The State of Tennessee vs. John Scopes in 1925 was about whether or not evolution could be taught in public schools. This “theory” – which some people think is an idea or hunch or fantasy (it isn’t), developed by Darwin (natural selection) and Lamarck (inheritance of acquired characteristics), simply says that species change over time. The tall giraffes have access to fruit that the short giraffes do not; if the short giraffes can’t get enough to eat, they starve and die out and don’t reproduce. It’s more complicated than that, of course, but we only have 3 minutes here. Anti-evolution thinking grew out of early 20th century Christian Fundamentalism as a backlash against what was perceived as an attack on the Bible. It wasn’t, but in the same way that Galileo and Copernicus were attacked by the church, so were the originators of evolutionary science. 100 years later, 25% of Americans do not believe in evolution, while, in comparison, 40% believe the earth is 10,000 years old or younger. So much for education.
In the same way that science should evolve, so should democracy and religion. This country officially declared war against England on the 4th of July, 1776, but if that had been the final step, we would be in a boatload of trouble. Juneteenth is celebrated as a reminder that not everyone was free at the beginning; in fact, the amendments to the Constitution are about righting what wasn’t completed in our foundational documents. Religion should evolve as well; can you imagine actually believing that the world was created in 6 days (Genesis 1) or 1 day (Genesis 2)? Or that every land animal fit in an ark? And while there are some believers who do, most of us understand the nature of metaphor and the limitations of our human understanding of God. We have to evolve and be able to reach higher for greater knowledge and deeper for spirituality, or like the short giraffe, we won’t make it.
So, tomorrow, give thanks for the birth of this nation, but give thanks that we are always working, as the preamble of the Constitution says, towards a more perfect union. Be thankful, when you go to worship in your faith community, that we are evolving to right the wrongs of history. And continue to stand up for what is right and good – like Superman always told people, we are here to fight for truth, justice, and the American way. Because democracy is tenuous and must be protected from enemies, both domestic and foreign.
Prayer – Holy God, help us to follow the path of growth and understanding and civil rights, for that is Your path as well. Amen.
Today’s art is by an artist named Pssyppl who is involved in Thailand’s pro-democracy movement.