₦airaland Forum

SlawG:
It has been widely held among many sincere and well-meaning Christians that Charles Darwin on his deathbed not only renounced evolution, but also accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. The tale of this deathbed conversion has been passed down over the years as fact. This “event” has even been used as “evidence” that evolution is false. The overzealous have, at times, boldly proclaimed, “See—even Darwin knew that this theory was not true!”

Early Reports
What is the basis for this story? As often as it is repeated, there must be credible evidence that these events actually took place, right? Surely, the tale would not have continued through the years if it were a lie? Sadly, when evidence is sought, there is little to support this story.

Charles Darwin died in April 1882 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Within days of his death, reports of a conversion experience began to circulate. The first report supposedly came in a sermon preached in South Wales by a gentleman identified as “Mr. Huntingdon.” Some weeks later there surfaced a report about a letter sent to John Eadie, a divinity professor in Glasgow, in which Darwin indicated, “He can with confidence look to Calvary.”1 Curiously, when examined, Darwin’s existing correspondence (which totals over 14,000 letters) contains no communication between these two men.2

Lady Hope
The most often cited evidence for the alleged conversion of Darwin comes from a woman known as Lady Hope. She was born Elizabeth Reid Cotton in December 1842 and was the daughter of General Sir Arthur Cotton. She and her father were active evangelists in Kent, very near Charles Darwin’s home. In 1877, she married Admiral Sir James Hope and thus became Lady Hope, a title she continued to use even after remarrying subsequent to Sir James’s death a few years later.3

While traveling in America in 1915 she attended a conference in East Northfield, Massachusetts. While there she apparently told the story of a visit she had with Darwin before the scientist’s death. She recounted this tale during a devotional service and was later persuaded to write an account of this visit, which was then published in the Watchman-Examiner, a national Baptist magazine, on August 19, 1915.4

Here, Lady Hope claimed to have visited Darwin on an autumn afternoon. She noted that Darwin had been bedridden for several months before his death, and at the time of her visit she found him sitting up in bed. Lady Hope indicated that Darwin was at the time reading the Bible, which she claimed he was always studying. When asked what he was reading he replied, “Hebrews . . . the Royal Book.” Darwin also supposedly commented, “I was a young man with unformed ideas.”

Lady Hope further claimed that before her departure she was asked by Darwin to return and speak to his servants in his summerhouse. When asked about the subject on which she should speak, Darwin was said to have replied “Christ Jesus!”

What Really Happened?
WHEN THE FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT IS EXAMINED, THERE ARE MANY INCONSISTENCIES THAT MAKE THE STORY UNTENABLE.
Unfortunately, when the full text of the report is examined, there are many inconsistencies that make the story untenable. While it is possible that Lady Hope did visit Darwin’s home in late 1881, this was almost seven months before his death.5 He was certainly not bedridden for six months before his death. Further, there was nothing to indicate that he was always studying the Bible.

On the Down House property, there was a small summerhouse, but it was too small to accommodate 30 people. There is nothing in his writings to indicate that Darwin ever asked anyone to speak about “Christ Jesus.”

Further, it is fascinating what Lady Hope’s story does not say. It does not say that Darwin renounced evolution. It merely says that Darwin speculated over the outcome of his ideas. He never backed away from evolution. Nor does the Lady Hope story say that Darwin actually became a Christian. The story, even if true, merely claims that Darwin was reading the Bible and made a statement about Christ. Nowhere is there a claim of a saving relationship with the Savior.

As soon as this story became public, the denials from Darwin’s family began (as they did after every supposed “conversion story” became known). In a letter to James Howe, Darwin’s son Francis wrote in 1915: “He [Darwin] could not have become openly and enthusiastically Christian without the knowledge of his family, and no such change occurred.”6

In a letter dated May 28, 1918, Francis again writes: “Lady Hope’s account of my father’s views on religion is quite untrue. I have publicly accused her of falsehood, but I have not seen any reply.”3

Darwin’s daughter Henrietta wrote in 1922: “I was present at his deathbed. Lady Hope was not present during his last illness, or any illness. . . . He never recanted any of his scientific views, either then or earlier.”7

Conclusion
Beyond these denials, if the tale were true, why did Darwin’s wife Emma not rejoice in this? She was always troubled by what she perceived as the godless nature of his views. If he indeed repented, why did she not make this known? Also, if the story were credible, why did Lady Hope wait 33 years before relating it, and even then, relating it in a country across the ocean?

Given the weight of evidence, it must be concluded that Lady Hope’s story is unsupportable, even if she did actually visit Darwin. He never became a Christian, and he never renounced evolution. As much as we would like to believe that he died with a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, it is much more likely that he didn’t. It is unfortunate that the story continues to be promoted by many sincere people who use this in an effort to discredit evolution when many other great arguments exist, including the greatest: the Bible. ACCORDING TO THE LINK YOU SENT. Cc osazsky

u can believe what u like...I have said my own..it has been proven..there is an after life and my grand parents weren't apes and monkeys if urs were I have no prob with dat good night

Funny enough most atheist and followers of thier masters believe that thier grand parents were monkeys and apes dont even know that Charles dawin read d bible when he was old sick and abt to die..cried and said he was young then that was y he did wat he did..I feel for Nigerians forming atheist here. Dawing may still make heaven cuz he repented most persons here may not be fortunate they my die quickly tru accident...thread with care

lightangel65i:
You are dull

I cant relate with u..u dont even know how investigation works...it was not one person that did d act when one has been caught he will point out the rest I followed d story.if Nigeria police want to work u will know that they mean biz even with d smallest info dey get pls dont quote me again I have my reasons.have u finished secondary sch sorry to ask

lightangel65i:
Or people could just place a lie on the head of an innocent person, to get the mony

get a life

lightangel65i:
Tell me how is this helping, will the money being out the killer NO, it will only lead to pinning it on an innocent person. If someone knew the person who did this do you think he will stay silent

rewards happen everywhere and America and other countries have been using this method pls stop watching osun broadcasting TV try to get a satellite and watch good stations like natgeo and discovery Id u will learn alot from there...one of the brother of the prepatustors might be poor and heard a conservarion

SlawG:
video Llink to charles dawling crying for mercy at the point of his death. Thanks

u may not have the chance to fall sick before death u may be taken quickly by accident pls put that down I know my reasons dont feel u are still young..anything can happen...

lightangel65i:
Did you read my post, i said its better they don't interfere at all

when govt fail individual try to help in thier smallest little way it happens all over d world and Nigeria is bo exception

lightangel65i:
During corana they were silent, they didn't give people money. Now cause they see this they want people to feel they are good.

We know them well, so they should stop trying to form like good people its better if he had just stayed silent

and what did Buhari give u during the lock down so u are expecting sulaiman and pastor Chris to credit u..tar ur roads give u light...tax is compulsory and mandatory defaulter even go to jail tithe isnt

lightangel65i:
I don't smoke horse shit like you now

what i read from ur comment says it all..I know ur type..Suleman is not the cause of ur prob blame ur govt

lightangel65i:
So he cant give this to the poor, right.

He is just trying to paint a good image for himself.

She is already dead, let the police do their jobs

pls what poo did u smoke today cow poo goat poo human poo or did u smoke a full sokaway

tosinntoyin:
Dear all,

I really need an advice. I currently work with one of the Nigerian banks. My monthly take home is about 450k and quite good. My major problem right now is that I have just been transferred from a Branch at one end of Lagos to another end of Lagos. All efforts to convince my boss to deploy me to a closer branch has proved abortive.

Going to work daily right now is a very difficult especially during this raining season and covid 19th period. I spend roughly 3-4 hours on the road when going to work and back home.

I am currently raising my kids on my own right now and dont know how I would manage when school resumes. Before now I drop them off on my way to work in the morning and my friend picks them up to her house in the afternoon till I get back.

I currently have a savings of 2million and would love to start a biz( I dont know what kind) as am comptemplating resigning and start a biz instead so that I can have time for my kids and not die due to stress

Please i really need advice for you all.

village people don finally pik..it will end in tears...wat is in 3hrs journey..we way dey trek almost 2 hrs everyday then to newbenin were I work then like 2 decades ago..oga u dont have a prob..u nerver see hardship

Pls I can settle this matter...items to bring and come along with..2 eggs.5 orange yam...2 mosquito sperm...one yam leg....live lion eye...live crocrodie tail and one live chicken

Cosbyrich:
Tinubu will become the president in 2023 and Nigeria will grow positively and exponentially rich.

we northerners will nerver allow that we are born to rule u guys in d west are less than 20 percent how e wan take happen and our bro from the south have not forgiven u guys for wat u did to jeg so dont expect anything from them..no need to mention igbo amaka

festacman:
Five years of Buhari is a waste.
Sixteen locust years of PDP is a compost manure.

May God bless Nigeria.

even if Buhari does 50 years it will always get worst see failure comparing with failure on who failed more..this was not what u guys promised us. Pdp was a mess that was y we brought apc in..but from all that has transpired in d last 5 years I am beginning to think
that pdp really tried alot sorry to say..remind u I belong to no party

Give me a private call let me put him in the furniture way....after 10 years e go don blow and doesn't need those invoices called certificate

Since UN already knows he has nothing to say I am sure they deliberately put off the mic in other not to waste their time..pls efcc IPCC and NBC should investigate this.i am certain it was deliberate a whole UN it has never been held of

Exc2000:



Obaseki trying hard... if he likes let him infect all edo APC members, Direct Primaries would still hold... Okorocha, Amosun, Yari and Ambode all did more than this



.

Ambode didn't fight like this immediate his God Tinubu told him to vacate govt house ..he didn't even waite for Tinubu to end his phone call before he ran out with full speed spits

There is no such thing as k legs it's called a knocked knee...we all have disabilities but try to knock it off.. I used to be ashamed of my disabilities though not too serious but ever since I found love I out grew it..try to find ur better half and move on.nothing can be done now to correct this it's too late..u would have done corrective surgery when u were still a child

There is no such thing as k legs it's called a knocked knee...we all have disabilities but try to knock it off.. I used to be ashamed of my disabilities though not too serious but ever since I found love I out grew it..try to find ur better half and move on.nothing can be done now to correct this it's too late..u would have done corrective surgery when u were still a child

What did she even sing I feel for okoye song that didn't fetch them upto 100k yet Morgan wants to drive a rolls Royce

I am with u on this

It will definitely end in tears

tyup:
I tell people we northerners don't flood the internet to prove fake cheap point, We're low key millionaires in numbers

Probably those who yell Northerners are the most poor and backward bla bla can have a reason to shut the hell up forever

until u guys end almajiri property will never end there.i served in d northern part of Nigeria visited 4 northern state..sorry to say..nothing to write home abt spits.i saw some area where a full local govt had no hos .no schs and to imagine that u guys have been ruling Nigeria since 1960s say it all

some adults here they surprise me see them encouraging a 35 year old man to remain in his father's house no wonder most of them here celebrate FTC na wah o

Ade3000yrs:
Well am not a fan of a man living with his parents but if I must probe the premise of your discourse, It would be just to say your chasing cars blind folded on the high way. The last I checked, Adenuga, Dangote, Atiku, Orji Uzor Kalu, Otedola, Adebutu Kesington, Asiwaju Tinubu and the likes all have their married children living with them on the same compound so whats the fuss about here?

married sons and daughters oga go and sit down

nick50:
As if ur sister has a choice..what if after renting and relocating with ur sister things get worse that they couldnt pay for the house after it might have expired n they were forced to go back to his fathers house nko?..make una no dey fast past una shadow..that ur sister dat is giving person condition does she have her own apartment?

they should rent a house first...its not new people face challenges and return to base but they should have the experience first that's what' makes u a man d guy in question should be suffering from inferiority complex or depression I am certain..how can a 35 year old man still be living with his parents it has never been heard of

eni4real:
Accommodation+ Agent+agreement+caution fees etc will drain that guy!!

He has not even spent on the Wedding yet

I am just trying to picture what was going on in his mind!!

Staying in the Family's house for a while, may be the best for him!!

Nobody should discourage them

if u reason like this at 40 he will still be under his parents...mum go still dey cook for a 40 year old man..I feel for the mum.no mum deserves this.the guy should return all monies spent during his naming ceremony it's not fair na

supercase1:
Bro u are not a woman,a man is the head of the house not a woman it's better for a woman to stay at her parents house it's signifies dignity in our culture where a woman needs to be humble and respectful.nothing wrong if she has her own house though.but as for 35yr old man in his parents house instead of thinking to invest and improving his life to be thinking of marring in his father house.
Haba all I can say is that
ITS IS FINISHED

it will definitely end in tears ..a guy 35 still living with ur parents spits at 22 self me don move nonsence..that what u get when u are too comfortable in ur comfort zone..imagine the mum telling this adult that food is ready.i pray my son nor go be like this lazy beast God forbid

Kirinwa:
With which money will he move to his own house? Is it the epileptic #30 000 stipend?

Funny people full here.

maybe one room...where they will be bathing outside..some guys nor dey try..what has he been doing for 35 years soon he will b 40..na wah o
.well he is d first son so no need to leave his fathers house he should remain there .there is nothing d girl would do that will make a 35 years old grown up man change his mind..his sis should learn to live with it..pathetic

savvy12:
According to her,he is not making any plans to relocate.He doesn't even know where to relocate to because the N-power job he does is in the village.He is not searching for alternative jobs too.He is 35.
He doesn't have any married brother.He is the first child.

at 35 still doing n power ..some guys sha they need better flogging.what is wrong in learning a skills

It will definitely end in tears