Some Q&A with author, John Wynne
Q. What is the basic thrust of The Fall of Darwin’s Last Icon and the Failure of the Cartesian-Darwinian Narrative?
A. The book explains that the evolutionary claims about human evolution commonly taught in high school and college text books are discredited in the scientific literature. Leading up to this demonstration, the first several chapters set forth the history of the attack on truth that formally began in 1637 with the Cartesian philosophy of rationalism and was essentially completed in 1859 with the work of Charles Darwin. Today, the Cartesian-Darwinian Narrative provides the supposed intellectual support for many false philosophies and worldviews that dominate the world. This is tragic because even a cursory review of the scientific literature and Cartesian rationalism demonstrates that the Narrative fails from a philosophical, scientific, and logical point of view. Unfortunately, many so-called Christian intellectuals—even many Catholic religious orders and clergy—have themselves, been highly influenced by the Cartesian-Darwinian Narrative. This influence is commonly seen in the dismissal of challenges to Darwinism and in the heretical position of limited Scriptural inerrancy. Unless Christendom learns of and exposes the foundational flaws of the Narrative, the culture will continue to decline and a great many souls will be lost.
Q. Is the term “Cartesian-Darwinian Narrative” new?
A. The term is new, to my knowledge, but readers will see that in the late 19th century, intellectuals on both sides of the worldview struggle knew that the Narrative existed and would soon determine the future course of the world. For example, philosophers such as Nietzsche and Dewey understood the coming impact, as did Pope Leo XIII, who bravely fought against the Narrative. Readers will be taken on a historical journey and will see how the Narrative spread to encompass all domains by the start of the 20th century.
Q. Why did you write The Fall of Darwin’s Last Icon when Repairing the Breach contains some of the same information?
A. The Fall of Darwin’s Last Icon is a shorter work than Repairing the Breach and, from a scientific perspective, focuses almost exclusively on human evolution. Research for the book beginning in 2015 also established the clear link between Cartesian philosophy and Darwinism. This historical linkage is developed in detail in The Fall of Darwin’s Last Icon and I believe it will open the eyes of many Catholics and others who have dismissed the issue of origins as irrelevant. I consider it my most important work and I pray it will cast the issue of origins in a new light.
Q. Episode 2 of the DVD Series Foundations Restored: A Catholic Perspective on Origins discusses the Cartesian-Darwinian Narrative. Does the episode essentially discuss the same concept that is covered in your book?
A. I was blessed to be one of the primary writers of the Foundations Restored DVD series. The material in The Fall of Darwin’s Last Icon was used as the basis for Episode 2 of the DVD series and also impacted the content of other episodes. However, the book contains 15 chapters and is able to delve into much more detail than shown in Episode 2 of the DVD series. I believe that those who read the book will be convinced that the Narrative, also called the Grand Deception, is real and they will see how it progressively took over virtually all domains of knowledge and came to dominate the world in the 20th century.
Q. The book frequently addresses non-believers and those you refer to as Christian Intellectuals (religious instructors, apologists, and clergy). In the final chapter, you make appeals to both groups and this constitutes a sharp turn from the intellectual discussion in the areas of philosophy, theology, paleoanthropology, and history contained previous chapters. Can you share why the book was structured this way?
A. Too often, Catholics and other Christians see the origins debate as a purely academic matter that has little real impact on one’s faith. Yet the importance of origins is fundamental to finding meaning in our life and this is made clear in paragraph 282 of the Catholic Catechism as well as in Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical Faith and Reason. Following the demonstration that Darwinian claims for human evolution and Narrative-based philosophies fail from an intellectual and evidential perspective, it seemed only natural to discuss the implications for those who have been under the complete or partial influence of the Narrative. The final chapter encourages and challenges non-believers, as well as Catholics (plus other Christians) who have publically endorsed Darwinism from the pulpit or in the classroom, to rid their worldviews of the Grand Deception. I consider the final chapter the most important of the book. I hope it helps non-believers to accept Christianity as the one true worldview. I also hope that it helps Christian intellectuals see the urgency in proclaiming the truth about origins in Catholic schools and seminaries, and to create worldview courses.
Back Cover Text of The Fall of Darwin’s Last Icon:
“I highly recommend this book and believe it is one of the most important and insightful books on origins ever written.
In this remarkable work, the author retraces the fascinating history of the “Cartesian-Darwinian Narrative” through several centuries and as it infected the domains of philosophy, theology, history, and natural science. One of the most powerful claims of the Cartesian-Darwinian Narrative concerns human evolution—the last remaining Darwinian icon. Yet, in the span of three chapters, the author dismantles more than 100 years of alleged “missing links” between apes and humans. He also takes readers on a personal journey that leads non-believers to the foot of the Cross and challenges believers—especially Christian intellectuals—to proclaim the fullness of the truth about origins, as revealed by God and taught by Jesus Christ, who is Truth itself. ”
– Hugh Owen, Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation
“The material in The Fall of Darwin’s Last Icon was one of the key resources used in the production of the DVD Series Foundations Restored: A Catholic Perspective on Origins. In this book, the author chronicles the fascinating history of an attack on truth, centuries in the making, called “the Cartesian-Darwinian Narrative.” In the process, he advances the discussion about origins and provides new insight, not seen in Catholic circles before, regarding the relationship between Cartesian philosophy and Darwinism, and how the combined errors shaped modern society. I consider this a must read for any Catholic concerned about the state of the Church and for anyone who wants to understand how the societal destruction seen everywhere came about.”
– Keith Jones, Director and Videographer for Foundations Restored: A Catholic Perspective on Origins
Table of Contents of The Fall of Darwin’s Last Icon
Chapter 1: What Has Happened?
Chapter 2: Presuppositions
Chapter 3: Setting the Stage for the Masked Man
Chapter 4: The Masked Man
Chapter 5: Birth of the Matrix
Chapter 6: The Expansion: 1651-1830
Chapter 7: Targeting New Territory: 1830-1900
Chapter 8: Seizing Control: 1900-Present
Chapter 9: Crippling the Resistance: 1900-Present
Chapter 10: The Narrative and the Culture of Death: 1900-Present
Chapter 11: Human Evolution: The Astonishing Record
Chapter 12: Lucy and Ardi: More Monkey Business in the Family Tree
Chapter 13: Becoming Clueless: Why the Genetic Evidence Refutes the Claimed Hominin Fossil Record
Chapter 14: The Funnel
Chapter 15: Crossing the Chasm and Weathering the Storm