Darwin vs Genesis

            Both Darwin and Genesis address the origins of species, but they go about it in completely different ways. Darwin’s style is scientific, with complex sentences, sophisticated language, and analogies. On the other hand, Genesis uses an almost conversational style with simple sentences, short words, and frequent repetition. Darwin states that “The other and more general departments of natural history will rise greatly in interest …when we contemplate every complex structure and instinct as the summing up of many contrivances, each useful to the possessor, nearly in the same way as when we look at any great mechanical invention as the summing up of the labour, the experience, the reason, and even the blunders of numerous workmen” (Darwin). Comparing evolution to shipbuilding, Darwin tries to convince his readers that biology should not be mysterious but logical, orderly and understandable. Genesis does not attempt to make the process understandable, but instead aims to make the mystery of creation reflect positively on God. “So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth’” (Genesis 1:21-22). There is no explanation of how, beyond God’s will. This approach makes sense since Genesis was written before the Enlightenment came around to encourage people to think rationally instead of relying on authority.

Darwin also acknowledges the presence of debate about his views and conclusions: “Although I am fully convinced of the truth of the views given in this volume under the form of an abstract, I by no means expect to convince experienced naturalists whose minds are stocked with a multitude of facts” (Darwin). His strong convictions do not stop him from respecting people with other views. Genesis does not engage in debate or admit controversy at all: “And God said, ‘Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.’ And it was so” (Genesis 1:10). The short, matter-of-fact statement claims a tone of certainty with no invitation for conversation. Darwin uses rhetorical devices like analogy to make his point more accessible: “To my mind it accords better with what we know of the laws impressed on matter by the Creator, that the production and extinction of the past and present inhabitants of the world should have been due to secondary causes, like those determining the birth and death of the individual” (Darwin). By comparing the evolution of species with the life cycle of a person, Darwin makes it clear that the theory of evolution can coexist with belief in God. Genesis, on the other hand, does not use analogy, but does rely on repetition: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). The word image is used twice in this sentence, and the word created three times, which shows Genesis a storytelling style which contrasts dramatically with Darwin’s scientific writing.