Why was Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection not accepted at the time?

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was not accepted by many in his time for several reasons:

1. Lack of evidence: At the time, there was limited evidence to support Darwin’s theory. While he had collected extensive evidence during his travels on the HMS Beagle, his theory required evidence from other fields such as geology and paleontology, which were still in their early stages of development.
2. Religious beliefs: Many people at the time held strong religious beliefs that conflicted with Darwin’s theory. His theory challenged the idea of divine creation and the concept of a fixed, unchanging world, which was a core belief for many religious individuals.
3. Limited scientific understanding: The scientific community of the time had limited understanding of genetics, inheritance, and the mechanisms of evolution. Without this understanding, many scientists were skeptical of Darwin’s theory.
4. Alternative theories: Other scientists of the time proposed alternative theories of evolution, such as Lamarck’s theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics, which were considered by many to be more plausible.

Despite these challenges, Darwin’s theory eventually gained widespread acceptance over time as new evidence emerged and scientific understanding of evolution advanced.