Grace Discher
Age 17
What do these two events have in common? What could the pair of men being honored have to do with one another? As much as the ideologies of these celebrated personages appear to be in antithesis, there is a link between them. John Calvin and Charles Darwin were two of the most influential and culture changing individuals in the whole of Western Civilization. Each produced a far-reaching impact upon every aspect of life, and each left his mark, whether for good or for evil, upon the world. Beyond this, their philosophies are in utter contrast. That of Darwin spawned despair, anarchy, and godlessness, while Calvin’s Biblical standpoint revitalized Christian law, ethics, and morality and reaffirmed the hope that is found in Jesus Christ.
The most obvious area which was touched by these contrasting beliefs is the area of religion. Many deny that the theory of evolution, and all that it entails, is in any way connected with religion. However, a belief system which rejects any God, outside of man, and claims for itself the right to define its own morality, defies any rational mind to say otherwise. Once this is acknowledged, the differences between the beliefs of John Calvin and Darwinism’s religious implications are clearly seen.
First and foremost, “Calvinism” firmly establishes the fact that God, an infallible and righteous Being, is Sovereign and in complete control of the lives of His created subjects, instilling in the minds of believers a sense of peace and security which would otherwise be unattainable. In contrast to this, Darwin taught and believed that there is no Higher Power; man is the uppermost of all evolved beings, and he is in control. A Darwinist can have no hope nor peace, for he trusts in none but himself and knows only too well his own deficiencies.
Another aspect of religion which was vastly impacted is the realm of morality. Calvin preached the truths found in the Holy Scriptures, where right and wrong are clearly defined by God. From Calvin’s Biblical perspective, there is an absolute, unchanging standard by which all things are defined as good or evil. Darwinian thought, however, denies a moral absolute and claims for man the right to set forth his own standard, which alters in accordance with man’s desires and needs. It defies accountability and revels in the right to be autonomous.
Other than “religion,” perhaps no other area has been as much affected by these conflicting ideologies as the area of law. In much of today’s world, Darwinianism has crept into modern law and public policy by subtle and insidious methods. With no fixed standard, law is redefined by each generation; lawlessness becomes widespread and prevalent; court cases are decided based upon human reason and emotion rather than the principles involved. In evolutionary rationale, man may wreak whatever he wishes upon weaker creatures, for that is survival of the fittest. If a wrong is committed, the criminal ought not to be held responsible, for it is not his fault. His genes and his environment are held to blame.
One such case was “Leopold and Loeb.” Leopold and Loeb were wealthy college attendees who had imbibed the evolutionary notion of “supermen.” They believed they were two of these highly evolved beings, superior to other men, and “exempted from the ordinary laws which govern men.” (1) They kidnapped and murdered a 14-year-old boy, simply to apply their superior intelligence in committing the “perfect crime.” The crime was not “perfect,”, and they were apprehended. At their trial, precedents were overruled, and they were spared the death penalty on the basis that the “inherent” crime came from “some ancestor,” and that it would be “hardly fair to hang a 19-year-old boy for the philosophy that was taught him at the university...” (2) This was a logical, if appalling, conclusion to Darwinian thinking.
In direct contrast with the foundationless, shifting standards of Darwin’s intellectual progeny is the unmoving, principled foundation of Biblical law which is applied by the spiritual descendants of Calvin. Where the foundation for the laws of a nation is a definite, transcendent code based upon the decrees of an unchanging, immovable God, the judicial and legislative system will be firm, moral, and consistent in its rulings. This constant and resolute adherence to established principles, rather than fluctuating emotion and circumstances, can be plainly seen in the historical examples of Calvinism in civil government. One of the most obvious illustrations was that of “Calvin’s Geneva,” where the standards found in the Word of God were translated into legislation and judicial rulings.
A more recent example of Calvin’s effect on the civil sphere is the framework of the U.S. Constitution. While not a Biblical document in every aspect, it is very largely based upon Calvin’s political theory. The men behind the spirit of the War for Independence were, in a majority, Calvinists. John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration and moving force behind American liberty, was the “Presbyterian preacher” whom Prime Minister Walpole declared the colonies had “run off with.” Two thirds of Americans at the time of the American Revolution followed Calvin’s teachings.
One aspect of the civil sphere which evidences the philosophy at its foundation is the prevailing form of government in a nation. Darwinian thought breeds either tyranny or anarchy, while Calvinistic beliefs will not abide under an unjust, oppressive ruler, and they who hold to them crave freedom. The philosophy behind each of these predispositions towards certain forms of government can be clearly traced.
Tyrants can easily justify their action using a Darwinian train of thought. If “survival of the fittest” is the order of the day, then why ought it to be thought wrong if a physically or intellectually “fit” individual fights his way to the top and assumes the position of supreme, unchallenged dictator, unaccountable to law or the will of his subjects? The other extreme of Darwin’s legacy, anarchy, encourages each man to claim for himself the position of sovereign. There is no higher authority; therefore, each governs himself by his own desires.
Historical examples of Darwinian tyranny include Nazi Germany, where the highly evolved “Ubermensch,” or “Overmen,” took it upon themselves to rule Germany in a tyrannical dictatorship. Communist despots around the world have tyrannized and oppressed their people beyond belief. Even the current government of America today evidences her acceptance of the Darwinian philosophy, as it draws nearer to utter tyranny each day.
In refreshing contrast, the view of Calvin and his adherents is in direct opposition with either Darwinian form of government. Calvinism is rooted in the basic presupposition that man’s nature is inherently sinful; therefore, he cannot be trusted, in his natural state, to govern himself. This premise obviously cancels out the prospect of anarchy. In regards to Calvin’s view of tyranny, for a man to place himself above all laws, and to be unaccountable to any, is to claim sovereignty for himself and to place himself upon equal footing with God, for the area above the law is God’s abode.
Calvin believed that civil government was established by God for the purpose of furthering His kingdom and applying His principles, allowing the people to flourish in peace. A consistent view of Biblical values advocates a government in which all men are subject to the law, kings being no exception.
The dedication to preserving the Sovereignty of God, both in church and state, is distinctly represented in the behavior of the Covenanters of Scotland, when they rose up against the unjust, un-Biblical tyranny of Charles I as he attempted to place himself on equal with Christ. The Scots battled for the Crown Rights of Christ, and shouted as their war cry, “No King but King Jesus!”
While there are endless additional areas upon which the opposing philosophies of John Calvin and Charles Darwin have left their marks, one point is apparent. Perhaps no other two men have so influenced the past millennium than these. Putting aside all further arguments, there is one central issue which may be perceived in the battle between their philosophies, and that is the Sovereignty of God. Darwin rejected the Lord of the Universe and refused to subject himself to His decrees, and he has imprinted his iniquitous mark of misery upon future generations. In contrast, John Calvin leaves a legacy of dedication to God, a pattern for a joyful, contented Christian life, and veneration of God’s Sovereignty in every affair of man.
In conclusion, the contrasting worldviews of Darwin and Calvin present two ways of life, between which there is an immeasurable difference. One, the denial of Christ, leaves a bleak picture of hopelessness and despair. The other, the legacy of a Godly man, imparts a glorious vision of hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment