Final answer:
Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection faced early skepticism, particularly from those with religious convictions, but he overcame these by presenting substantial empirical evidence. His theory, influenced by scientists like Lamarck, Lyell, and Malthus, eventually gained widespread acceptance among biologists, despite conflicts with prevailing religious views.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Charles Darwin first introduced his theory of evolution by natural selection, he faced significant challenges due to skepticism among some researchers and the existence of other ideas about evolution. Darwin's theory, which proposed that species change over time through a natural selection process, ran counter to the prevailing belief of a static world as asserted by many religious doctrines.
Not only did this theory suggest that species could go extinct, which contrasted with the concept of species’ permanence, but it also implied an ancient Earth far older than the 6,000 years suggested by certain interpretations of biblical chronology.
Despite these challenges, Darwin's meticulous accumulation of evidence over 20 years of research, along with the influence of the scientific ideas of Lamarck, Lyell, and Malthus, convinced the majority of the scientific community about the plausibility of evolution resulting from a natural mechanism rather than divine creation.
Within two decades following the publication of "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, almost every working biologist had come to accept evolution as the best explanation for the diversity of life on Earth, although some religious leaders continued to oppose the theory due to its conflict with their beliefs.