I am reading an extraordinary book, Banquet at Delmonico’s, by Barry Werth, which traces the rise of evolutionary thought in America, in the 19th century. I can’t recommend it enough.

As with most things these days, the book reminds me of Israel and Bible prophecy, since I happen to be one of the Neanderthals that believes Scripture to be true in its history, among other things.

At one point in Banquet, Werth discusses Charles Darwin’s inner turmoil, as a young man, as he gradually abandoned belief in the supernatural. Around 30 or so, Darwin jettisoned any belief in divine revelation, i.e., the Bible, because he thought it “more and more difficult, with free scope given to my imagination, to invent evidence which would suffice to convince me.”

Invent evidence. It’s too bad he lived a hundred years too early, for the mere knowledge that Israel was re-established should have provided that evidence—the invention of which would have proven unnecessary.

I was just in Israel, and using my average intelligence, which includes reading the Old Testament and then mulling over recent history, I can see quite clearly that the existence of Israel cannot be explained by naturalism.

Time and again in the Bible, God declares that after “many days” the Jews will be re-gathered into their ancestral land.

They are back, and that is unprecedented in history.

One wonders how far the modern philosophy of naturalism would have gotten if Darwin had lived to see it.