ITHACA, N.Y. -- Charles Darwin was revered as a hero in the scientific community for much of his lifetime.

"A terrific scientist. The sheer volume of work he produced was amazing," said Dr. Frank Rhodes, Cornell University President Emeritus.

Darwin studied everything from earthworms to orchids to sexual selection and human evolution.

"He was a wonderful man. He's one of my heroes," Rhodes said.

But not everyone loved him. Darwin's work incited heated controversy. Many believed his theory of human evolution was in direct conflict with the Christian religion.

Darwin shares his birthday with Abraham Lincoln and Rhodes says the two men had much in common.

"During their lifetimes, each of them was revered by some people and detested by others, condemned by others," Rhodes said.

More than 150 years after Darwin's controversial work was first published, being religious doesn't necessarily mean rejecting his theories. Some leaders say it's all in the way you look at it.

"There are other Christians out there who are fully committed to their faith, who are as much Christians as anyone else, who are willing to go along with the concept of evolution and don't think it necessarily contradicts the Bible," said Jacksonville Methodist Church Associate Pastor Enid Zollweg.

Zollweg says Darwin's discoveries have changed the way some people think about religion.

"It challenged people to start to think about whether or not it is really possible to take a literal interpretation of the Bible and led a lot of people to move toward their more critical understanding of what was being said," Zollweg said.

A move Darwin may have been on board with.

Rhodes says Darwin himself believed that behind the ever-present scientific laws of the universe, there must be a lawgiver.

For the complete list of Darwin Days events, visit ithacadarwindays.org.