They made a monkey out of me

Give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion…

…it’s good enough for me!

So goes the lines of the hymn that opens the famous 1960 movie, Inherit the Wind.

The film follows a controversy in the fictional town of Hillsboro, Tennessee where a high school science teacher is put on trial for teaching evolution.

This courtroom drama was inspired by a real event from 1925 — colloquially known as “The Scopes Monkey Trial.”

Men & Monkeys

Like the film it inspired, the Scopes trial, as the story goes, occurred when high school teacher John Scopes was caught teaching evolution in the conservative town of Dayton, Tennessee. 

This did not go over well with the overwhelming Christian majority of Dayton, so, naturally, they came for Mr. Scopes.

In the end, it seems that ignorance prevailed as Scopes was found guilty and made an example of for any who dare teach evolution again.

The trial has since gone down as a popular textbook moment in which scientific advancement was halted by backward religion.

Except that’s not what happened at all.

Science vs Religion?

The real Scopes trial isn’t as black and white as the popular imagination would have us believe.

For starters, the entire thing was a setup - a publicity stunt to attract attention to Dayton (with the support of Christians and non-Christians alike).

Furthermore, Scopes himself wasn’t even a scientist. He was a substitute teacher and the school’s football coach (and, ironically, converted to Catholicism later in life).

And if that isn’t enough, Scopes wasn’t even sure if he taught evolution in the first place.

The trial simply needed a defendant, and he stepped up.

The Scopes trial is a great example of a larger issue within the popular consciousness - the supposed war between science and religion. 

Either…

Science is the path to enlightenment, and religion the way of ignorance.

Or…

Religion is the way of morals and ethics, while science is a pack of lies and elitism. 

This sort of thinking is not only unrealistic but woefully unhelpful. 

​So, this week on Theophilus, we’re going to explore the supposed conflict of science and religion in hopes of adopting a more grounded and nuanced view of the matter.

And though it won’t always be clear cut - this much is for certain:

^{The “Old Time Religion Scene” from Inherit the Wind IS an absolute banger.}

See you tomorrow.

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

Theophilus Newsletter