The Christian Foundation, or, Scientific and Religious Journal, Volume I, No. 9. September, 1880

In the autumn of 1880, as Darwin's theory of evolution sent shockwaves through Victorian intellectual circles and materialism threatened traditional faith, a group of thinkers sought to fight back. This journal, edited by R. Dale Owen and A.J. Davis, collects essays and dialogues that mount a spirited defense of Christianity against the rising tide of scientific skepticism. The writers engage directly with critics, debating the nature of God, the origins of life, and whether evolutionary theory undermines spiritual truth. What emerges is not mere apologetics but a fascinating window into a pivotal cultural moment: educated Victorians wrestling with the same faith-and-science questions that still haunt us today. The prose swings from earnest theological argument to surprisingly lively dialogue, making these century-old pages surprisingly readable. For anyone curious about how an earlier generation navigated the collision between religion and modernity, this journal offers a vivid, sometimes surprising glimpse into that intellectual battle.