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(Note: see Michael Ruse article [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Evolution_and_Religion%2C_M._Ruse on Evolution])
(Note: see Michael Ruse article [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Evolution_and_Religion%2C_M._Ruse on Evolution])
Even before the publication of ''[[On the Origin of Species]]'', the idea that life had evolved was a source of debate and evolution is still a contentious concept. Debate has generally centered on the philosophical, social and religious implications of evolution, not on the science itself; the proposition that biological evolution occurs through the mechanism of natural selection is standard in the [[scientific literature]].<ref>For an overview of the philosophical, religious, and cosmological controversies, see: {{cite book|authorlink=Daniel Dennett|last=Dennett|first=D|title=[[Darwin's Dangerous Idea|Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life]]|publisher=Simon & Schuster|date=1995|isbn=978-0684824710}}<br />*For the scientific and social reception of evolution in the 19th and early 20th centuries, see: {{cite web | last = Johnston | first = Ian C. | title = History of Science: Origins of Evolutionary Theory | work = And Still We Evolve | publisher = Liberal Studies Department, Malaspina University College | url =http://www.mala.bc.ca/~johnstoi/darwin/sect3.htm| accessdate =2007-05-24}}<br />*{{cite book|authorlink=Peter J. Bowler|last=Bowler|first=PJ|title=Evolution: The History of an Idea, Third Edition, Completely Revised and Expanded|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0520236936|date=2003}}<br />*{{cite journal |author=Zuckerkandl E |title=Intelligent design and biological complexity |journal=Gene |volume=385 |issue= |pages=2–18 |year=2006 |pmid=17011142}}</ref>
Even before the publication of ''[[On the Origin of Species]]'', the idea that life had evolved was a source of debate and evolution is still a contentious concept. Debate has generally centered on the philosophical, social and religious implications of evolution, not on the science itself; the proposition that biological evolution occurs through the mechanism of natural selection is standard in the [[scientific literature]].<ref>For an overview of the philosophical, religious, and cosmological controversies, see:
* Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life, ISBN 978-0684824710
* History of Science: Origins of Evolutionary Theory [http://www.mala.bc.ca/~johnstoi/darwin/sect3.htm]
* Evolution: The History of an Idea, Third Edition, ISBN 978-0520236936
* Intelligent design and biological complexity, Gene, volume 385
Evolution has been used to support philosophical positions that promote [[discrimination]] and [[racism]]. For example, the [[eugenics|eugenic]] ideas of [[Francis Galton]] were developed to argue that the human gene pool should be improved by [[selective breeding]] policies, including incentives for those considered "good stock" to reproduce, and the [[compulsory sterilization]], [[prenatal testing]], [[birth control]], and even [[Action T4|killing]], of those considered ''bad stock''.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Kevles DJ |title=Eugenics and human rights |url=http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=10445929 |journal=[[British Medical Journal|BMJ]] |volume=319 |issue=7207 |pages=435–8 |year=1999 |pmid=10445929}}</ref> Another example of an extension of evolutionary theory that is now widely regarded as unwarranted is "[[Social Darwinism]]," a term given to the 19th century [[British Whig Party|Whig]] [[Malthusianism|Malthusian]] theory developed by [[Herbert Spencer]] into ideas about "[[survival of the fittest]]" in commerce and human societies as a whole, and by others into claims that [[social inequality]], racism, and [[imperialism]] were justified.<ref>On the history of eugenics and evolution, see {{cite book|authorlink=Daniel Kevles |first=D |last=Kevles |date=1998 |title=In the Name of Eugenics: Genetics and the Uses of Human Heredity |publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0674445574}}</ref> However, contemporary scientists and philosophers consider these ideas to have been neither mandated by evolutionary theory nor supported by data.<ref>[[Charles Darwin|Darwin]] strongly disagreed with attempts by Herbert Spencer and others to extrapolate evolutionary ideas to all possible subjects; see {{cite book|authorlink=Mary Midgley|first=M|last=Midgley|date=2004|title=The Myths we Live By|publisher=Routledge|pages=62|isbn=978-0415340779}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Allhoff F |title=Evolutionary ethics from Darwin to Moore |journal=History and philosophy of the life sciences |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=51–79 |year=2003 |pmid=15293515}}</ref>
Although many religions have reconciled their beliefs with evolution through various concepts of theistic evolution, there are many who believe that evolution is contradicted by the creation stories found in their respective religions.[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/re1/chapter1.asp|title=Evolution & creation, science & religion, facts & bias] As Darwin recognized early on, the most controversial aspect of evolutionary thought is its implications for human origins. In some countries, notably the United States, these tensions between scientific and religious teachings have fueled the ongoing creation–evolution controversy, a religious conflict focusing on [[politics]] in public education. While other scientific fields such as [[cosmology]] and [[earth science]] also conflict with literal interpretations of many religious texts, evolutionary biology is strongly opposed by many religious believers.
Evolution has been used to support philosophical positions that promote discrimination and [[race|racism]]. For example, the [[eugenics]] of [[Francis Galton]] were developed to argue that the human gene pool should be improved by selective breeding policies, including incentives for those considered "good stock" to reproduce, and the compulsory sterilization, prenatal testing, birth control, and even killing, of those considered ''bad stock''.[http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=10445929] Another example of an extension of evolutionary theory that is now widely regarded as unwarranted is "[[Social Darwinism]]," a term given to the 19th century British Whig Party. [[Malthusian]] theory developed by [[Herbert Spencer]] into ideas about "[[survival of the fittest]]" in commerce and human societies as a whole, and by others into claims that social inequality, racism, and [[imperialism]] were justified. On the history of eugenics and evolution, see:
*Name of Eugenics: Genetics and the Uses of Human Heredity ISBN 978-0674445574
However, contemporary scientists and philosophers consider these ideas to have been neither mandated by evolutionary theory nor supported by data. Darwin strongly disagreed with attempts by Herbert Spencer and others to extrapolate evolutionary ideas to all possible subjects; see:
* The Myths we Live By, ISBN 978-0415340779
* Evolutionary ethics from Darwin to Moore, History and philosophy of the life sciences, volume=25, issue=1, 2003
==Applications in technology==
==Applications in technology==
