Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Anton{{ref|name}} van Leeuwenhoek (October 24, 1632 - August 30, 1723, full name Thonius Philips van Leeuwenhoek) was a tradesman and scientist from Delft, in the Netherlands. He was known as "the Father of Microbiology". Born the son of a basket weaver, he is best known for his contribution to improvement of the microscope and his contributions towards the establishment of cell biology. Using his handcrafted microscope he was the first to observe and describe muscle fibers, bacteria, spermatozoa and blood flow in capillaries (small blood vessels).

His relation to religion

Antony van Leeuwenhoek was a solid Dutch Reformed, Calvinist. He often referred with reverence to the wonders God designed in making creatures small and great.{{ref|adherents}} He was born into the Dutch Reformed tradition, which had a high view of Scripture and salvation in Jesus, and a firm doctrine of creation. Of his religion, Richard Westfall of Indiana University writes, ?He was baptized and buried in Calvinist churches, and his second wife was the daughter of a Calvinist minister.? This tradition, furthermore, understood and encouraged man?s role in the investigation of God?s handiwork in nature. A. Schierbeek, the Editor-in-Chief of the collected letters of Leeuwenhoek, explains that he was part of the ?New Philosophy? of scientists like Robert Boyle, who regarded the study of nature as ?a work to the glory of God and the benefit of Man.? The newly-formed Royal Society was made up largely of Puritans with similar convictions, from which we can infer Leeuwenhoek shared with them a common bond of belief, since he took great pride in his relationship with the Royal Society, mentioning it on his title pages and even on his tombstone. Schierbeek observes, ?His works are full of his admiration of creation and the Creator, a theme which is frequently found in writings of this period; in becoming better acquainted with creation, men wanted to get nearer the Creator, a conviction which is found among many of the early members of the Royal Society.? (Schierbeek, p. 200){{ref|Schierbeek}}.

Related Topics:
Calvinist - Jesus - Puritans - Royal Society

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Of Leeuwenhoek?s personal faith, Schierbeek says, ?To this we must add his deep religious assurance, his complete faith in the ?All-wise Creator,? a never-flagging admiration for the perfection of the most minute, hidden mysteries of the work of His hands and the conviction that his researches would surely help to make His Omnipotence more universally known. Without ever lapsing into high-flown phrases he repeatedly gave evidence of his religious faith: ?Let us lay the hand on our mouth, and reflect that the All-wise hath deemed this needful for the reproduction of all that hath received movement and growth, and so, the why and the wherefore we can but guess after.?? (Schierbeek, p. 31){{ref|Schierbeek}}.

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It is clear, too, from his stand against non-Christian superstitions such as the doctrine of spontaneous generation, that he held to a Biblical doctrine of creation. He believed it foolish to think his little ?animalcules? could have formed by chance, and he worked diligently to prove that all things reproduce after their kind, as the book of Genesis teaches. For example, after working for weeks observing the propagation of insects, Leeuwenhoek stated confidently, "... This must appear wonderful, and be a confirmation of the principle, that all living creatures deduce their origin from those which were formed at the Beginning." (Schierbeek, p. 137){{ref|Schierbeek}}. After another remarkable series of experiments on rotifers in 1702 he concluded:

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The preceding kinds of experiments I have repeated many times with the same success, and in particular with some of the sediment which had been kept in my study for about five months. . . From all these observations, we discern most plainly the incomprehensible perfection, the exact order, and the inscrutable providential care with which the most wise Creator and Lord of the Universe had formed the bodies of these animalcules, which are so minute as to escape our sight, to the end that different species of them may be preserved in existence. And this most wonderful disposition of nature with regard to these animalcules for the preservation of their species; which at the same time strikes us with astonishment, must surely convince all of the absurdity of those old opinions, that living creatures can be produced from corruption of putrefaction. (Schierbeek, p. 171){{ref|Schierbeek}}

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From Leeuwenhoek?s writings we frequently sense the awe and wonder that can only emanate from a man who has a joyful, personal relationship with God the Creator. Dan Graves, in Scientists of Faith (Kregel, 1996), writes, ?He often referred with reverence to the wonders God designed in making creatures small and great. His virtues were perseverance, simplicity, and stubbornness. He loved truth above any theory, even his own. He asked of his challengers only that they prove their points as he proved his.? Schierbeek says, ?Leeuwenhoek was driven by a passionate desire to penetrate more deeply into the mysteries of creation. To him, as to many others of his time, a watch was a greater specimen of craftsmanship than a clock in a tower; this opinion is reflected in his biological views. The microscope gave him the opportunity to study and admire the small organisms, the ?animalcules,? and whenever he was able he expressed his admiration of the beautiful things he saw.? (Schierbeek, p. 196){{ref|Schierbeek}}{{ref|Creation}}

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