Why is it so difficult for many people to accept the notion of evolution?

Evolution, as applied to the biological world, is in conflict with a literal interpretation of the biblical story of creation described in Genesis. In the biblical account, each creature was created separately by divine action and supposedly reproduces its own kind with little change through the generations. In our own time, the scientific creationists contend that a relative fixity of species is still a correct view and the earth’s span should be measured in tens of thousands of years rather than the 4.6 billion years usually accepted by the evolutionary biologists. For those who are oriented to fundamentalist views, evolution becomes a challenge to religious convictions.

Most adherents to particular religious faiths have no problem reconciling their religious convictions with an evolutionary perspective, but spiritual concerns did discourage many at an earlier time. Darwin himself was concerned with how his espousal of evolution would affect his wife’s pious sensibilities.
A second problem arises from the fact that evolution removes humans from the center of the living world and ends the traditional separation of ‘‘lower’’ animals from ‘‘higher’’ humans. Humans have long been regarded as the goal and ultimate fulfillment of the creative process. That humans are just one of many advanced groups that have arisen from distant ancestors may be a blow to the collective ego of humankind.
An argument has been raised by some nonscientists that a belief in evolution may encourage a dehumanization of shared social values. If we are merely highly evolved animals, then perhaps the sanctity of human life may be ignored in the name of expediency. Evolution may create a more permissive moral climate according to its critics. At the same time, evolution’s immersion in continual change presents a
challenge to the stability of traditions that check our more aggressive tendencies.
Scientists do not generally accept these criticisms; they feel that the truths of science are not instruments for directing human activity but are worthwhile in and of themselves. The grandeur of life, which should inspire our conduct and concepts, is probably best illuminated by the perspective of evolution.