Evolution Quote by Joshua Wolf Shenk
““Indeed, nothing less than the understanding of God’s earth was in flux. For centuries, the church had censored scientific ideas that were contrary to Christian doctrine. When censorship ended, new questions flourished. For example, biblical scholars had long said with confidence that the world was about six thousand years old—that it had been created in six days, beginning at 9 A.M. on October 23, 4004 B.C. Then geologists showed that the world had been created over the course of eons. This in turn led to theories of evolution, to which Charles Darwin, in 1859, would add his theory of natural selection. Imagine living at a time of such discovery. Lincoln became a proponent of evolution.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Storytelling Animal” by Jonathan Gottschall, 2012
Historical suppression of ideas limited understanding; once censorship lifted, scientific inquiry flourished, reshaping worldviews.
In simple terms: Freedom of thought spurs scientific progress.
Key Takeaway
Encourage open inquiry and challenge dogma.
Themes
censorship
science
history
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- education reform
- public discourse
- scientific research
- policy making
Key Concepts
philosophy
evolution
knowledge
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance tradition with new scientific insights?
- What mechanisms protect against intellectual suppression?
A Different Perspective
Progress can be hindered by entrenched beliefs despite new evidence.
![“It would be a sign of great simplicity to think that the world was created in six days, or indeed at all in time; [...] Time is a thing posterior to the world. Therefore it would be correctly said that the world was not created in time, but that time had its existence in consequence of the world…” quote by Philo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/23c/philo-24681_consequence_it-would-be-a-sign-of-great-simplicity-t_2741230.jpg)
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