Two Legacies that Changed the World
Two Legacies: One for the Preservation of Life and the Other for the Death of the Weakest
Both Darwin and Pasteur are two of the most well-known scientists of all time because they have had a profound impact in biological science leaving their imprint on the world. Charles Darwin provided us with his theory of evolution that, without question, rattled the fundamental foundations of the world’s need for a Creator. He introduced a big portrait of how life came to be with a method or mechanism of natural selection that he proposed was the force that would change the simplest life form into the most complex creatures to walk the earth. His theory proposed it was a war on the weak where the fittest would survive. At the same time, Pasteur opened our eyes to an invisible world using the scientific method that would change us forever. He showed us experimentally without any question that only life could beget life which implied that there was a Creator who gave the breath of life to every creature. In contrast, Darwin postulated that his evolutionary tree of life originated from nature’s natural selection as he purposely ignored his divine Creator.
The real question is, who gave mankind the most value through their discoveries?
Pasteur dealt with the scientific problems of the day earning a Ph.D. in 1847 in Chemistry and Physics from the prestigious École normale supérieure in Paris. His first discovery was made on the crystals made from tartaric acid found in wine, demonstrating that although these crystals had the same composition, they had two different orientations in space; they were mirror images of themselves with different chemical bonding properties. Pasteur was only 25 years old and this discovery, if made today, would easily be recognized with a prestigious Nobel prize. This discovery had a tremendous impact on the biochemical world, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. Drugs such as ibuprofen, used as a pain reliever, others that are used to fight cancer, and antihistamines for allergies demonstrate this concept of mirror images of molecules.
Pasteur’s accomplishments were based on operational science which is focused on using the scientific method to solve problems. It requires experimentation, measurable observations, and rigorous data handling with thought-provoking conclusions.
Pasteur was a prolific follower of the scientific method which was created for his astonishing discoveries that directly affect mankind. For example, he gave us the germ theory that established hygiene rules and became the foundation of modern medicine. Along with the germ theory, he developed the process of pasteurization (named in honor of Pasteur) to heat beverages at high temperatures to get rid of the microorganisms that cause disease and spoilage of the beverage. He also discovered the process of fermentation, which is where live yeast uses oxygen in a grape’s sugar molecules to form wine inside vats without oxygen from the air. Pasteur was also recognized for developing vaccines for chicken cholera, anthrax, and rabies, which has saved many lives.
Darwin, the Father of Evolution, had a profound effect on biological science with his publication of On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection in 1859. In this publication he boldly defied God as Creator and purposely chose nature with his process of natural selection that produced the branches of his tree of life with all its mirage of forms, colors, sizes, shapes, and an immense number of traits. He followed with his exhaustive two-part Descent of Man, where he attempted to link man with a primate in 1871. Darwin developed an all-encompassing theory that would attract many secularists who did not want any mention of a divine Creator. He would become the saint of naturalism, the belief that nature, with her long years of antiquity, created all things. This worldview hid under the disguise of science and was adopted into western culture, as evidenced today in our schools and higher education. They are sold out to Darwin’s evolution because nature is their Creator and Savior.
Pasteur left a legacy of being tenacious and dedicated to finding the truth with an extraordinary amount of zeal. He also had high demands of himself and those who worked for him, sometimes making him unpopular. His many discoveries came after copious testing to ensure his conclusions were correct. He left no stone unturned. His impact on humanity will be hard to match. His legacy shows us that we can make an impact using modern science to its fullest capacity with the understanding that it is God’s gift. Pasteur posted a sign so all could see, stating,
“The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator. I pray while I am engaged in my work in the laboratory.”
