Darwin and the church

The Catholic Amand Breitung was one of Darwinisms most eager critics in Denmark at the beginning of the 1900s. He wrote several books and articles dissociating himself from the 'ape theory'.

There were mixed reactions to Darwin’s evolutionary theory among Christians in Denmark. Bishop D.G. Monrad, the folk school teacher Valdemar Bennike and the Catholic Amand Breitung were critical especially towards the idea that Man descended from the apes, while the philosopher Rasmus Nielsen and the theologian Eduard Geismer among others did not find Darwinism to be contrary to Christianity.

Monrad, D.G. : "Et Par Bemærkninger om Darwinismen" (A few remarks on Darwinism) (1872)

Nielsen, Rasmus : "Et Synspunkt for Darwinismen" (An opinion on Darwinism) (1873)

Bennike, Valdemar: "Menneske og Abe" (Man and Ape) (1890)

Koch, P.D.: "Darwinisme og Kristendom" (Darwinism and Chritianity) (1899)

Sommer, Otto: Anmeldelse af "Amand Breitung: Udviklingslæren og Kristentroen" (Review of ’Amand Breitung: The Evolutionaty Theory and Christianity) (1905)

Breitung, Amand : "Udviklingslæren og den bibelske Skabelsesberetning" (The Evolutionary Theory and Biblical story of Creation) ( (1906)

The Editors