19th Century Tension between Science and Religion

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Wallace and Darwin grew up on opposite sides of the track. Wallace's youth was spent amongst the abject poverty of the rural Welsh. These were the people furnishing the likes of Darwin (a Cambridge graduate, and the son of a doctor,) with taxes and tithings whilst they could barely put food on their own table. This gave rise to Wallace's socialist political values. It also influenced his attitude towards science. "This land (Wales,) equipped Wallace with the basic skills of insights he would need for a career in science." (A103 TV16"Wallace in Wales.")

Where Darwin perceived native people from other lands as "barbarians," Wallace was less negative, seeing in these people more positive attributes. He saw them as well adapted to their environment. (An Introduction to Humanities, Resource Book 3, B2 and B3.)

Darwin only knew about hardship and the survival of the fittest, Wallace had experienced it first-hand.

Victorian society was moralistic and judgemental, many of its values being determined by the church. Reverend William Whelwell, who coined the term `science,' funded some scientists of the day. This prohibited them from contradicting the Church's beliefs, meaning that the `Big Bang theory,' and the "study of cosmogony were taboo and out of bounds." (An Introduction to Humanities Block 4 P 98.)

For the Church, the "origins of the universe lay within spiritual causes." (An Introduction to Humanities Block 4 P 98.)

The clergy must have to some extent felt threatened by the scientific community. If the public were to believe the scientists, perhaps the job of the cleric may have come under threat? No matter what a Victorian cleric truly believed, he would not have risked his job, credibility and social...

... middle of paper ...

... Perhaps in

some future time, even science may be able to confirm the existence of a human spirit?

References

1) An Introduction to Humanities, Resource Book 3. The Open University 1998 5th ed; The Bath Press, 2001

B2 & B3

2) An Introduction to Humanities Block 4, "Religion and Science in Context," The Open University 1998 2nd ed. 2001

P87,98, 99,108,110,116,

Clifford W.K. (1879) "Lectures and Essays, ed; L.Stephen and F Pollock, 2 vols, London, Macmillan, Vol 2, p70

Fredrik Bendz, (Swedish philospher/humanist, who holds a Master of Science Degree,)

http://www.update.uu.se/~fbendz/nogod/cd-aw.htm

Last updated: Saturday, April 12, 2003

5)"Wallace in Wales" A103 TV16

BBC Open University Production Centre- Arts Faculty

1998

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