How far back does the "Darwin = Hitler" meme go back?

[Zaune]

I'd say it came about the very INSTANT Darwin presented his theories.
Basically ANYTHING that takes God out of the picture = Automatic EVIL to the church.

Not as much as you'd think, at least not where the C of E were concerned. I'm sure a lot of them didn't like it but they didn't censure him or put him on trial for heresy or anything.

[General Mung Beans]

I'd say it came about the very INSTANT Darwin presented his theories.
Basically ANYTHING that takes God out of the picture = Automatic EVIL to the church.

Not as much as you'd think, at least not where the C of E were concerned. I'm sure a lot of them didn't like it but they didn't censure him or put him on trial for heresy or anything.

The Church of England was actually pretty quick to accept evolution. Even many theological conservatives of the period (ie BB Warfield) accepted evolution too and even those who didn't usually accepted an old earth.

[Spoonist]

One of the arguments why Darwin was rather Ok as far as church of england goes was because it exonnerates god from some bad stuff in nature.
It goes somewhat like this
1. god is good
2. species exist that reproduce or survive in very very nasty ways (especially to delicate victorian minds)
Q: so how could a good god create beings that can only reproduce or survive in nasty ways?
A1: god isn't always good (goes against doctrine)
A2: the devil perverted the pure creation of god (goes against doctrine)
A3: god didn't create all beings (goes against doctrine)
so along comes Darwin a christian of good standing and says that we have an A4 that doesn't go against doctrine
A4: life evolves over time
which if you are not theologically challenged solves the question above. The narrative then becomes that the good god created life and everything, then life evolves from that point.

[Vehrec]

Speaking of Darwin, I'm looking for a good biography, so are there any recomendations?