EVOLUTION ASSAILED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 678, 1 June 1929, Page 16

EVOLUTION ASSAILED

DR. PETTIT'S PAMPHLET

Making an appeal to what he describes as reason and common sense, Dr. W. H. Pettit has issued through Scott and Scott, Auckland, a pamphlet in which he has marshalled facts in answer to the Evolution theory as expounded by one body of scientific thought. The pamphlet is entitled “Evolution: Is it Scientific? Shall We Teach it in Our Schools?” Referring first of all to the books of Van Loon, which have been recommended to teachers and pupils in Dominion schools, the writer says: “Are there no books in the English language that we must teach and imbibe the foolish fiction of a Dutch - American agnostic?” He goes on to say that the fact deserving of special emphasis is that a number of most distinguished scientists frankly declare that no evidence of Evolution has been discovered. If the theory of Evolution had been confined to biology, if it had been recognised merely as a theory, and if the arguments for and against it had been fairly presented, it would long ago have fallen into oblivion. But an unproved hypothesis in biology has been carried over as a proved and accepted fact into the spheres-of psychology, philosophy and theology.

Destructive commentary is made on the various phases of the theory, and new constructions are placed on some prevailing hypotheses. In addition there is a helpful series of “questions for thoughtful people.” In short, the pamphlet is an excellent contra manual to the affirmatives of the Modernists,