Inherit the WindInherit the Wind

Background InformationBackground Information

Christian Creation StoryChristian Creation Story God created earthGod created earth Day 1 – day & nightDay 1 – day & night Day 2 – skyDay 2 – sky Day 3 – division of Day 3 – division of

land & water; plantsland & water; plants Day 4 – sun, moon & Day 4 – sun, moon &

starsstars Day 5 – sea & sky Day 5 – sea & sky

creaturescreatures Day 6 – animals & Day 6 – animals &

humans made in humans made in God’s imageGod’s image

Day 7 – day of restDay 7 – day of rest

Darwin & Natural SelectionDarwin & Natural Selection English naturalist created English naturalist created

concept of natural selectionconcept of natural selection 1831 trip to Galapagos 1831 trip to Galapagos

islands to study animal islands to study animal adaptationadaptation

1859 published Origin of 1859 published Origin of SpeciesSpecies

Darwin continued to writeDarwin continued to write The Christian church became The Christian church became

defensivedefensive Darwin never wrote about Darwin never wrote about

Human Evolution – just Human Evolution – just natural selection in speciesnatural selection in species

He maintained connections He maintained connections to Christianity throughout his to Christianity throughout his life despite his scientific life despite his scientific pursuitspursuits

Died in 1882; buried at Died in 1882; buried at Westminster Abbey in Westminster Abbey in LondonLondon

Tennessee Evolution StatutesTennessee Evolution Statutes Bill #185Bill #185 March 21, 1925March 21, 1925 “…“…it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of

the Universities, Normals and all other public the Universities, Normals and all other public schools of the State… to teach any theory that schools of the State… to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.”has descended from a lower order of animals.”

“… “… any teacher found guilty of the violation of any teacher found guilty of the violation of this Act, Shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and this Act, Shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be fined not less than One upon conviction, shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars nor more than Five Hundred Hundred Dollars nor more than Five Hundred Dollars for each offense.”Dollars for each offense.”

Scopes and the “Monkey Trial”Scopes and the “Monkey Trial” 1925 Tennessee and 1925 Tennessee and

20 states made it a 20 states made it a crime to teach crime to teach anything other than anything other than Biblical creationBiblical creation

American Civil Liberties American Civil Liberties Union advertised for a Union advertised for a teacher to challenge teacher to challenge the lawthe law

John T Scopes was a John T Scopes was a high school math high school math teacher filling in as a teacher filling in as a biology teacher in biology teacher in Tennessee for 2 weeksTennessee for 2 weeks

The TrialThe Trial

Dayton TennesseeDayton Tennessee July 21-25 1925July 21-25 1925 Defense Attorney – Defense Attorney –

Clarence Darrow Clarence Darrow (successful lawyer; (successful lawyer; volunteered for the volunteered for the case)case)

Prosecutor – William Prosecutor – William Jennings Bryan Jennings Bryan (evangelist, (evangelist, presidential presidential candidate)candidate)

The OutcomeThe Outcome Scopes was found Scopes was found

guilty guilty Paid $100 finePaid $100 fine Bryan offered to pay Bryan offered to pay

Scopes fineScopes fine No anger in the townNo anger in the town Scopes received a Scopes received a

teaching contract for teaching contract for the next yearthe next year

No one else was tried No one else was tried under the lawunder the law

Repealed in 1967Repealed in 1967

IssuesIssues

Rights of the majority to control Rights of the majority to control teaching vs. academic freedomteaching vs. academic freedom

Evolution vs. CreationEvolution vs. Creation Tradition vs. New IdeasTradition vs. New Ideas Populism vs. ElitismPopulism vs. Elitism Regionalism vs. NationalismRegionalism vs. Nationalism Urban vs. RuralUrban vs. Rural

Modern ImplicationsModern Implications 1987 – American law prohibits the teaching of religious 1987 – American law prohibits the teaching of religious

material in science classroomsmaterial in science classrooms August 1999 – Kansas Board of Education eliminated evolution August 1999 – Kansas Board of Education eliminated evolution

and the big bang theory from the science standardized tests and the big bang theory from the science standardized tests (effectively banning it from class)(effectively banning it from class)

2000 – Kansas decision was reversed2000 – Kansas decision was reversed 2005 – Dover, Pennsylvania required teachers to read a 2005 – Dover, Pennsylvania required teachers to read a

statement about intelligent design before teaching about statement about intelligent design before teaching about evolution evolution

Nov. 2005 – Kansas Board requires science classrooms to Nov. 2005 – Kansas Board requires science classrooms to teach alternative theories to Darwinian evolutionteach alternative theories to Darwinian evolution

Feb 2007 – Kansas reverses decision and does not teach Feb 2007 – Kansas reverses decision and does not teach challenges to evolution in science classrooms.challenges to evolution in science classrooms.

2008 – “academic freedom” bills promoting alternatives to 2008 – “academic freedom” bills promoting alternatives to evolution attempted in 7 states and passed briefly in Louisianaevolution attempted in 7 states and passed briefly in Louisiana

Sept. 2010 – Texas Governor Rick Perry says creationism and Sept. 2010 – Texas Governor Rick Perry says creationism and evolution should both be taught in schools evolution should both be taught in schools

April 2012 – Tennessee Bill 368 encourages discussion and April 2012 – Tennessee Bill 368 encourages discussion and alternatives to scientific controversies such as evolution in the alternatives to scientific controversies such as evolution in the classroomclassroom