Larvatus Prodeo

With the decision in Dover the debate regarding science and religion is only intensified. Of course there is a lot of history regarding the theory of evolution and its impact of religious thinking. And to understand this debate you need to understand where it all began. And I have just read just the book provides the suitable background by taking you back to Victorian England, Charles Darwin and the emergence of evolutionary theory and his battles with a certain Bishop

The Pirates! In an Adventure With Scientists is one of ‘the very few books to deal with the weighty issues of science and religion, whilst also featuring lots roaring and running people through’ (so the book jacket says).

The story is simple. The Pirates, led by the Pirate Captain who has a very luxuriant beard, mistake The Beagle for a ship carrying bounty from the Bank of England, accidently sink it and then take Charles Darwin and Mr Bobo, his Man-panzee, back to England to rescue his brother Erasmus and confront the evil Bishop of Oxford. A gripping tale full of adventure, ham, sea shanties, the odd game of mini-golf and an epic battle involving the periodic table.

Some will be saying “But this doesn’t sound like a serious book on the socio-political impact of the idea of evolution.� All I can say to such comments is ‘do these so called serious books have Pirates?’ I think not.

Let me treat you with some philosophical discourse that enlivens book:

‘Ah well. Plan B,’ said the Pirate Captain with a disappointed shrug. He whipped his cutlass out from under his lab coat and jabbed it in the Bishop’s ribs. `I’m not really a scientist - I’m the Pirate Captain! Tell me what you’ve done with Erasmus!’

The Bishop didn’t miss a beat. `Why! Look over there! Is that a treasure chest?’ he said.

Even though he knew better, the Pirate Captain looked over to where the Bishop was pointing. The villain took this opportunity to bolt from the lecture room. `I just can’t help myself,’ thought the Pirate Captain irritably. ‘Damn my piratical nature!’

He leapt to his feet, pulled off the cumbersome lab coat and, seeing the stricken look on Darwin’s face, gave the scientist a reassuring thumbs up to show he had it all under control. Then the Pirate Captain chased as fast as he could after the despicable cleric, pausing only briefly to give his card to a striking blonde sitting in the second row.

Darwin, having little option but to hope the Pirate Captain knew what he was doing, went on hamming it up as he pretended to be desperately trying to make a wrestling tag with Mister Bobo. After a great deal of gurning and grunting he slapped the monkey’s hand, and Mister Bobo leapt into centre stage and swung a folding metal chair at the head of the Holy Ghost, who promptly collapsed in a heap. Darwin held up Mister Bobo’s hand triumphantly.

`Hooray for science!’ he shouted

Apparently the author Gideon Defoe wrote this book to impress a girl, who somehow was not impressed. But I was impressed, even highly amused on occasions. But since I am betrothed hence he will get nowhere with me. However I would buy him a beer. Though I did buy the book so I think he owes me one.

So if you have a lazy $20 casually saunter down to your local bookshop and pick up a copy. Then spend a lazy afternoon reading about adventure on the high seas and in Victorian London.