Evolution has nothing to do with the Holocaust.
I once heard a mainstream American preacher blame the Nazi genocide of the Jews in World War 2 on atheists and the theory of evolution. Since then, I’ve seen this view echoed in numerous Christian websites and apparently there are lectures on this topic at the Creationist Museum. This pisses me off.
It is simply illogical to blame science, evolution or atheists for this terrible chapter in history. Here’s why…
The Nazis blamed the Jews for corrupting Germany, they believed there was an international Zionist conspiracy, and the Jews were held responsible for Germany’s defeat in the First World War. Of course, there was absolutely NO EVIDENCE for any of this, and I challenge anyone to produce some.
Now, one of the dictionary definitions of faith is; ‘belief without any proof or evidence’. In this respect, the Nazi idea that Jews were evil conspirators is a belief that lacks evidence – the holocaust was an evil act of faith.
Another system of thought that promotes faith without evidence is of course religion. Yes, that’s right I’m comparing religion to the Nazis, controversial for sure, but it’s the same thing as blaming evolutionists for the holocaust!
The second point I want to raise is this: Long before Darwin was born, people had selectively bred certain animals to produce desirable results. Dogs are a prime example of this. Today we have breeds for guarding, herding and breeds that sit comfortably on the lap. Dogs that performed the best were selected for breeding and their desirable qualities passed on. Dogs that were unfit were not allowed to breed. This is unnatural selection and it has been practiced since the dawn of the agricultural revolution several thousand years ago.
So, although ancient humans lacked a theory of genetic transference, they were still acutely aware of the power of selective breeding. The Nazi Eugenics program, which sought to produce a superior master race and destroy the so-called ‘inferior’ races, could have proceeded without Darwin’s work.
It is my humble opinion that if we would all aspired to find evidence for our beliefs, then the world would be a much happier place to live in.
Artwork Copyright Derek Chatwood
