[jec41]

The first concept accepted by the church for on going change was Aristotelian thought in the early middle ages. Many for a hundred years before Darwin were of the opinion of evolution. Most naturalists believed in ongoing change. Wallace and Darwin were in competition to explain ongoing change. It was not a concept that just popped up out of thin air. Darwin was just the first to do the necessary work to provide evidence and explanation. It was a life time of work. He published works and notes of his progress over many years.

[Sun]

I do know that a lot of good people believe in evolution. However, I don't, because there simply is no proof, only guesses.