The Fundamentals - Torrey - LXII - Chapter 7 (Evolutionism in the pulpit)

Required reading
The Fundamentals edited by R. A. Torrey (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 7 (Evolutionism in the pulpit).

My summary
This week is yet another critique of evolution, but with a slight twist from previous chapters.  This time Christians are criticised for swallowing the theory.

The author, who is not named, initially outlines his incredulity that members of the scientific community are so eager to accept evolution.

Then he turns his focus toward Christian ministers.  He points out the number of problems that acceptance of Darwinism does to a minister's credibility.

What grabbed me
I thought an important point was made about one of the chief reasons Christians embrace evolution: 'If, as some assert, the clergymen who accepted the evolutionary theory were driven to it by fear of ridicule, or of not being thought abreast of "the trend of modern thought," it was not only cowardly on their part, but grossly inconsistent with their Christian profession. For even a partial investigation of the subject must have made clear to them that evolutionism and Christianity are, essentially, intensely antagonistic. The pulpit efforts of some ministers at reconciling them would be laughable from a logical standpoint were the issues involved not so serious and the effects upon some of their unthinking hearers not so deplorable. Certainly, scholarship can no longer be pleaded as an excuse for clinging to Darwinism; and, in the interest of common honesty, these men ought to either drop their materialism or leave the Christian pulpit.'

Sadly I do think many Christians are simply afraid to stand against the theory of evolution.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 8 (The church and socialism).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.