Darwin on Disaster Relief

Ten days after the event, the earthquake in Haiti still tops the news and pops into almost every conversation that makes it past the weather. In today's lightning round news cycle this is amazing longevity, even for a tragedy of such mammoth proportions. Last night millions of dollars were pledged during a benefit concert televised around the world. It's a repeat of the reaction to Katrina, the Indonesian tsunami, and countless other disasters natural and man made. There is something in the human soul that bends it toward pain and suffering.

It doesn't take thousands of bodies or national news coverage to incite us either. I just read of a family restaurant in a tiny Iowa town that burned to the ground. Townsfolk and patrons (some hundreds of miles distant) pitched in to help rebuild -- twice in one year. In that case, the Amish were among those involved. While these religious iconoclasts are famous for helping their own in trouble, this incident showed their generosity reaches the "English" as well. Other towns without Amish influence have similar stories of neighbors making significant sacrifices to restore a neighbor's welfare.

I have just experienced a similar sentiment personally, though in a far less tragic circumstance. My wife required eye surgery which entailed a two week convalescence with her face down 24/7. Karen's hairdresser, manicurist and masseuse each made house calls; numerous friends phoned, visited or sent cards, and several people brought meals to our door on a prearranged schedule determined by a group at our church. This is just the physical side of support which Karen attests included prayers for her well-being that were palpable. I am humbled by the genuine concern of so many caring friends.

Theologians suggest that this type of reaction to exigency within the human family intimates a divine origin of the species. This is a powerful argument. If the self-centered protectiveness of Darwinian survival were central to our being, how would one explain the almost universal desire to help the bruised and fallen among our neighbors? Wouldn't it make sense to guard our personal resources against despoiling by those too weak to fend for themselves? If only the strong survive then charity is foolishness.

It's no surprise to me that Darwin appears to be wrong again. Not only is evolution entirely without foundation in the field of biology, it makes no sense in the fields of mayhem and destruction caused by natural or personal disaster. Darwin's famous "black box" has been opened to his utter demise, philosophically speaking. And the church's collection box opens at every instance of human need to further declare that there exists within us the essence of something that is from beyond us. The ancient wisdom of Solomon correctly declares that the Creator has placed in each human heart a longing that outstrips the mortal frame.

I much prefer to notice a spark of divinity within humanity than to suppose we have climbed to some pinnacle of evolutionary height through mindless chance and fortuitous circumstance. Darwinism and theism each require more than a modicum of faith. I will take Pascal's wager and go all in, believing that we are better off with our money resting on the God number on the roulette wheel of life. In this case, as in every casino everywhere, the house always wins. Only in this case, I own a piece of the house.