2.5 Scopes trial

• Levensbeschouwing
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

2.5 Scopes trial

The scopes trial

Study goals

• You will ivestigate the debates raised by the scopes trial
• You will explore some tension between religion and science

Recap

• What is the evolution theory?
• How did religious people respond?
• What was the big bang?

Schools in Tennessee

• 1925, Tennessee, law banning the evolution theory in schools. 
• Biology teacher John Scopes continued to teach evolution theory
• Arrested and got a trial

The scopes trial

• Defence lawyer: the state has no right to limited the reach of someone to learn or to teach
• Judge: evidence of scientific experts was irrelevant

Guilty?

• John Scopes was found guilty
• 100 dollar fine, lowest possible fine
• Scopes moved to Texas, became an oil man

Creation science

• Scientific evidence for a designer of the universe
• Theory of evolution has not been proved

Flying Spaghetti monster

• Evolution theory and creation story from the bible
• Henderson: why not the flying spaghetti monster?

Exercises

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
• What is your opinion on not teaching the evolution theory?
• Is it right to only teach the evolution theory? Why?
• Do you think that it is right that Scopes was found guilty?