Uncanceled Eugenics
Ryan Cox • March 19, 2021
February 24, 2021 marked the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s The Descent of Man. This book served somewhat as a sequel to his 1859 On the Origin of Species. In the first work, Darwin did not deal with human evolution in much detail. Now that his publication of evolutionary thoughts had gained notoriety, he attempted to tackle human evolution in the 1871 book.
Expounding upon his thoughts of civilized and barbarous peoples, he continued, “In a tribe thus rendered more numerous there would always be a rather better chance of the birth of other superior and inventive members. If such men left children to inherit their mental superiority, the chance of the birth of still more ingenious members would be somewhat better, and in a very small tribe decidedly better. Even if they left no children, the tribe would still include their blood-relations; and it has been ascertained by agriculturists that by preserving and breeding from the family of an animal… the desired character has been obtained.”(2)
Darwin concluded, “At some future period… the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace the savage races throughout the world. At the same time the anthropomorphous apes [i.e. less evolved people]… will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilised state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as a baboon, instead of as now between the negro or Australian and the gorilla.”(3)
Darwin clearly believed that peoples of Africa and Australia are less evolved (hardly any different than gorillas) and such peoples will one day be exterminated. His works were then used by men like Herbert Spencer, Francis Galton, Ernst Haeckel, Charles Davenport and many others to promote eugenics-based teachings and policies. In the early 1900s, 32 states in the USA enacted eugenics programs. Some 60,000 to 70,000 individuals were forcibly sterilized from 1907 through the 1960s.(4) In Germany, millions were killed in the eugenics-driven holocaust.
One would think there would be a deafening cry for Darwin and his works to be canceled in the current political climate. The problem is, most supporters of the “cancel culture” are of an evolutionary worldview; they support today’s means of eugenics.
The vast majority of women having abortions are considered to be “low income” (75%).(5) Minority women are disproportionally having abortions (6.3% of “white” women vs 21.2% of “black” women).(6) It is believed by some that these statistics represent purposeful targeting of low-income and minority communities.(7) Indeed, the late Supreme Court Justice and abortion activist Ruth Bader Ginsburg said in 2009, “Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of.”(8)
And now in today’s technological era, there is the ever-growing genetic manipulation of babies that is raising deep moral questions.(9) In the words of embryologist Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz of Cambridge, “We are entering a new era, one where we can manipulate the cellular units of life as skillfully as a potter works clay.”(10)
The importance of Biblical worldview cannot be overstated. It must be taught in homes and churches. World history has witnessed the devastating, deadly effects of evolutionary-based worldviews. If we are to prevent these things in the 21st century, we must make Biblical worldview training an essential part of life.
In his evolutionary worldview of humanity, Darwin wrote, “At the present day civilised nations are everywhere supplanting barbarous nations, excepting where the climate opposes a deadly barrier; and they succeed mainly, though not exclusively, through their arts, which are the products of the intellect.”(1)
Expounding upon his thoughts of civilized and barbarous peoples, he continued, “In a tribe thus rendered more numerous there would always be a rather better chance of the birth of other superior and inventive members. If such men left children to inherit their mental superiority, the chance of the birth of still more ingenious members would be somewhat better, and in a very small tribe decidedly better. Even if they left no children, the tribe would still include their blood-relations; and it has been ascertained by agriculturists that by preserving and breeding from the family of an animal… the desired character has been obtained.”(2)
Darwin concluded, “At some future period… the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace the savage races throughout the world. At the same time the anthropomorphous apes [i.e. less evolved people]… will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilised state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as a baboon, instead of as now between the negro or Australian and the gorilla.”(3)
Darwin clearly believed that peoples of Africa and Australia are less evolved (hardly any different than gorillas) and such peoples will one day be exterminated. His works were then used by men like Herbert Spencer, Francis Galton, Ernst Haeckel, Charles Davenport and many others to promote eugenics-based teachings and policies. In the early 1900s, 32 states in the USA enacted eugenics programs. Some 60,000 to 70,000 individuals were forcibly sterilized from 1907 through the 1960s.(4) In Germany, millions were killed in the eugenics-driven holocaust.
One would think there would be a deafening cry for Darwin and his works to be canceled in the current political climate. The problem is, most supporters of the “cancel culture” are of an evolutionary worldview; they support today’s means of eugenics.
The vast majority of women having abortions are considered to be “low income” (75%).(5) Minority women are disproportionally having abortions (6.3% of “white” women vs 21.2% of “black” women).(6) It is believed by some that these statistics represent purposeful targeting of low-income and minority communities.(7) Indeed, the late Supreme Court Justice and abortion activist Ruth Bader Ginsburg said in 2009, “Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of.”(8)
And now in today’s technological era, there is the ever-growing genetic manipulation of babies that is raising deep moral questions.(9) In the words of embryologist Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz of Cambridge, “We are entering a new era, one where we can manipulate the cellular units of life as skillfully as a potter works clay.”(10)
The importance of Biblical worldview cannot be overstated. It must be taught in homes and churches. World history has witnessed the devastating, deadly effects of evolutionary-based worldviews. If we are to prevent these things in the 21st century, we must make Biblical worldview training an essential part of life.
Creation Truth Foundation exists to assist families, individuals, and churches in worldview development. Thank you so very much for your faithful prayers and support.
(1) Charles Darwin. The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex. Published by John Murray, 1871. 1st edition, p. 161.
(2) Ibid., p. 162.
(3) Ibid., pp. 168-9.
(4) Edwin Black, War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America’s Campaign to Create a Master Race. Dialog Press, 2012, p. xvi. See also “The Supreme Court Ruling that led to 70,000 Forced Sterilizations”, Fresh Air, 24 March 2017, <https://www.npr.org/2017/03/24/521360544/the-supreme-court-ruling-that-led-to-70-000-forced-sterilizations>
(5) Jerman J, Jones RK and Onda T, “Characteristics of U.S. Abortion Patients in 2014 and Changes Since 2008”, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2016, <https://www.guttmacher.org/infographic/2016/abortion-patients-are-disproportionately-poor-and-low-income#>
(6) CDC Abortion Surveillance – United States, 2018, published 9/27/2020, <https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/ss/ss6907a1.htm#T5_down>
(7) Steven Ertelt, “79% of Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinics Target Blacks, Hispanics”, LifeNews.com, 16 October 2012, <https://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/16/79-of-planned-parenthood-abortion-clinics-target-blacks-hispanics/>
(8) Interview with New York Times Magazine reporter Emily Bazelon, quoted by The Federalist and National Review
< https://thefederalist.com/2014/09/24/ruth-bader-ginsburg-really-wants-poor-people-to-stop-having-babies/>
< https://www.nationalreview.com/2009/07/ruth-bader-ginsburg-and-question-eugenics-jonah-goldberg/>
(9) See for example: <https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crispr-jennifer-doudna-walter-isaacson-the-code-breaker/>
< https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/article/designer-babies-arent-futuristic-theyre-already-here>
< https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/biopolitical-times/designer-babies-all-you-ever-wanted-know-and-more-kicks-webinar-series-genetics>
(2) Ibid., p. 162.
(3) Ibid., pp. 168-9.
(4) Edwin Black, War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America’s Campaign to Create a Master Race. Dialog Press, 2012, p. xvi. See also “The Supreme Court Ruling that led to 70,000 Forced Sterilizations”, Fresh Air, 24 March 2017, <https://www.npr.org/2017/03/24/521360544/the-supreme-court-ruling-that-led-to-70-000-forced-sterilizations>
(5) Jerman J, Jones RK and Onda T, “Characteristics of U.S. Abortion Patients in 2014 and Changes Since 2008”, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2016, <https://www.guttmacher.org/infographic/2016/abortion-patients-are-disproportionately-poor-and-low-income#>
(6) CDC Abortion Surveillance – United States, 2018, published 9/27/2020, <https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/ss/ss6907a1.htm#T5_down>
(7) Steven Ertelt, “79% of Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinics Target Blacks, Hispanics”, LifeNews.com, 16 October 2012, <https://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/16/79-of-planned-parenthood-abortion-clinics-target-blacks-hispanics/>
(8) Interview with New York Times Magazine reporter Emily Bazelon, quoted by The Federalist and National Review
< https://thefederalist.com/2014/09/24/ruth-bader-ginsburg-really-wants-poor-people-to-stop-having-babies/>
< https://www.nationalreview.com/2009/07/ruth-bader-ginsburg-and-question-eugenics-jonah-goldberg/>
(9) See for example: <https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crispr-jennifer-doudna-walter-isaacson-the-code-breaker/>
< https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/article/designer-babies-arent-futuristic-theyre-already-here>
< https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/biopolitical-times/designer-babies-all-you-ever-wanted-know-and-more-kicks-webinar-series-genetics>
(10) Kate Womersley, “The Beautiful Science of Embryology”, Prospect Magazine, 3 March 2021, <https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/the-beautiful-science-of-embryology>
Moses & History (part 3)
Over the course of time a person can accumulate many things. Most of the stuff we collect is meaningless to most everyone else, but when a person collects books, they can be treasured for a lifetime and even beyond. In this age of digital media, physical books seem to be less important to many people. Digital books are searchable, and copy/paste functions make it easy to use those great quotes. Yet, there is still something great about a physical book, things you can’t get digitally: the turning of pages, the feel of it in your hand, and the “book” smell. For our founder Dr. Sharp, physical books could never be replaced by digital. While my collection of books is growing each year, it is dwarfed by Dr. Sharp’s collection. Over the years he collected thousands of titles for research and enjoyment. Through the course of his ministry he had to sell his book collection a couple of different times to support his family, only to start collecting again when he was able to do so. When Doc passed his office full of packed bookshelves to me and said he would clear the shelves, I laughed out loud at the prospect of having loads of empty bookshelves. So I urged him to instead leave his books for my, and anyone else’s, use. Little did I understand that the four bookcases in my office were only a fraction of his entire collection. A couple of years back when Doc moved from his house, it was decided that his book collection would be stored at the office. Our thought was to establish a library, yet none of us had time to plan, organize and catalog all 79 boxes of books. They sat piled in his office until last year when my daughter Megan joined our ministry. She has a love of books, both reading and writing. So we offered her the task of cataloging and establishing Doc’s library. Can you picture me, a bbq lover, being offered a table full of succulent smoked offerings - brisket, sausage, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, turkey and all sides? Yep, that was Megan’s response to the library. For over four months she cataloged and organized the entire collection. The Dr. G. Thomas Sharp Library was completed earlier this year in his old office space, with overflow into my office. The entire 2700+ volume agglomeration is digitally cataloged for searching and locating. As you might expect, there is an extensive collection of creation and evolution subject matter, yet the library is full of many different categories. It very much reflects Doc’s love of gaining knowledge and research. An extensive commentary collection and multiple Biblical reference sections are invaluable to our ministry. There is even a whole bookcase housing books that are over 100 years old. Our desire was not to just house books but to also make a place of honor and inspiration. One wall exhibits Doc’s many diplomas, and throughout the library we have placed personal memorabilia of the mission trips he took over the years. Come, grab a book, relax in the sitting area and allow Doc’s handwritten notes from the margins or post-it notes bring a smile to your face. For those who may be more ambitious, Doc's office chair resides at the credenza for anyone to sit and be inspired to study. This is a place to honor Doc’s life and love for books. We at CTF have already utilized this great resource for further study, and we are so thankful to Diane and their family for donating these books for continued Kingdom growth. Blessings.