Creationism vs. Darwinism

"We believe in the Glory of the Word!"(62)

Creationism: the literal belief in the account of Creation given in the Book of Genesis; "creationism denies the theory of evolution of species"

VS.

"I say that there Bible-haters, these 'Evil-utionists,' are brewers of poison."(70)

Evolution: development: a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage); "the development of ...
(biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms.

Essential Question: Can a one man's right to think stand stand against an adamant creationist society molded by fear?

"The Baltimore herald is sending two representitives to "Heavenly Hillsboro": The most brilliant reporter in America today, Myself. And the most agile legal mind of the twentieth century, Henry Drummond."( 26)

The Baltimore Herald sends Henry Drummond down to Hillsboro to defend Cates and prove a point.

"Based on a real-life case in 1925, two great lawyers argue the case for and against a science teacher accused of the crime of teaching evolution."

"I'm supposed to be in jail; I'd better be in jail!" (10)

Bertram Cates is behind bars, awaiting trial for teaching his students about Darwin's theory of evolution.

Drummond:You don't supposethis kind of things is ever finished, do you? Tomorrow it'll be something else-- and another fella will have to stand up. And you've helped give him the guts to do it."(123)

There is always someone who needs to stand up against what is wrong to shed the light for everyone else to see too.

"And he's sorry. Now why can't he just stand up and say to everybody: 'I did wrong. I broke a law. I admit it. I won't do it again.' Then they'd stop the fuss and everything would be like it was."(49)

Rachel Brown is Reverend Brown's daughter and a close friend and fellow teache of Cates. Their relationship has signs of romantic tension.


Drummond: " I hold that the right to think is very much on trial! It is fearfully in danger in the proceeding of this court!"(70)

Drummond is very heated about this case because the right to think is on trial, in the sense that Cates is being convicted for being in evolution.

Reverend Brown: "in the beginning, the earth was without form, and void. And the lord said, ' Let there be light!' "(63)

voices: "Ahhhh...! "(63)

The historic case goes to a prejudiced court in Hillsboro, a very exceedingly religous funamentalist town.

"Tell them what else Mr. Cates told you in the classroom."(68)




















Billy Berknanke is a stuanch fundamentalist who comes to Hillsboro to prosecute Cates. He believes the trial is as good a won.

Howard:"Man was sort of evoluted. From the 'Old World Monkies' (69)


Bernake calls Howard, a student of Cates, to the stands to try to make evolution sound ridiculous.

"In all this talk of bugs and 'Evil-lution,' of slime and ooze, did Mr. Cates ever make any reference to God?'(69)


Bernanke is proving that Cates taught the horrible theory of "evil-ution" and is pleasing the jury and crowd by degrading evilution.



"Objection!..He is supposed to be submitting evidence to a jury. There are no ladies on the jury."

Drummond is the lawyer from Chicago sent down to defend Cates. He believes in human progress and the freedom of thought.


"I can't-"(78)

Rachel has a hard time when she is called up to the stands, answering questions that could be detrementle to Bertam Cates' case.



"Did I win or did I lose?"(123)

Drummond isn't defending Cates not just to win the trial, but more importantly to attest the immorals of a wrong law.

Judge:" The language of the law is clear; we do not need experts to question the validity of the law that is already in the books."(83)
Drummond hits a legal roadblock. In Hillsboro Creationism is the law.

Drummond: " Good! I call to the stand one of the world's foremost experts on the Bible and its teachings-- Billy Bernanke!"(84)

This is a pivitol part in the action, it is now Drummonds turn to show how ridiculous creationism looks by asking Bernanke questions relating to the Bible.

Drummond: All motion is relative. Perhaps it is you who have moved away-- by standing still." (67)

People inherit what there ancestors believed and have a hard time letting go and learning and accepting new things.

crowd: (singing)"gimme that old-time religion, It's good enough for me!" (19)

The citizens of Hillsboro only have one view on life, religion, and they are content with their religion and their views.

Drummond: "An idea is a greater moment than a cathedral. And the advance of man's knowledge is more of a miracle than any sticks turned to snakes, or the parting of waters!"(197)

Progress has never come easily and men and women have always had to fight for it against the inherited ways of their ancestors.