All the religions of the East seem to believe in varioius theories of spiritual evolution...a gradual process of human advancement that occurs over eons. If you believe in that, then it is no difficult thing to also believe in Darwin's theory of evolution. The two theories do not conflict. They simply work on different levels. The one works with with physical evolution in a physical world, genetics, the bodily processes, all physical stuff that can be observed and studied in a lab. The other deals with the subtle and non-physical aspects within physical beings....meaning it deals with consciousness.

A physical being without consciousness is either temporarily unconscious...or it's dead. It's incapable of evolving under those circumstances. Therefore the study of consciousness itself is a worthy subject in regards to evolution, whether or not one can dig up any physical evidence out of the ground to support a theory about it.

If it weren't for a fairly advanced degree of consciousness in us human beings, I would not have noticed or responded to this thread at all, nor would Peter have posted it, nor would Darwin have thought up his theory and made his observations, nor would you who is reading my words right now be taking some notice of my response, and possibly composing an answer to it.

To assume that the 41 per cent of Americans who don't believe in Darwinian evolution are the only alternative to Darwin...or to intelligence itself...would be as silly as to assume that the Sperm Whale is the only alternative to the flea...or the tiddlywink is the only alternative to the hydrofoil....or any other non-sequitor you would prefer.

I'm all for Darwin. I'm all for spiritual evolution too. As you said, Peter...Happy Birthday, Darwin!