13.+Inherit+the+Wind+Movie+Info+and+Questions+(print)


 * __ Inherit the Wind Movie __**

This movie is based upon a true story. The event took place in a small town during the summer of 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee, USA. The courtroom trial became known as the “Monkey Trial” battle between two famous lawyers who volunteered to heatedly argue both sides of the case (over 12 days, including two weekends).

The story centers around the issue of Evolution vs. Creationism.

Mr. Cates – a 24 year-old Dayton High School mathematics teacher, sports coach, and substitute science teacher was being prosecuted for violating the state law (1925 Butler Act) for teaching Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution in a public school. At this time, this was considered to be the unthinkable - casting doubt upon the literal interpretation of the Bible in the minds of the young.

The state arrests him, and his trial became one of the first "famous” lawsuits ever. The prosecution was led by Fundamentalist and three-time presidential candidate Matthew Brady. The defense (in real life hired by the ACLU - The American Civil Liberties Union, and in the movie, by a Boston newspaper) was led by Henry Drummond a wild agnostic and verteran lawyer, nearly 70 years old.

**__ Inherit the Wind Cast __**** : ** ** Teacher: ** -Mr. Cates -Taken to court because he was teaching the Theory of Evolution (Charles Darwin’s “The Origin of the Species”) in a public school. -Seen as a “law breaker”

** Defence Lawyer: ** ** - ** Henry Drummond -Believes in evolution -Contextualist -Came to Hillsborough to defend Mr. Cates -Seen as the “devil”

** Prosecuting Lawyer: ** -Matthew Brady -Believes in creationism -Literal reader of the Bible (Fundamentalist)

** Citizens of Hillsborough, Tennessee: ** -Literalists / Fundamentalists

** Rachel: ** -Mr. Cates girlfriend

** Reverend Brown: ** -Hillsborough Reverend -Rachel’s father

**Charles Darwin:**

Charles Darwin established that all [|species] of life have descended over time from [|common ancestors]. He wrote about his [|scientific theory] of [|evolution], called __ natural selection __ in his 1859 book //[|On the Origin of Species]//. It is about how generations of organisms change over time. Among some religious communities, Darwin's theory remains controversial. The [|scientific community] and much of the general public came to accept [|evolution as a fact] but not until the 1930s - 1950s.

**__Inherit the Wind Movie Questions __**

1. Why was Mr. Cates arrested?

2. What is Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution (Origin of the Species) about?

3. What was the view of the prosecuting lawyer? (Matthew Brady)

4. What was the view of the defense lawyer? (Henry Drummond)

5. Was the court case fair? Explain by giving examples.

6. Who are the co-creators and stewards of God in this movie? Why?

7. Provide two examples of de-creation from the movie.

8. How can we stop de-creation?