Can you have a real conversation about anthropology if you don't believe in evolution?

Honestly, your missing on some fundamentals about anthropology if you dont believe in evolution. to understand cultural diversity, you need to understand where we came from, how and when we've evolved and why we have certain traits. Also, we have to assume that we are from a natural process, and that al religions have a social origin and purpose, and have been transmitted. beliefs are not real, they are part of culture and being human. but you have to accept the basic facts, that we've evolved a certain way and that religion is created by humans and has a social and psychological purpose. I dont see how you can realisticly speak about anthropology otherwise without living inside a huge contradiction.

As several of use have remarked on the urban legend that 'Darwin renounced evolution" here are the details

"Shortly after his death, the story began to spread that Darwin converted to Christianity and renounced his theories on his deathbed. The story was refuted by his family at the time, and in a 1985 biography of Darwin."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworceste%E2%80%A6

Where does the tale come from?

"Lady Hope... an evangelist in Darwin's neighborhood.... said in a 1915 speech to a Moody evangelical school ... on his deathbed Darwin ... Supposedly,... regretted that his evolutionary "speculations" were taken so seriously and had caused such evil"

http://www.cincinnatiskeptics.org/blurbs%E2%80%A6

"The Lady Hope Story first appeared in an American Baptist newspaper the Watchman Examiner on 15 August 1915. The author was identified only as a "consecrated English woman","

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_H%E2%80%A6

In 1915 Lady Hope told the story and a few days later wrote the article. However Darwin died in April 1882. For 33 years Lady Hope remained silent about the supposed conversion. This despite her evangelical activities.

That's it. One person gives a speech and an anonymous article in a religious paper. There are no other witnesses, photos or follow on events. Darwin supposedly asked "he would like her to gather a congregation since he ‘would like to speak to them of Christ Jesus " That never happened. Here was her perfect PR opportunity and Lady Hope did nothing.

About the myth and Lady Hope, His (Darwin's) daughter wrote: "I was present at his deathbed," she wrote in the Christian for February 23, 1922. "Lady Hope was not present during his last illness, or any illness. I believe he never even saw her, but in any case she had no influence over him in any department of thought or belief. He never recanted any of his scientific views, either then or earlier."

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/hope.htm%E2%80%A6

"The evidence shows that the story is not true. Lady Hope was not present at the deathbed of Darwin. The multiple independent accounts of his death, written by those who were there, make no mention of it. His children who were there at his death wrote articles and letters that specifically refuted the recantation and conversion story."

http://www.cincinnatiskeptics.org/blurbs%E2%80%A6

To quote from a creationist site:

"Beyond these denials, if the tale were true, why did Darwin’s wife Emma not rejoice in this? She was always troubled by what she perceived as the godless nature of his views. If he indeed repented, why did she not make this known? Also, if the story were credible, why did Lady Hope wait 33 years before relating it, and even then, relating it in a country across the ocean? Given the weight of evidence, it must be concluded that Lady Hope’s story is unsupportable,"

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles%E2%80%A6

This is not unlike the famous Dan Quayle "Latin" story. It didn't happen but people want to believe it.

No, not really, unless that said Creationist is trying to have their cake and eat it, which many do, some will go on about micro evolution though.

To the person above (Wanda K), please please please study before you say Darwin renounced his theory of evolution, that is 100% Bull$hit, even the slightest research would show you that, and im not talking about the 'research' on a creationist websites, which love to spread this lie, along many others.

The Lady that spread that lie was a creationist that never even visited Darwin on his death bed, Darwin didn't even know her well at all, never mind would tell her such things, Darwin's family and wife who were Christian even denied Darwin ever renounced his theory and became Christian, which im sure they would have loved if he had. Not to mention, the contradictions that showed in her telling of the story that changed time after time she told it.

Good question.

I am a christian and don't really know how I feel about the bible being taken literally. I go back and forth on that issue. But its possible that you can believe in the Adam and Eve story and still love anthropology. I know I do. I read Darwin himself renounced his theory before he died. A lot of scientists doubt the idea that we came from a little blob that eventually became a human being. If I had to choose, I would choose on the side of we came from a creator. I do not believe I was ever a monkey or anything like that. It just does not seem real to me.

Well, one can discuss cultural anthropology without denying evolution.

Oh, and the other answer is repeating the LIE that Darwin disavowed evolution. No SENSIBLE person denies that living species evolved from earlier species.