Bill > HJR0289

This resolution commemorates the centennial of the famous Scopes Trial, a landmark legal case in Dayton, Tennessee that took place in July 1925 and became a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate between faith and science. The resolution details how the Tennessee General Assembly had passed the Butler Act in 1925, which made it illegal to teach evolution in public schools, leading to the prosecution of high school science teacher John T. Scopes for allegedly teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. The trial, which featured prominent lawyers Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan, attracted global attention and became a symbolic confrontation between religious fundamentalism and scientific understanding. Although Scopes was found guilty and fined, the trial had significant long-term implications, highlighting tensions between religious beliefs and scientific education, and drawing national and international media attention to Tennessee. The resolution acknowledges that the trial's legacy continued to influence educational and cultural discussions for decades, with the Butler Act remaining in Tennessee's legal code until 1967, and recognizes the trial as a fundamental moment in understanding how society grapples with technological advancement and changing cultural perspectives on science and faith.

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HJR0289&ga=114