Story: Atheism and secularism

Samuel Butler on Darwin

This imaginary dialogue, which appeared in the Christchurch Press on 20 December 1862, reveals the views of author Samuel Butler on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, published in 1859. Darwin's book did not cause much of a stir in New Zealand, where many people believed that science could co-exist with religion.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: The Press, 20 December 1862, p. 2 (N-P 1393-2)

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Carl Walrond, 'Atheism and secularism - A Christian legacy', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/26192/samuel-butler-on-darwin (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Carl Walrond, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 4 Apr 2018