From The Times, February 9, 2009

"In praise of Darwin and the spirit of inquiry

"Science is a friend rather than an enemy of faith. The theory of evolution explains how, but not why, we are here.

Cormac Murphy-O'Connor

"This week we will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, one of Britain's most extraordinary scientists. His theory of evolution, one of the greatest discoveries of all time, gives us a way of understanding the connectedness of all life and the uniqueness of human life within it. Together with other branches of scientific exploration, evolution begins to unfold and illuminate the interplay of forces that make our universe such an extraordinary dynamic reality. In this sense, science is itself a journey of learning and exploration. This I find exciting and humbling.

Towards the end of his life Darwin wrote: 'It seems to me absurd to doubt that a man may be an ardent Theist and an evolutionist.'"

More at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle5689367.ece