Secrets of the Sixth Edition by Randall Hedtke

Natural Selection, Survival of the Fittest - ever heard of it?

I would venture to say that most if not all of you have.

BUT...

Have you ever read the Theory of Natural Selection for yourself?

How about On the Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin - Have you read that?  Not just have you heard of it and/or learned about it in school---but have you read it for yourself?  How about all six editions of it?

Most people of our day have not actually read On the Origin of the Species (which contains the Theory of Natural Selection), though we have "studied" it in school and heard a lot of debate about it.  I myself fall into this category, I must admit.  And, as Randall Hedtke points out in his book Secrets of the Sixth Edition, I am not unlike most other people of my time - no matter what side of the fence we claim.  Basically, as he puts it, few people bother to read Origin,

"for two reasons.  First, Darwin's writing style was wordy, repetitious and vague; consequently, few people have the mental stamina or desire to read the book from beginning to end.  Second, there is little reason why anyone would want to read the Origin, since the basic concept of natural selection, or survival of the fittest, is explained in just a few sentences in most high school or college textbooks."

For this reason, Hedtke has not only read all six editions of Origin, but in Secrets of the Sixth Edition he has also brilliantly and logically presented quotes from each edition as well as countless other documentation from Darwin and a myriad of other well-respected scientists from his day to this day.  Secrets of the Sixth Edition is actually a collection of essays Hedtke has written based on his research over time of Darwin and Darwin's life work, On the Origin of the Species.

Rather than just taking what we hear as the "proven" gold standard for science and the origin of life, Hedtke challenges the reader to consider the facts and even the lack of facts for yourself.  As he repeatedly and accurately points out,

"In order to qualify evolution as a scientific theory, one would have to include alternative points of view for each item of evolution evidence, something evolution proponents, beginning with Darwin himself, have studiously avoided. In addition, all evidence unfavorable to evolution would have to be included. ... The typical evolution curriculum is not scientifically objective because it does not include counterinduction: alternative points of view for each line of evolution evidence.  Doctrines abhor counterinduction because it tends to enhance skepticism.  Theories, on the other hand, embrace counterinduction because it nurtures skepticism.  Evolution, as the textbooks present it, is not true science at all."

Futhermore, throughout Secrets Hedtke gives the reader a thorough presentation of who Darwin was, from Darwin's own words as well as that of many of his closest contemporaries.  As he shows us, Darwin was very mentally conflicted for many years of his life...until he published the sixth and final edition of Origin - the edition is which he deliberately discredits the theory of natural selection.  No, he did not recant evolution, but he knowingly discredited the cornerstone theory (natural selection) which gave/gives any merit to the theory of evolution as a whole.  Hedkte gives even more in-depth and compelling evidence and quotes that show that Darwin himself often wavered between opposing explanations for the world's origin, and,

"...if Darwin himself can waver between two opposing explanations for an earth's origins evidence, why are students not granted the same privilege..."?

Hedtke even points out that,

"Late in his life, in a conversation with the Duke of Argyll, the duke commented to Darwin, 'It was impossible to look at the numerous purposeful contrivances in nature and not see that intelligence was their cause.' Darwin 'looked at [him] very hard and said, 'Well, that often comes over me with overwhelming force; but at other times,' and he shook his head vaguely, adding, 'it seems to go away.'"

 These interesting, intriguing, very little-known quotes, conversations, and letters are mere tidbits of the wealth of information Hedtke offers in this logically presented argument for allowing alternative theories for the origin of the earth and of life itself to be presented, specifically in the classroom.  After all, evolution is not nearly as true to objective science as many may assume based on life-long indoctrination without counterinduction.

So, I challenge you - read Randall Hedtke's Secrets of the Sixth Edition.  Keep on open, objective mind as you do.  Use his numerous cited references to look deeper into it for yourself, if you like.  Then, come back to this evolution table and consider what you have objectively discovered.  No matter what you come away with, I challenge you after having objectively read this work of Hedtke's, to consider why it is so "wrong" to allow students in a classroom to be presented with more than just the evolution side of the origin of life coin.

Aren't we claiming true, objective science in the classroom and textbooks, after all?

Oh, and one other point of interest regarding the book:  though it is relatively short in length, it is not, in my opinion, a light read.  Hedtke does a great job of explaining the various quotes he uses, but those he quotes - especially Darwin - are often wordy and difficult to follow due to the time period in which they lived as well as their profession.  Additionally, as Hedtke is logically presenting a case and proving his point, he uses a large amount of scientific discussion, which is to be expected and is very thorough...but definitely not light reading by any means.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from New Leaf Publishing Group. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review.