How would the creationism - evolution arguing have been different if World War I had never happened ? That ’s the premise for a series of intriguingshort articlesposted at the website of the National Center for Science Education .
The NCSE — inspired by the centennial of the outbreak of World War I in 1914 — hasinvited several guest scholars to ponder this question of alternate account . George E. Webb , Professor of History at Tennessee Tech University and the author of The Evolution Controversy in America , looks at the lifeof William Jennings Bryan , who , by the clock time of the Scopes Trial in 1925 , had become the public face of the anti - evolution movement :
Bryan was greatly influenced by the revelation that many German officials had embrace “ Darwinism ” ( as Bryan comprehend it ) as the introduction for the militarism that had led to the Great War . He had read Vernon L. Kellogg ’s Headquarters Nights and Benjamin Kidd ’s The Science of Power , but had obviously missed the authors ’ observation that these German drawing card had misinterpreted Darwin ’s body of work and had strangely fuse “ Darwinism ” with the melodic theme of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche . Bryan presently began writing essays and generate speeches with such title as “ The Menace of Darwinism ” which pick up the public ’s attention and key out him as the leader of the crusade .
Webb also argues that , prior to Bryan ’s activism , evolution was not a major concern among the Evangelical / fundamentalistic community in the United States . They were much more focussed on issues such as missional activity , evangelism and historical criticism of the Bible , which was perceive as an attack on traditional faith .
However , Webb argues :
Because German militarism and its supposed connexion with Darwinism remain central in Bryan ’s arguments until his death shortly after the Scopes run , World War I clearly was necessary for this of the essence element of the anti - evolution movement … More potential , absent the war , Fundamentalists would have stay only marginally interested in the place of Darwinism in public instruction , favour instead to go on their focus on issues more flat concern to their theological perspective .
EvolutionScience
Daily Newsletter
Get the best technical school , science , and acculturation intelligence in your inbox day by day .
news program from the future , drive home to your present .
You May Also Like
