What the Scopes Trial Meant

[Vinnie]

@RichardG

Not being from the USA I ws not familiar with this trial. It seems that what we have now is precisely what the opposers to Evolution feared whereby the teaching of Evolution goes unchecked and unopposed.
I am not suggesting that we go back to Biblical creationism, but there would seem to be no suggestion that there is any dispute to any of Evolutionary theory, or that there could be a Christian view that does not just embrace the scientific one or conversely reject it altogether.
My experience here is that any sort of argument or dissent is taken as an insult to science and scientists.

I think about it from the issue of democracy. I think evolution gets the science correct and something like flood geology is incorrect. But in a democratic society, who ultimately determines what is normative to teach in schools funded with public tax dollars? Needless to say? I’m not a fan of the government telling us what to believe, what to learn, what to read, etc.

Also, I don’t think the scopes trial is or was as important to Catholics as Protestants prone to literalism. I think its importance is often overstated. People love good story and narrative.

Vinnie