A Change in Pace, Scientifically Seen
He who believes that each equine species was independently created, will, I presume, assert that each species has been created with a tendency to vary, both under nature and under domestication, in this particular manner, so as often to become striped like other species of the genus; and that each has been created with a strong tendency, when crossed with species inhabiting distant quarters of the world, to produce hybrids resembling in their stripes, not their own parents, but other species of the genus. To admit this view is, as it seems to me, to reject a real for an unreal, or at least for an unknown, cause. It makes the works of God a mere mockery and deception; I would almost as soon believe with the old and ignorant cosmogonists, that fossil shells had never lived, but had been created in stone so as to mock the shells now living on the sea-shore.
- Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species, Chapter 5 (emphasis added)
It will come as no surprise to those who know me that I am entirely fascinated by the sciences, and by evolutionary theory in particular. This is not the first time which I have written on it (also here, here, and here). Evolution represents the intersection of several of my interests: science, theology, and, to a lesser degree, politics (mostly when the first two can’t agree).
The quote above, from Darwin himself, captures the heart of the matter. God created the world in a marvelous and wonderful way; to deny his work is to refuse to see the glory of God in creation. My sister-in-law put it another way after seeing this article:
It’s funny, isn’t it, how some Christians want to think stuff like this diminishes us or God… I think it just makes him seem even more awesome.
The subject, and others related to it, seem worthy of my further consideration. So, in order to give the Smidgin a bit more purpose and direction in its digital life, I am going to try a thematic approach for the blog. Posts will center around issues of science (evolution, climate change, or things I just generally find interesting), with the majority tending to be links to other content with a short commentary.
Whether or not this is a permanent change remains to be seen. I hope the new system is still of interest to my small but faithful collection of readers. If any wander off to peruse other parts of the Internet, I will not be offended; I understand that not everyone is as captivated by the sciences as I.
With that, let us begin.
