineteenth century New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History at Massey University
Year: 1985
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This thesis describes and analyses the New Zealand response to \nthe Darwinian theory of evolution in the second half of the nineteenth \ncentury. Traditional accounts, using a distorted version of the \nHuxley-Wilberforce debate as their model, have been triumphalist, \npositivistic, and militaristic. The bloody 'battle' between science \nand religion, according to these received views, resulted in the \noverwhelming victory of science, truth, and progress over religion, \nignorance, and superstition. This model is inapplicable in the New \nZealand context. Generations of reconciling Genesis with geology had \nprepared the Christian mind well for coming to terms with scientific \ndiscoveries, and adjusting interpretations of Scripture accordingly. \nAfter an initial period of caution and deliberation, churchmen within \nthe major denominations came to terms with biological evolution as \nreadily as they had earlier accepted the findings of geology and \npalaeontology. By the 1880's evolution became acceptable to most \neducated Christians. Scientists too, quickly accepted biological \nevolution but remained religious believers, and in many cases devout, \npractising Christians. The irreligious view of nature was reinforced \nrather than destroyed by Darwin. The handful of freethinkers who \nproclaimed that Science had supplanted Christianity also belie the \npositivist model, for evolution became for them a surrogate religious \nfaith. Science did effectively become secularized by the beginning of \nthe twentieth century, but this was the work of devout scientists who \nwanted to prevent religious controversy from constantly holding back \nthe progress of biology. The 'battle' between science and religion \nover evolution culminating in the final and decisive triumph of \nscience was a myth.
Author: John Stenhouse
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1582386452