by English naturalist, biologist, and scientist, Charles Darwin added many positive contributions to the world of science, especially focusing on evolution. On his five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle, he sailed around the world taking detailed hydrographic surveys around the coasts. When at the Galapagos Islands, he saw lots of wildlife and was able to study adaptations and the evolution of finches. He compiled lots of work and notes and ultimately his theory that all species on earth come from common ancestors is now widely recognized and believed to be true all over the world. His work has had a profound impact on our society in both positive and negative ways.
One of the ways in which Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution have impacted society is its effect on religion. In his work, Charles Darwin came up with the theory of natural selection, which according to Oxford dictionaries means the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. Although the theory of natural selection has aided in our society’s understanding of the world around us and how we came to be, it has hurt various religious groups. Moreover, as Darwin’s theory of natural selection explains our evolution from apes to the humans we are today, it replaces any religious explanation for how were created. Religions like Catholicism traditionally believed that God created humans like Adam and Eve as they were, not that over time we have evolved from a different species into what we are today. Thus, atheists and others who don’t believe in any religion are able to criticize religious groups for being incorrect about how humans came to be. Natural selection and the ideas of Social Darwinism can denounce any idea of supernatural or religious belief as they are proven science that stands in opposition. One way people who do believe in various religions have tried to combat this can be seen in schools in different parts of the United States: “In the last decade, some local and state school boards in Kansas, Pennsylvania and elsewhere have considered teaching what they contend are scientific alternatives to evolution – notably the concept of intelligent design, which posits that life is too complex to have developed without the intervention of an outside, possibly divine force.” Ideas like intelligent design and saying things such as “a theory is not a proven fact” diminish the ideas of evolution and natural selection slightly without completely going against them.
In response to the theory of Evolution, Natural Selection, and Social Darwinism, the Catholic church has responded in recent years by amending but not changing their belief about creation. Instead of believing that God created humans as we are today among other natural phenomenons that contradict scientific findings, Pope Francis has shifted how the Catholic church thinks: “The evolution in nature is not opposed to the notion of Creation, because evolution presupposes the creation of beings that evolve.” So by accepting the idea of evolution, the Catholic church can continue to practice its religion with a similar ideology. Thus, Charles Darwin’s work having to do with Evolution, Natural Selection, and Social Darwinism has had a great effect on our society.
https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/28/pope-francis-comments-on-evolution-and-the-catholic-church