05-25-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
May 25, 2024
On this day in 1925, John Scopes was indicted for teaching evolution in a public school. Most of us remember from history some of what occurred during the Scopes Trial and the names of the major players. A fault line between Christian fundamentalism and a more progressive approach to scripture had been intensifying for nearly fifty years. The breaking point was the Butler Act, a bill that made it illegal “to teach any theory that denies the Story of Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.” The American Civil Liberties Union was ready to challenge the law, but it needed a case, and Scopes was the man. From what I’ve read, the atmosphere in Dayton, Tennessee, was circus-like, and though the trial had brilliant orators, it was sort of anticlimactic. Scopes was found guilty and fined $100, though that was overturned later on a technicality.

I raise this, for though we have not had a Scopes-like trial in recent years, the fault line between religion and science, between a fundamentalist approach to scripture and a non-literal reading of scripture, remains. My concern is that the fault line, though decorated a little differently these days, is still very real and dangerous. I believe religion should always have a voice (recognizing how there is a rather significant diversity of religious voices) when discussing matters of science, specifically when conversing about the implications and ethics. At the same time, I want science to determine what science determines, and just because some segment of a religion is made to feel uncomfortable does not mean religion has the final vote. Yet today, we are seeing situations where religion has more than a voice but has the veto power, and in some situations, has the only vote.

For a religion based on ancient stories, symbols, poetry, metaphors, parables, humor, and even hyperbole, how it dances with science will always require some work. It is not about religion staying in its lane, but having a true appreciation for what religion and science offer—two different searches for truth, one of the mind and one of the heart. When at their best, the two can be complementary. At their worst, they can undermine the very fabric of the social order.

Gracious God, I give thanks for scientists, researchers, and those who work in the field of technology. My life has been made easier and more healthy because of their discoveries. When something new is found that sits outside what has traditionally been considered right and normal, give me the capacity to listen and learn, to ask good questions, and not judge what might be a gift from you. Amen.