Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle! Today is International Darwin Day, a February 12 holiday. There’s no monkeying around about this holiday. Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882) was a naturalist, geologist, and biologist. He published his theory on evolution in 1859. The revolutionary theory immediately drew strong controversy. Endless debates argued about whether man evolved from apes. Or if we were created by God in the Garden of Eden. It took many decades before the debates wound down. Eventually, science proved his evolution theory. Along the way, religious groups weighed in with their beliefs and opinions on the topic. The creators of this holiday encourage us to celebrate Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution. They also promote activism and international cooperation towards the advancement of science.

To put it simply, Darwin’s theory of evolution suggests we all evolved from apes. Over the years, scientists have proven this theory. However, Darwin’s theory goes much deeper. He stated that all life forms on the planet came from a single ancestor. You can read all about it in his groundbreaking book On the Theory of Species. It was published in 1859.

If you were alive in the mid to late 1800s when Darwin published his theory on evolution, you might be saying “What!? Man evolved from the ape? Preposterous!” Darwin’s book and theories sparked raging debates between evolutionists and creationists. Not surprisingly, the debate went on for many years.

Favorite Movie: Planet of the Apes (1968)

Did You Know? The Catholic church has no stated position on the topic of creativity and evolution.