As far as I know, scientists arent trying to find out the meaning of life. They're just looking at the evidence we have and drawing well informed conclusions. At least that's what evolution is based on. Once you find out one thing in science, it only opens up more questions for you, but I'm sure many scientists might be agnostic. As far as I know there isn't a scientific explanation as to why or how everything started.
The guy wanted to be a anglican minister before his theory of natural selection. To say he had conflicting views on the issue of God would be an understatement. I see nothing wrong him praising God.
I studied Tennyson the poet,i found Darwins theories turned things upside down for the people of the Victorian era,what they believed and was brought up to believed was tottaly confusing for them,they thought without god they would have no soul,so could not be saved,this was really a shock for some.In Memoriam by Tennyson,it is a poem full of doubt,it might be worth a read to explain more about how people ,not just Tennyson felt at the time.I would like to point out that the theories Darwin is attributed with,are not really his own,they are theories mentioned by others Darwin actually brought them to the limelight,Darwins book,the Origin of the species was published in 1859,Tennysons In memoriam was published in 1850,i think the original theorist was a man called Paley,his book Natural theology in 1802,i hope this fuels the discussion a little more.
