Charles Darwin's theory of evolution permeates science, from archeology's search for "missing links" between species, to the study of the human genome and the comparisons made between human DNA and those of nonsentient creatures like mice and insects.
Identification
Creationism states that a single entity created all life as we know it today. Darwin's theory states that the species we know today developed randomly by means of natural selection of the traits needed to survive in the environment in which they live.
Time Frame
Evolutionary change requires thousands or millions of years to occur. Creationism postulates that various life forms arose spontaneously through divine intervention and do not change.
Significance
Charles Darwin is credited with explaining the process of evolution with the theory of natural selection. Natural selection stands in contrast to the belief in divine creation, although some Christians do not see the viewpoints as mutually exclusive.
Effects
Darwin's theory of natural selection is seen by some people as a direct challenge to the biblical Book of Genesis. Creationists and those who support Darwin's theory have often been in conflict since the idea was proposed.
History
Darwin read the works of Sir Charles Lyell's "Principles of Geology" and Thomas Malthus' "An Essay on the Principle of Population" prior to writing "The Origin of Species." His visit to the Galapagos Islands while spending five years aboard the HMS Beagle helped him formulate his ideas.
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