Discussing Creationism Part XXII

Darwin observed the Artificial Selection used by plant and animal breeders to keep certain desirable traits in the breeding stock. By this process they were able to maintain a certain variety of the animal. (eg. in dogs-Labrador Retrievers or Poodles )

Darwin observed the varieties of life and their similarities and concluded that Natural Selection had occurred. The competition for survival and reproduction had caused the stronger variations of the species to survive. Eventually, a new species developed.

Natural selection is dependent upon the environment. Different environments would produce different species as different adaptations would be required to survive in them. Thus more than one species could develop from one ancestor.

During this time, Darwin became growingly agnostic. Not only was God not needed in natural selection but he felt that the intraspecies competition was incompatible with a benevolent Creator.



Sources:
Evolution by Edward J. Larson
Origin of Species by Charles Darwin


Previous Discussions:
Discussing Creationism: The Initial Argument
Part II: Two Questions about the Ark
Part III:The Volume of the Ark
Part IV: The Weight and Sturdiness of the Ark
Part V:What is a Myth
Part VI: Gilgamesh
Part VII: The Biblical View of Noah
Part VIII: Gathering of the Animals
Part IX Evolution
Part X The First Evolutionist
Part XI The Notebook
Part XII Erasmus Darwin
Part XIII Aristotle
Part XIV Middle Ages
Part XV Kant's Quotation
Part XVI Kant in Context
Part XVII: The Beliefs that influenced Darwin
Part XVIII: John Henslow
Part XIX: Darwin's Infallibility
Part XX: Darwin's Thoughts on Apes and Human
Part XXI:Lyell's Principles of Geology