Scopes and Evolution Lost the Monkey Trial, But Modernity Won

Scopes Trial

Thank you for publishing this article and bringing this to the notice of all. Scopes Trial, largely forgotten today by many, is a magnificient chapter in the history of Democracy and Freedom, that should be model to all, irrespective of the final judgement.

CHESTERTON DEBATES DARROW....

Was an interesting debate - before a live audience. The debate was about God... Darrow clearly lost - the audience polled about 70% Chesterton. The transcripts also show the duel between two brilliant minds - but only one logical one. Logic versus humanistic, bombastic cynicism.

Read, "Chesterton - The Apostle of Common Sense" It might re-introduce logical thinking to a society of secular, progressive Obamatrons. Though I doubt it - the educational system has just about destroyed the process.

Science and God - No Problem

The fact that there is evolution has absolutely no bearing on the existence of God. Evolution and adaptation would be needed in any perfect, non-static design - In other words, it’s simply a necessary part of the perfection.

It is also incorrect to suppose that the Bible should be taught as science or history. There is truth and wisdom there, but the effect of “Sola Scriptura” as the only avenue by which to approach God or creation is to limit our understanding - the Bible is a great book, it is not the only book. I note here that nowhere in Christ’s teachings did he mention the need to write a New Testament or Bible. However, he did say to “listen” to His Church - this digression is worth exploring in depth- at another time .

Furthermore, to suppose that science has, or will ever have, all the answers is as weak a position as, “Because the Bible tells me so.”

Science will never be able to answer the simple question, “Why is there something rather than nothing?’ You must have either “eternal, preexisting” time, matter, energy, laws of physics, thermodynamics, gravity and one heck of a lot of “coincidence” ( on the order of many billions to one) - or a creator outside of time. There is no third choice.

A valid scientific approach would consider the possibility of design as well as trick of chance. An open mind would consider the dimension of time, space and matter as a creation - instead of merely assuming it always existed - a physical universe without beginning or end is no less far fetched than a spiritual one.

Now, to you atheists and agnostics (nihilist lite) who believe that Christianity is akin to insanity, I'd like to point out that your belief system is merely the opposite pole... Instead of Creation, you believe in the Big Bang - which in fact, is meaningless, and is nothing more than Genesis with fireworks. Instead of design you rely upon fortunate coincidence and happenstance. Instead of accepting that there is Absolute Truth, Perfect Morality and Eternal Justice you worship the idea of impenetrable skepticism, obstinate relativism and absolute moral subjectivity - all of which make the basics of human existence , right and wrong - good and evil - love and hate, not only unknowable but irrelevant... A belief system leading to an ephemeral and shifting landscape without bounds or parameters. A meaningless nihilistic world, without purpose or reason - a dimension easy to get lost in.

In closing I’d like to note that God has nothing to fear from an open mind - nor should science.

No Creation = no tithes .

Religion was invented to establish the money-making institution of the TEN PER CENT TITHE. There emerged the PAID PREACHER class. They needed places from which to "sell faith"-- so "houses or worship" were built. So many jobs were created, that there never again was a chance to obliterate religion. When tithers failed to pay their ten percent of lifetime income, churches demanded income tax and real estate tax exemption. They also get tax-paid vouchers. Some get sales tax relief. Far from being good examples, tax-exempt churches are unpatriotic and amoral. When three GOP candidates said they don't believe in evolution, their bodies were evolving antibodies against germs and viruses. It was charming to read again Bryan's priceless statement "I do not think about things I don't think about." I wrote to a preacher and asked "On the Ark, what did carnivores eat?" He said "Straw." It didn't occur to him they'd have eaten all the meat, including Noah and his family. Genesis says Creation is less than 9000 years old. It takes millions of years for asphalt to form, but Genesis says the Ark was caulked with tar.

EVOLUTION - THE MEANINGLESS DEBATE

Evolution, would of necessity, be an integral part of a dynamic, created Universe.