What did people at the time think of Darwin's beliefs?

At the time of Charles Darwin's publication of "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, his theories on evolution and natural selection sparked significant controversy. Many in the scientific community were intrigued, but his ideas challenged established religious and societal beliefs about creation, leading to a mix of fascination and backlash. Some embraced his theories, viewing them as revolutionary, while others vehemently opposed them, perceiving them as a threat to traditional views of humanity's place in the world. Overall, Darwin's beliefs prompted intense debate and laid the groundwork for modern evolutionary Biology.