https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55769269
Darwin feared this inexplicable puzzle would undermine his theories of evolution, says Prof Richard Buggs.
Forgotten historical documents show a rival scientist was arguing for divine intervention in the rise of the flowering plants.
Darwin coined the phrase, abominable mystery, in 1879. In a letter to his closest friend, botanist and explorer Dr Joseph Hooker, he wrote: "The rapid development as far as we can judge of all the higher plants within recent geological times is an abominable mystery."
And is the mystery solved?
In short, no. "One hundred and forty years later, the mystery's still unsolved," says Prof Buggs. "Of course, we've made lots of progress in our understanding of evolution and in our knowledge of the fossil record, but this mystery is still there."
There are no mysteries once you factor in God.
ReplyDeleteIt's like something Stephen Hawking, a devout atheist once said. When asked about the origin of the Big Bang, he gave multiple theories, all of which had zero evidence and were purely speculative. But one thing he "knew"? Couldn't have been God!