The Darwin Hoax

Perhaps you are thinking this article is on the subject of evolution. You are wrong. While Darwin did print the book, On the Origin of Species, which said man is the product of evolution; this article is addressing a different hoax.

It seems religious people have from time to time been told that Charles Darwin recanted in the latter part of his life and became a Christian. While preaching in Arkansas, I was amazed at an article that gave names, dates, and the place where this happened. It was amazing to me that such important information would not have been more widely circulated. Another article in the magazine that ran the recanting article said the reason it was not widely known is because evolutionist have tried to suppress the information. It would not be good if the father of evolution rejected his own theory. I bought in to it, hook line and sinker.

Bert Thompson, in his article, Did Darwin Repent?, gives numerous reasons why Darwin’s supposed repentance is a hoax. First, one of the key people in this repentance was a Lady Hope. There was a Lady Hope, but there is no evidence she ever met Charles Darwin. Second, news of his change of heart was not circulated until much later. No credible source speaks of this information until many years after Darwin’s death. Third, his daughter was with her father as he died. According to her, he never said anything about believing in Jesus as the Son of God or rejecting evolution. Fourth, according to the rumor, Darwin spoke of his change to Lady Hope in the fall, but he did not die until April, 1882. He was in good health in the fall of 1881. Finally, all of the sources used to prove this event have turned out to not exist. Titles of books and articles are cited to prove this happened, but no one can actually find the book or article.

Bert Thompson makes the point that we need to be careful of what we accept as being true. It makes Christians look foolish when a rumor is accepted as truth and then found to be false. While the world may say things that are blatantly false and be intellectually dishonest we do not have that luxury. Christianity is build upon the truth. D.T.