What is eugenics? The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) defines the term as “the scientifically inaccurate theory that humans can be improved through selective breeding of populations.”
And this theory hasn’t gone away. NHGRI goes on to say, “Eugenics is not a fringe movement. Starting in the late 1800s, leaders and intellectuals worldwide perpetuated eugenic beliefs and policies based on common racist and xenophobic attitudes. Many of these beliefs and policies still exist in the United States.”
Creationist PhD Jerry Bergman, who has studied and taught genetics for many years, says that eugenics cannot be separated from the theory of evolution. Bermann first quotes U. of North Carolina biology professor, Mark Peifer, who said that the knowledge of the history of eugenics is critical for geneticists. Peifer thinks eugenics should be included as a topic in undergraduate classes so that the students can confront what he considers lies about science.
According to Peifer, “Eugenicists worldwide believed that they could perfect human beings and eliminate so-called social ills through genetics and heredity. They believed the use of methods such as involuntary sterilization, segregation and social exclusion would rid society of individuals deemed by them to be unfit. … Like eugenics, scientific racism grew out of the misappropriation of … Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection” ( Peifer, Mark, “We must not ignore eugenics in our genetics curriculum,” Trends in Genetics, DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2025.02.002, 2025.)
But Bergmann disagrees with Peifer. Evolution does indeed logically lead to eugenics. According to Darwinism, genetic differences exist in all life-forms and they are selected according to the survival of the fittest concept. For instance, evolutionists believe some pre-humans had a slight advantage in intelligence, allowing them to outcompete less–intelligent comrades. Thus, over time, dumb australopithecines were able to evolve into intelligent humans.
Bergeman asked Google AI if evolution could exist without genetic differences. AI agreed that without genetic variation there cannot be evolution. Without this variation, there would be nothing for natural selection to select and all individuals in a population would be genetically identical.
So, what eugenics attempts to do is to allow humans to mimic natural selection by selecting more “evolved” humans to reproduce and prevent the less advanced humans from reproducing. The recognized founder of eugenics was Darwin’s cousin, Francis Galton. Galton believed that just as artificial selection by breeders selects for specific traits in order to produce a better creature, so does eugenics.
By disproving evolution, creationists also are debunking eugenics. (Perhaps, this is a reason eugenics is not often taught in schools.) Evolution depends upon mutations as the engine that drives it. Yet, beneficial mutations are rare, and the best that natural selection can do is to reduce the number of deleterious mutations and traits in a population. It can’t create a super race.
Comments: Eugenics is despicable because it judges some humans to be better than others. Yet, all humans who have ever lived are descended from the same two people and therefore we are all related. So, if we say a certain person is naturally not as good as we are, we are judging our own relative.
The theory of evolution is also despicable because it claims humanity is getting better by means of nature with no Creator God needed. Therefore, the only One who can actually help us achieve the perfect life is thus eliminated from the conversation, and we are left without hope.
God has a plan to provide us with the perfect life that evolutionists and eugenicists can only dream of. And this perfect life is offered free of charge–free to us. But salvation and a perfect life in a perfect heaven did come with a price tag, paid for by the Son of God with his suffering and death.
“We proclaim him as we admonish and teach everyone with all wisdom, so that we might present everyone perfect in Christ.” Colossians 1:28
by Warren Krug
Reference: Jerry Bergman, “Why Eugenics Is Tied to Evolution,” Creation Evolution Headlines [April 3, 2025].
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
How can regular physical activity help improve one’s memory?
Exercise such as walking, dancing, and balance exercises can slow declines in thinking and memory. It does this by boosting the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the brain and by controlling brain-aging factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure. It may also nurture the growth of brain cells and communication between them.
Source: “On Your Mind,” Consumer Reports [October, 2024], page 12.
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