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How Darwinism corrodes morality: Darwinism, immorality, abortion and the sexual revolution
This book looks at how Darwinism has adversely affected morality in Western culture, not only sexual morals, but also the mistreatment of minority races, the killing of the sick and diseased and the rise of the abortion movement. Key figures of the twentieth century are Havelock Ellis, Margaret Sanger, Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, Benjamin Spock, Karl Pearson, Anders Behring Breivik and others. The ideological impact of Darwinism on such issues as eugenics, abortion, racism, war and social policy since Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was first published in 1859 is profound. Overturning the predominately Judeo-Christian worldview of previous centuries, Darwinism has infiltrated every area of science, philosphy, art, literature, business, anthropology, social policy, governance and medicine. We need to understand the foundational problem in order to propose ways that societal reforms can be addressed in our day--this book will help us do just that.
- GenresHistory
336 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 21, 2020
Fascinating. Bergman illustrates how the theory of evolution/Darwinism led to a number of moral atrocities in the 20th century (and some continuing now) - eugenics, racism, Nazism, Japanese brutality during WWII, abortion, psychoanalysis, anti-religion movements, etc. I had never considered this aspect of Darwinism, yet Bergman makes his point and hardly even has to seem to try to do it his conclusions are so apparent.
I thought this book would wear out its welcome, but it didn't - I was interested all the way to the end. While it compiles primary research/writings, this book is definitely written for the layperson - it's easy to understand with clear introductory paragraphs at the start of chapters and summary recaps at the end of each. Without really having much knowledge about the primary people discussed (WWII facts/people excepted), I have a decent introductory understanding now of the following people and their "contributions" to history: Havelock Ellis, Alfred Kinsey, Margaret Sanger, Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Karl Pearson (along with some others less central to Bergman's argument like Anders Behring Breivik, Charles Manson, Benjamin Spock, and Chet Raymo). My only gripe was the prose was so factual and dull (not one iota of style) and some information was repetitive (which the author said it would be in the intro so you could jump to topics of interest... but this is a book...and books ought to be read linearly so I found it annoying).
Final note: Bergman isn't trying to disprove evolution; he is presenting a thesis on how the evolutionary theory has directly corrupted morality over the century and a half since Darwin developed the theory (through ideas such as survival of the fittest, superior "races"/more highly evolved species, man being assumed to be nothing but matter evolved from single cells and animals, etc.).
I thought this book would wear out its welcome, but it didn't - I was interested all the way to the end. While it compiles primary research/writings, this book is definitely written for the layperson - it's easy to understand with clear introductory paragraphs at the start of chapters and summary recaps at the end of each. Without really having much knowledge about the primary people discussed (WWII facts/people excepted), I have a decent introductory understanding now of the following people and their "contributions" to history: Havelock Ellis, Alfred Kinsey, Margaret Sanger, Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Karl Pearson (along with some others less central to Bergman's argument like Anders Behring Breivik, Charles Manson, Benjamin Spock, and Chet Raymo). My only gripe was the prose was so factual and dull (not one iota of style) and some information was repetitive (which the author said it would be in the intro so you could jump to topics of interest... but this is a book...and books ought to be read linearly so I found it annoying).
Final note: Bergman isn't trying to disprove evolution; he is presenting a thesis on how the evolutionary theory has directly corrupted morality over the century and a half since Darwin developed the theory (through ideas such as survival of the fittest, superior "races"/more highly evolved species, man being assumed to be nothing but matter evolved from single cells and animals, etc.).
March 13, 2018
I’ve often heard it said “Ideas have consequences”. Well this book by Jerry Bergman is a powerful demonstration of this expression, as it explores the social, political, medical, ethical, and sexual repercussions in Western civilisation of the materialistic origins myth, better known as the theory of evolution.
Bergman’s book takes the reader on quite a ride. While I consider myself rather well-read regarding the social and ethical implications of Darwinism, I learned quite a bit from this book. Anthropologists tell us that when an origins myth is adopted by a whole civilisation it has repercussions on almost all aspects of human life and activity. As Jerry Bergman shows us this is precisely the case with Darwin’s theory of evolution. From the late 19th century to our own time, zealous activists and intellectuals have applied evolutionary thinking to areas as diverse as social engineering, psychology, eugenics, sexuality, philosophy, racism, law, and the arts have been affected by or moulded to fit Darwinist preconceptions.
Amongst other things, Bergman draws our attention to the fact that even many Christian churches have been deeply influenced by Darwinism. In the 20th century the results have been so horrendous that since the Second World War evolutionists now coyly disavow the idea of applying evolution to real societies. And there is good reason for such hesitation; rivers of blood have flowed as a result. Some of these events occurred out in the open for all to see, others are/were tucked away in clinics and hospitals. Today our evolutionary elites tell us that on the one hand, while they remain completely convinced of the truth of Darwin’s theory, on the other, they’d rather not have to live with the real-world consequences of their own worldview, that is in a society where Darwinian principles were fully-implemented. In a limited way, it does appear some very cruel lessons have been learned in the West, though perhaps a more cynical view is that with our postmodern elites nowadays value marketing considerations above logical consistency.
While some may find such issues abstract, Bergman takes us up close to look at the lives of those who were in the forefront of working out the implications of Darwinism in various areas of human activity. Thus we get to look at the personal lives of individuals such as Havelock Ellis (a founding figure of the Sexual Revolution), Alfred Kinsey (sex researcher), eugenicist (and founder of Planned Parenthood) Margaret Sanger, psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, infamous killers Charles Manson and Anders Behring Brievik, “baby doctor” Benjamin Spock, Adolph Hitler and even examining the erosion of Charles Darwin’s ability to appreciate beauty.
One would expect that individuals with a modern/Enlightenment influenced worldview would profit from reading Bergman’s book, but this may be too much to ask as moderns tend to be over-fond of the holier-than-thou stance, pontificating about the wickedness of Christians in the past (the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc…), but when the shoe is on the other foot and it comes to actually contemplating the evil repercussions of their own worldview, then this is an entirely different matter. This exposes an incipient hypocrisy in moderns, but it is an understandable one, as their worldview does not involve the concept of repentance, that is meditating on one’s own sins and subsequently admitting them.
Bergman’s book takes the reader on quite a ride. While I consider myself rather well-read regarding the social and ethical implications of Darwinism, I learned quite a bit from this book. Anthropologists tell us that when an origins myth is adopted by a whole civilisation it has repercussions on almost all aspects of human life and activity. As Jerry Bergman shows us this is precisely the case with Darwin’s theory of evolution. From the late 19th century to our own time, zealous activists and intellectuals have applied evolutionary thinking to areas as diverse as social engineering, psychology, eugenics, sexuality, philosophy, racism, law, and the arts have been affected by or moulded to fit Darwinist preconceptions.
Amongst other things, Bergman draws our attention to the fact that even many Christian churches have been deeply influenced by Darwinism. In the 20th century the results have been so horrendous that since the Second World War evolutionists now coyly disavow the idea of applying evolution to real societies. And there is good reason for such hesitation; rivers of blood have flowed as a result. Some of these events occurred out in the open for all to see, others are/were tucked away in clinics and hospitals. Today our evolutionary elites tell us that on the one hand, while they remain completely convinced of the truth of Darwin’s theory, on the other, they’d rather not have to live with the real-world consequences of their own worldview, that is in a society where Darwinian principles were fully-implemented. In a limited way, it does appear some very cruel lessons have been learned in the West, though perhaps a more cynical view is that with our postmodern elites nowadays value marketing considerations above logical consistency.
While some may find such issues abstract, Bergman takes us up close to look at the lives of those who were in the forefront of working out the implications of Darwinism in various areas of human activity. Thus we get to look at the personal lives of individuals such as Havelock Ellis (a founding figure of the Sexual Revolution), Alfred Kinsey (sex researcher), eugenicist (and founder of Planned Parenthood) Margaret Sanger, psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, infamous killers Charles Manson and Anders Behring Brievik, “baby doctor” Benjamin Spock, Adolph Hitler and even examining the erosion of Charles Darwin’s ability to appreciate beauty.
One would expect that individuals with a modern/Enlightenment influenced worldview would profit from reading Bergman’s book, but this may be too much to ask as moderns tend to be over-fond of the holier-than-thou stance, pontificating about the wickedness of Christians in the past (the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc…), but when the shoe is on the other foot and it comes to actually contemplating the evil repercussions of their own worldview, then this is an entirely different matter. This exposes an incipient hypocrisy in moderns, but it is an understandable one, as their worldview does not involve the concept of repentance, that is meditating on one’s own sins and subsequently admitting them.
December 6, 2023
Misinformation and Myths
This book is full of misinformation, adhomenin attacks of well known (and admittedly horrible) historical figures, and dozens upon dozens of easily disproven myths about the motivations for the Holocaust and the relative Christian beliefs of the Nazi populace.
The author uses several points in the book to emphasise how much he feels being gay should be illegal due to "health risks" and frequently engages in the slippery slope fallacy.
Overall the book itself is poorly formatted, repetitive, and the writing is juvenile in scope. The book attempts to disguise this with vocabulary, it fails.
This book is full of misinformation, adhomenin attacks of well known (and admittedly horrible) historical figures, and dozens upon dozens of easily disproven myths about the motivations for the Holocaust and the relative Christian beliefs of the Nazi populace.
The author uses several points in the book to emphasise how much he feels being gay should be illegal due to "health risks" and frequently engages in the slippery slope fallacy.
Overall the book itself is poorly formatted, repetitive, and the writing is juvenile in scope. The book attempts to disguise this with vocabulary, it fails.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews