1.0Sgwrs Tei Bowhttps://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cyClarke Robertshttps://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cy/author/clarke-roberts/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="nDZBm29gxu"><a href="https://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cy/2014/03/30/science-religion-bridging-the-gap/">Science & Religion: Bridging the Gap</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cy/2014/03/30/science-religion-bridging-the-gap/embed/#?secret=nDZBm29gxu" width="600" height="338" title="“Science & Religion: Bridging the Gap” — Bow Tie Talks" data-secret="nDZBm29gxu" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script>Following yesterday’s article regarding the importance of religious studies in schools, I felt it important to address one of the potential issues regarding society’s growing attitude towards religion as a whole. It may be seen that the growth and expansion of scientific knowledge has led to religion being placed on the back burner when it comes to knowing about the world. The essay below attempts to counter this assumption by discussing the links between the theory of natural selection, and religious philosophy and theology. The quote provided by William B Provine is the catalyst for the discussion: “the theory of evolution by natural selection is the most efficient engine of atheism discovered by humans”.                                                                                                                                                         1.0 Introduction [The theory of] evolution [by natural selection] is… the most efficient engine of atheism ever discovered by humans. (Provine 2006: 667) The above quote from William B. Provine, at first glance, would appear to be a generally accepted maxim in the modern world. However, as the discourse between science and religion continues, claims such as these lose their transparency and inspire a wealth of philosophical conversation. In a world where the divide between science and religion appears to be ever growing, paving the way for secularisation to take a firm hold on society, the dialogue that takes place in order to bring a halt to this gradual process must be taken note of. The theory of evolution by natural selection is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges posed to religion in the modern era, and since Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859, numerous questions have been asked as to how this understanding of the world allows for the existence of God. Provine’s claim that Natural Selection is the most efficient engine of atheism will be discussed in this essay, by assessing some of the differing theories that may allow for the theory of evolution to coexist with the concept of God, and their critiques, in an attempt to either justify or falsify its effectiveness as a form of atheism. 1.1 The theory of evolution by natural selection The concept of evolving life was not an idea unique to Charles Darwin. French biologist Jean Baptiste de Lamarck had suggested that organisms change in accordance to their environment, depending on features that had been inherited from previous generations; Darwin’s own grandfather had suggested the idea of naturally caused beings during the 18th century (Ruse 2001: 12). Charles Darwin however, with the publication of On the Origin of Species, offered the most comprehensive and compelling hypothesis concerning the origin of life that had thus far, been seen. Darwin’s expedition to the Galapagos Islands and his study of the varying species of finches present in varying geographical locations, led to the formulating of his scientific theory. There are two key ideas present in Darwin’s theory of evolution, a) the idea of a struggle for existence and b) the idea of natural selection (Darwin 1998). Darwin writes, “…all organic beings are exposed to severe […]