Evolution: “One of the Great Jokes in the History Books”

Back in 1978 Malcolm Muggeridge gave two lectures at the University of Waterloo (Canada) on Blaise Pascal (1632-1662), a French mathematician and scientist who converted to Christianity and penned his now famous (though seldom read) Les Pensees. The Muggeridge lectures were made into a small book(let) and published by Eerdmans in 1980 under the title The End of Christendom.

At the end of each lecture there was a Q&A period, where the listeners could put questions to Muggeridge. These too are published in the book. One of the questions he was asked was this: “What are your views on evolution?” To which Muggeridge gave this blunt and humorous British reply:

I myself am convinced that the theory of evolution, especially the extent to which it’s been applied, will be one of the great jokes in the history books in the future. Posterity will marvel that so very flimsy and dubious an hypothesis could be accepted with the incredible credulity that it has. I think I spoke to you before about this age as one of the most credulous in history, and I would include evolution as an example.

I’m very happy to say I live near a place called Piltdown. I like to drive there because it gives me a special glow. You probably know that a skull was discovered there and no less than five hundred doctoral theses were written on the subject and then it was discovered that the skull was a practical joke by a worthy dentist in Hastings who’d hurriedly put a few bones together, not even from the same animal, and buried them and stirred up all this business. So I’m not a great man for bones (p.59).

To which I add, simply, “Well said, Malcolm!” CJT

God’s Supreme Sovereignty in Election

From the website “Defending/Contending” comes this God-glorifying, grace-extolling quote by the great American Calvinist theologian, Jonathan Edwards.

God’s electing a certain definite number is a manifestation of His glory. It shows the glory of His divine sovereignty. God is declaring His absolute sovereignty over His creation. He is showing us just how far that sovereignty extends. In purposely choosing some and passing on others, He shows that His majesty and power are unparalleled. Those who do not see glory and dominion in election simply do not understand God. They are not aware of His greatness, and do not understand grace. Grace is defined in election. God chose His people to happiness and glory long before they were born. He chose them out of the mass of fallen mankind. He loved them before they knew Him. He chose them when they did not deserve to be chosen. That is grace! The doctrine of election shows that if those who received God’s grace had earnestly sought it, it was God’s grace that caused them to seek it. It shows that even their faith itself is the gift of God, and their persevering in a way of holiness unto glory is also the fruit of electing love. Believer’s love of God is the fruit of and because of God’s love to them. The giving of Christ, the preaching of the gospel, and the appointing of ordinances are all fruits of the grace of election. All the grace that is shown to mankind, either in this world or in the world to come, is comprised of the electing love of God.

– Jonathan Edwards

1703 – 1758