Happy Birthday, Mr. Darwin

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. To mark the occasion, the Washington Post has a great article that focuses on the secrets being unlocked in the human genome--secrets that further support evolution over time.

There are those, of course, who claim there is some sort of scientific debate about evolution. Well, there isn't. Within the scientific community, the issue is settled. One only needs to look at the alarming rise of drug resistant germs for proof that evolution occurs.

The people that argue against evolution are the product of the same mentality that led to the persecution of early astronomers who dared suggest that it was the Earth that revolved around the sun. Five hundred years ago that was an outrageous notion that the church called sacrilegious and contrary to the teachings of the Bible. Believing in such nonsensical teachings could get you excommunicated and tortured.

Does anyone still seriously believe that the Earth is the center of the universe? We now know that the supposedly infallible church was wrong about that. Just as early religious leaders chose to discount the mounting evidence about Earth's place in the solar system, supporters of intelligent design refuse to accept the evidence against their own ignorance.

All this is not to diminish the wonder that is modern man. We are a product of millions of generations evolutionary progress. Modern humans have gotten here through a series of cosmic accidents and coincidences. For example, would we still be here if an asteroid had not wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago? Would a 40 foot tall reptilian Britney Spears still be hot?

So what if man wasn't created on a whim by some omnipotent being for His or Her own amusement? Humans are still special. We are unique among animals in that we can explore the origins of our very existence and ponder our utterly insignificant place in the universe.

Even if it's only by chance, we should still consider our being here a gift to be savored.