BIG, BIG, BIG STEP FORWARD FOR ANIMAL ISSUES.

[Guest guest]

The attached news item appeared recently. It is a great step forward in

acknowledging what we really are, ie., we are animals ourselves. And

accepting the fact that we are animals will lead us to treat other animals

better. Evolution is not a theory, it is a fact just like Galileo's

assertion that the Earth moves round the Sun. It is a big victory for the

rationalistic perspective on animals. In my views, this admission will aid

the cause of animal rights enormously. Hats off the person who has admitted

the mistake of the Church. For once, at least, the defeat of religion to

rationalism is out in the open for all to see.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/2910447/Charles-Darwin-to-re\

ceive-apology-from-the-Church-of-England-for-rejecting-evolution.html

Charles Darwin to receive apology from the Church of England for rejecting

evolution The Church of England is to apologise to Charles Darwin for its

initial rejection of his theories, nearly 150 years after he published his

most famous work.

 

 

By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent

Last Updated: 1:06AM BST 14 Sep 2008

[image: Charles Darwin to receive apology from the Church of England for

rejecting evolution] Sections of Church likely to be dismayed by Darwin move

 

The Church of England will concede in a statement that it was over-defensive

and over-emotional in dismissing Darwin's ideas. It will call

" anti-evolutionary fervour " an " indictment " on the Church " .

 

The bold move is certain to dismay sections of the Church that believe in

creationism and regard Darwin's views as directly opposed to traditional

Christian teaching.

 

The apology, which has been written by the Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, the

Church's director of mission and public affairs, says that Christians, in

their response to Darwin's theory of natural selection, repeated the

mistakes they made in doubting Galileo's astronomy in the 17th century.

 

" The statement will read: Charles Darwin: 200 years from your birth, the

Church of England owes you an apology for misunderstanding you and, by

getting our first reaction wrong, encouraging others to misunderstand you

still. We try to practise the old virtues of 'faith seeking understanding'

and hope that makes some amends. "

 

Opposition to evolutionary theories is still " a litmus test of faithfulness "

for some Christian movements, the Church will admit. It will say that such

attitudes owe much to a fear of perceived threats to Christianity.

 

The comments are included on a Church of England website promoting the views

of Charles Darwin to be launched on Monday.