Tweet
Arashi - October 4th, 810 AD.
Arashi is often referred to as Stormia's second city, but today Arashi is the Eye of the Storm.
Explorer, Naturalist, Philosopher, devotee of the Stormian Church, and... Heretic? For Charles "Deep" Darwin, the world has turned upside down.
Ealier this year, Mr. Darwin returned from a journey of over 2 years to the barren coastline of Voxtavia, in Legolis Minor. Thanks in no small part to the hospitality of the Voxian government, Mr. Darwin was able to observe hundreds of species of wildlife. Those observations, however, had unexpected consequences.
In "The Origin of Species," Mr. Darwin describes his discoveries, and the conclusions he has drawn from them. One in particular - that species change over time and give rise to new species - has given him notoriety beyond his wildest nightmares. Taken to its logical conclusion, Darwin's claim suggests that all species now living are derived from earlier, now extinct species. That, in turn, suggests that the plants and animals we see around us - and indeed humans too - were not the result of divine creation, but rather what Darwin calls "natural selection" taking place over millions of years. He cites recent discoveries of fossils alleged to belong to long-dead species of reptiles as possible confirmation of his theory.
The implications of Darwin's work - originally expected to be a minor scholarly publication with a tiny circulation - have made him a household name. A household name many curse.
"We ain't monkeys. Humans were created in the image of God, no matter what Mr. smarty-pants naturalist says!" opined Nathaniel B. Forrest, resident of Dissidentville and distant decendant of the great Nathan Barclay, one of the founding fathers of the nation.
Mr. Forrest's views are widespread, and the Stormian Church has found itself riding a tidal wave of anti-Darwin popular opinion, a circumstance which Darwin says grieves him deeply. "I am a religious man. My faith is not shaken by my recent work, but rather is strengthened by the great richness and diversity of God's creation."
The Church, however, has taken the step of declaring Mr. Darwin's new theory heresy, and has threatened him with excommunication should he refuse to recant. Many Stormians, remembering past turmoil over the work of Arrianus Copernicus and Dr. SleepyNewton (whose theories are now generally accepted) hesitate to denounce the "Origin of Species." A high-level government official, who refused to be identified in this article, suggested that Mr. Darwin's work might be "the final nail in the coffin of the Church."
So far, the government has refused official comment on the situation, but it may not be able to stay above the fray. Mr. Darwin's new theory was introduced to the curriculum of the Arashi school system as "a new perspective," according to school board officials. In response, a group known as "The Truth of Frater Ralphus" has declared its intention to file suit.
The battle lines have been drawn. Emotions are running high. Could it be that our nation, having no real wars to fight, might seek to create a war - a civil war, no less - over a naturalist's book? Stay tuned, dear readers, for a "Tempest in a Teapot."
(c) Arashi Tribune
Arashi is often referred to as Stormia's second city, but today Arashi is the Eye of the Storm.
Explorer, Naturalist, Philosopher, devotee of the Stormian Church, and... Heretic? For Charles "Deep" Darwin, the world has turned upside down.
Ealier this year, Mr. Darwin returned from a journey of over 2 years to the barren coastline of Voxtavia, in Legolis Minor. Thanks in no small part to the hospitality of the Voxian government, Mr. Darwin was able to observe hundreds of species of wildlife. Those observations, however, had unexpected consequences.
In "The Origin of Species," Mr. Darwin describes his discoveries, and the conclusions he has drawn from them. One in particular - that species change over time and give rise to new species - has given him notoriety beyond his wildest nightmares. Taken to its logical conclusion, Darwin's claim suggests that all species now living are derived from earlier, now extinct species. That, in turn, suggests that the plants and animals we see around us - and indeed humans too - were not the result of divine creation, but rather what Darwin calls "natural selection" taking place over millions of years. He cites recent discoveries of fossils alleged to belong to long-dead species of reptiles as possible confirmation of his theory.
The implications of Darwin's work - originally expected to be a minor scholarly publication with a tiny circulation - have made him a household name. A household name many curse.
"We ain't monkeys. Humans were created in the image of God, no matter what Mr. smarty-pants naturalist says!" opined Nathaniel B. Forrest, resident of Dissidentville and distant decendant of the great Nathan Barclay, one of the founding fathers of the nation.
Mr. Forrest's views are widespread, and the Stormian Church has found itself riding a tidal wave of anti-Darwin popular opinion, a circumstance which Darwin says grieves him deeply. "I am a religious man. My faith is not shaken by my recent work, but rather is strengthened by the great richness and diversity of God's creation."
The Church, however, has taken the step of declaring Mr. Darwin's new theory heresy, and has threatened him with excommunication should he refuse to recant. Many Stormians, remembering past turmoil over the work of Arrianus Copernicus and Dr. SleepyNewton (whose theories are now generally accepted) hesitate to denounce the "Origin of Species." A high-level government official, who refused to be identified in this article, suggested that Mr. Darwin's work might be "the final nail in the coffin of the Church."
So far, the government has refused official comment on the situation, but it may not be able to stay above the fray. Mr. Darwin's new theory was introduced to the curriculum of the Arashi school system as "a new perspective," according to school board officials. In response, a group known as "The Truth of Frater Ralphus" has declared its intention to file suit.
The battle lines have been drawn. Emotions are running high. Could it be that our nation, having no real wars to fight, might seek to create a war - a civil war, no less - over a naturalist's book? Stay tuned, dear readers, for a "Tempest in a Teapot."
(c) Arashi Tribune
-Arrian
Comment