Darwin, C. R. 1882. [Letter to N. A. von Mengden 'Science has nothing to do with Christ']. In Haeckel, Ernst. 1882. Die Naturanschauung von Darwin, Goethe und Lamarck. Vortrag in der ersten öffentlichen Sitzung der fünfundfünfzigsten Versammlung deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte zu Eisenach am 18. September 1882. Jena: G. Fischer, p. 60.

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1882. [Letter to N. A. von Mengden "Science has nothing to do with Christ", 1879]. In Ernst Haeckel, Die Naturanschauung von Darwin, Goethe und Lamarck. Vortrag in der ersten öffentlichen Sitzung der fünfundfünfzigsten Versammlung deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte zu Eisenach am 18. September 1882. Jena: G. Fischer, p. 60.

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 3.2008. A few typographical errors in the original have been silently corrected. RN1

[page] 60

June 5. 1879.

Down, Beckenham, Kent

Dear Sir! I am much engaged, an old man and out of health, and I cannot spare time to answer your question fully—provided it can be answered. Science has nothing to do with Christ; except in so far as the habit of scientific research makes a man cautious in admitting evidence. For myself I do not believe that there ever has been any Revelation. As for a future life, every man must judge for himself between conflicting vague probabilities.

Wishing you happiness

I remain, dear Sir,

Yours faithfully

Charles Darwin.¹

¹ This letter was addressed to Nicolai Alexandrovitch von Mengden (b. 1862), student at Dorpat, Russian diplomat. See Calendar 11971, 11981, 12079, 12088.

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)