34 pages • 1-hour read
Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion
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Essay Topics
Compare and contrast Bryan and Darrow’s points of view regarding evolution. What role did their opinions on evolution play in their political views on public education?
How did Christian scientists reconcile Darwinism with a Christian world view/traditional Christian doctrines?
What were the various theories of evolution at the time of the Scopes trial? How did they arise?
Using textual support, explain what Darrow meant when he said, “All in all, that was a summer for the gods!” (177).
What were some misconceptions about the Scopes trial, and how did they arise?
Did the Scopes trial affect legislation in other states? Has it affected current legislation about education? If so, how?
How did fundamentalism affect the Scopes trial? How does it affect policy today?
How does eugenics relate to evolution? What are some examples of how it was used to form policy and legislation? How is it different from genetic engineering?
What was the ACLU’s role in the Scopes trial? What was it hoping to accomplish?
What is the legacy of the Scopes trial?
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