Scopes This Out!

            Around 1925, State Representative and head of The World Christian Fundamentals Association, John W. Butler, lobbied legislators to pass anti-evolution laws in their states.  Only one state, Tennessee, took the bait. The Scopes trial, financed by the American Civil Liberties Union, took John T. Scopes, a high school teacher, to trial because he had taught lessons regarding evolution to his class; a clear violation of the Butler Act.  Scopes was found guilty, but on appeal the Tennessee Supreme Court set aside the verdict because of a technicality in the case.  The case was argued in small town America, but received national attention.

            This evolution vs. religion paradox still receives much attention; it is a class assignment!  However, just reviewing the definitions of a few words would seem to put this debate to rest.

            Science – a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts; systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.

            Religion – a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe, generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.

            Evolution is based on science.  Although still a theory, using the scientific method of gathering data, formulating a hypothesis and then testing the hypothesis, scientists will continue to reveal new evidence regarding the origin of our species.  Science will continue to search for facts, never stopping.  The discovery of data and research may take hundreds of years, and the development of technical equipment we could not even image today, but the quest will never end. Teaching evolution in school is teaching students exploration, and discovery based in facts.  Give science time to find the answer.

            Religious beliefs are static answers to questions that cannot be solved in the now.  These beliefs are valid to each specific religion. The beliefs are theories, too, but the difference is that there is no quest for evidence other than faith.  Teaching creationism or other religious theory would require students to accept just one explanation, agreed upon by a number of persons or sects, as correct.  For those interested in religious beliefs regarding the origins of the species, an elective class should be offered at school or they can attend the religious services of their choice.