IT WAS AT THE START OF THE LAST CENTURY
The so-called “Monkey Trial” were formally known as The State of Tennessee vs. Scopes and informally known as the Scopes Monkey Trial—was an American legal case in 1925 in which high school biology teacher John Scopes was accused of violating the state's Butler Act which made it unlawful to teach evolution.[1]
Scopes was found guilty, but the verdict was overturned on a technicality and he was never punished. The trial drew intense national publicity, as national reporters flocked to the small town of Dayton, to cover the big-name lawyers representing each side. William Jennings Bryan, three time presidential candidate for the Democrats argued for the prosecution, while Clarence Darrow, the famed defense attorney, spoke for Scopes. The trial saw modernists, who said religion was consistent with evolution, against Fundamentalists who said the Word of God as revealed in the Bible trumped all human knowledge. The trial was thus both a religious or theological contest, and a trial on the veracity of modern science regarding the creation-evolution controversy. The teaching of science and evolution expanded, as Fundamentalist efforts to use state laws to reverse the trend had failed in the court of public opinion.
William Jennings Bryan (seated at left) being interrogated by Clarence Seward Darrow, during the trial of State of Tennessee vs. John Thomas Scopes, July 20, 1925
Scopes VS Tennessee has prevailed in setting the pace in the criteria that Fundamentalism is out of touch with scientific reality and it should not be held by our SECULAR government as one of the principal or even minor points of view when considering policy or legislation…Why not be honest here and say that the Fundamentalists lost and the Seculars won.
But lately we have seen a resurgence of this insanity once again raise its head and have even gained grounds. In the mighty state of Texas they have succeeded in assigning textbooks that reflect this point of view and dismisses science as something undesirable. The Fundamentalists consistently have been trying to change laws and enact new ones that favor their warped ideology. They didn’t get the message of that Monkey Trial and they are relentless in their pursuit.
But if they are insistent, so are we. I can’t foresee a future filled with ignorance and superstition and 
neither does the majority of Americans.
As I have said before, you can’t ignore the evidence of paleontology, geology, genetics and even history to embrace a totally faulty and stupid concept. You may choose to wallow in a mud puddle of ignorance and superstition but you can’t legally pull me down there with you.
SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scopes_Trial
PHOTO SOURCE: http://www.documentaryfilms.net/Reviews/MonkeyTrial/MonkeyTrial.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment