Did God create the universe or did the universe create itself? Since the first publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species in 1859, the debate between those who believe that life was created by supernatural means and those who believe in Darwin's theory of evolution has been fierce. Each side presents compelling arguments that can convince any uneducated reader to accept their position based solely on the trust they display in their writing. However, due to the vastness and strength of the evidence presented by proponents of the modern theory of evolution, Darwinists have proven their point far more than those who argue for Intelligent Design. In this essay, four arguments will be presented; two that are pro-Darwin and two that are pro-Intelligent Design. Each of these arguments will be evaluated based on its assumptions, logical structure, and use of evidence. That said, before these arguments can be discussed, the reader must first have a basic understanding of the two main theories, Darwinism and Intelligent Design, and that is how this article will begin. In order to explain the controversy surrounding Darwin's theory of evolution, one must first understand the subject itself. In 1859, Charles Darwin published his magnum opus, On the Origin of Species, which shed light on the fact that animals and plants living today slowly evolved from ancestral creatures through natural selection. In his book, Darwin defines natural selection as “the preservation of favorable variations and the rejection of detrimental variations” (Darwin, 75). He believed that this process is very long, invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen after a long time...... middle of paper ...... e in favor of According to Darwin's theory on evolution by natural selection, it should be noted that this theory constitutes the most scientifically sound position on the origin of life. Works cited by Darwin, Charles and George Lewis Levine. The origin of species by means of natural selection. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2004. Print. Prindle, David. “Controversy: The Pace of Evolution.” , . February 24, 2014. Conference. Prindle, David. “The Modern American Politics of Evolution.” , . April 9, 2014. Conference.Behe, Michael. “Molecular machines”. WebCOM™ 2.0. Free Press, September 1, 1996. Internet. May 9, 2014. .Coyne, Jerry A.. Why Evolution is True. New York: Viking, 2009. Print. Johnson, Phillip E.. Darwin on Trial. Ed. 20th anniversary, 3rd ed. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2010. Print.