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The Genius of Darwin
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This year marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of one of the most important scientific works of all time: The Origin of Species, the seminal work by biologist Charles Darwin, whose theory of evolution forms the basis of our understanding of all life. The theory of Natural Selection, by which species of living creatures evolve to adapt to their surroundings, is supported by evidence everywhere we look: fossils, carbon dating, gene mapping, animal domestication, plant breeding, paleontological digs, and simply the enormous similarities among species and across species. Despite the decades of scientific literature that has confirmed Darwin’s theory, and tweaked and improved on it, a shockingly large percentage of people, especially Americans, resolutely refuse to accept it. A recent Gallup poll revealed that only 39% of Americans accept the theory of evolution to explain how humans came to be. That number is considered a victory by the American right-wing that has for years, vehemently fought the teaching of evolution in public schools. This year, which is also the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth, there is a multitude of activity around the world to commemorate Darwin’s work, including a new biographical feature film made in the UK about Darwin, called Creation. The film showed at the Toronto International Film Festival, but cannot find a distributor here in the US, where so-called creationism has invaded deeply into American schools and the American psyche.

Today we spend the hour looking at Charles Darwin, through the eyes of British biologist Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, often called the “Carl Sagan of biology.” In a new 3-part series created for British television, Dawkins retraces Darwin’s steps, his scientific methods, his own internal struggle of faith, as well as the dangers of applying natural selection as a theory to justify capitalist greed, and the enormous global controversies generated by religious fundamentalists to question one of the most well-established scientific theories of all time. The Genius of Darwin, available in three parts on one DVD is our thank you gift to you today.

The three parts of the series are titled: “Life, Darwin, and Everything,” “The Fifth Ape,” and “God Strikes Back.” Narrated by Professor Dawkins, the film travels to the US, Kenya, Australia, South Africa, into classrooms, paleontology digs, wild animal preserves, churches, museums, and even a business convention.

Thank you gift:

The Genius of Darwin – DVD – $100