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Scopes Monkey Trial Biology Text Listed Values

Joe Carter has an excellent post on the Scopes "Monkey" Trial; the case that successfully challenged a law forbidding evolution from being taught in public schools. Among the many items discussed by Joe is the content of the biology book that was used by Scopes. This "science" text included values derived from the evolutionary belief system taught therein and included, among many, the following:

Improvement of Man. -- If the stock of domesticated animals can be improved, it is not unfair to ask if the health and vigor of the future generations of men and women on the earth might not be improved by applying to them the laws of selection. This improvement of the future race has a number of factors in which we as individuals may play a part. These are personal hygiene, selection of healthy mates, and the betterment of the environment.

Eugenics. -- When people marry there are certain things that the individual as well as the race should demand. The most important of these is freedom from germ diseases which might be handed down to the offspring. Tuberculosis, syphilis, that dread disease which cripples and kills hundreds of thousands of innocent children, epilepsy, and feeble-mindedness are handicaps which it is not only unfair but criminal to hand down to posterity. The science of being well born is called eugenics.

While most evolutionists I know would reject the values listed above the point remains that evolution is a belief system, not just a scientific theory, that has considerable moral implications.

Posted by tim at December 27, 2004 9:54 AM

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