I like this quote by Sir Isaac Newton. How about you?

Question

Atheism is so senseless & odious to mankind that it never had many professors. Can it be by accident that all birds beasts & men have their right side & left side alike shaped (except in their bowells) & just two eyes & no more on either side the face & just two ears on either side the head & a nose with two holes & no more between the eyes & one mouth under the nose & either two fore leggs or two wings or two arms on the sholders & two leggs on the hipps one on either side & no more? Whence arises this uniformity in all their outward shapes but from the counsel & contrivance of an Author? Whence is it that the eyes of all sorts of living creatures are transparent to the very bottom & the only transparent members in the body, having on the outside an hard transparent skin, & within transparent juyces with a crystalline Lens in the middle & a pupil before the Lens all of them so truly shaped & fitted for vision, that no Artist can mend them? Did blind chance know that there was light & what was its refraction & fit the eys of all creatures after the most curious manner to make use of it? These & such like considerations always have & ever will prevail with man kind to beleive that there is a being who made all things & has all things in his power & who is therfore to be feared.

notuglylikebetty · Accepted Answer

Of course it needs to be remembered that Newton died in 1727 evolution still hadn't been discovered. Newton had challenged the Christian church with his scientific learning and because of the time he was living in it was probably quite important to his standing to take a very firm stance on religion.

Vishal · Answer

If only Newton had lived after 1863, he might have understood the problems with what he was saying.

Unfortunately, Newton's analysis of the situation was based on the best science available to him at the time.  Thankfully, we now understand evolution.

Anonymous · Answer

Wow, what a long quote or rant. Remember in Newton's day he had to say things that would make him look good in the eyes of the Religious fanatics, so he wouldn't be burned at the stake.

ɯɐʎɐʌ · Answer

Just shows that everyone is confused at some point or other. But remember, in his later years he overcome this confusion and contributed greatly to the cause of science.

Anonymous · Answer

The guy spent the back half of his career doing alchemy.  Even brilliant minds can be wrong.

It would have helped him a lot if he had gotten to meet Mr. Darwin.

אמנדה · Answer

Can Sir Isaac Newton stop using abusing the "&" symbol, use commas, and properly rewrite his opinion?

Anonymous · Answer

I wonder what would he say if he lived AFTER the theory of evolution was presented...

Lard of the Flies · Answer

It's kind of racist against  flounder

Anonymous · Answer

Indeed, how IS it possible without evolution?

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I like this quote by Sir Isaac Newton. How about you?

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