Is Darwinism Kefirah

Question:

Sholom,

I am unsure this is the right forum for this question but lets try:
I would like to know if the evolution theory developed by Darwin (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwinism) – is it by definition against the Toirah? I understand that its not a simple question to answer, but in principle, natural selection may not contract the Toirah. Of course the element of the amount of yrs and stages is against the Toirah, but the underlying principle, can it be?

Many thanks!

Answer:

Traditional Jewish thought has always believed evolution to be at odds with Torah thought and in fact heretical. This is still the mainstream view. There have been great Jewish minds who have theorized that in fact evolution does not necessarily have to be in complete contradiction to the Torah view, meaning they entertained the idea that G-d may have for some reason created and guided the world in this way over the ages. See Rav Hirsch, Collected Writings, vol. 7 pp. 263-264.