Why can't we be friends?

Explore the possible coexistence of Darwin’s theories and those posed by the Biblical creation myth.  In what ways to Creationism and Evolution connect?  Disconnect?  Consider annotations we made regarding Act II, scene 1 of Inherit the Wind.  To what extent are these ideas mutually exclusive?  In other words, to believe one, must one disbelieve the other?  Explain your thinking.  

Be sure to employ good writing skills. Particularly, focus on beginning your paragraph with an effective topic sentence that overviews the argument of your paragraph.  

Remember though that this is not just a writing assignment, but also a written discussion assignment.  Read through the blog comments previous and politely dialogue with your classmates' thinking.

Mencken's Creed

To further develop your thinking from today’s class, read the excerpt below.  This excerpt is by a writer named H.L. Mencken who, among other things, reported on the Scopes Monkey Trial, the subject of Inherit the Wind.  

Read his controversial creed copied below and respond to it in a well-written paragraph.  Your response might capture your reaction to his creed and the extent to which you agree or disagree with it.  Consider also how this creed relates to the ideas about fact v. opinion we discussed in class today.

Use your response as a way to dialogue in an appropriate way with the your classmates about this topic.

Your response will receive a writing grade.  Accordingly, it should demonstrate understanding of effective paragraph writing, beginning with a topic sentence, supporting your thinking with at least 3 details, and ending with a concluding sentence.  Be sure to also proofread your work. 

I believe that religion, generally speaking, has been a curse to mankind - that its modest and

greatly overestimated services on the ethical side have been more than overcome by the damage

it has done to clear and honest thinking.

 I believe that no discovery of fact, however trivial, can be wholly useless to the race, and that

no trumpeting of falsehood, however virtuous in intent, can be anything but vicious.

 I believe that all government is evil, in that all government must necessarily make war upon

liberty...

 I believe that the evidence for immortality is no better than the evidence of witches, and

deserves no more respect.

 I believe in the complete freedom of thought and speech...

 I believe in the capacity of man to conquer his world, and to find out what it is made of, and

how it is run.

 I believe in the reality of progress.

 I - But the whole thing, after all, may be put very simply. I believe that it is better to tell the

truth than to lie. I believe that it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe that it is

better to know than be ignorant.