Table of Contents
Introduction 9
Chronology 12
Chapter 1 Background on Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee
1 The Lives of Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee Alan Woods 17
Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee worked together to become two of the most preeminent playwrights of the twentieth century. Among their best-know plays is Inherit the wind.
2 Lawrence and Lee Talk About Playwriting Jerome Lawrence Robert E. Lee Christopher Meeks 30
As the authors of Inherit the Wind and many other great plays, and the recipients of multiple theater awards, Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee have much to say about what they call "the greatest sport in the world. "
3 Lawrence and Lee Promote the Dignity of Every Individual Mind Nena Couch 40
Lawrence and Lee's plays advocate the freedom and power of the individual mind. In practice, the playwrights put more weight on their plays' interest than their importance.
Chapter 2 Inherit the Wind and Freedom of Thought
1 Inherit the Wind Establishes Firm Support for Freedom of Thought David M. Galens Lynn M. Spampinato 52
Althougth Inherit the Wind portrays a clear divide between religion and evolution, its main purpose was to promote the ideas of freedom of thought and tolerance.
2 Inherit the Wind Found Tolerance in the Bible Belt Kay Cattarulla 59
In 1995, Inherit the Wind made its premiere in the fundamentally conservation city of Dallas Texas. Many people, including the playwrights, were surprised by the audience's positive reaction.
3 How Inherit the wind shaped History and Thought Gad Guterman 69
Inherit the wind was not intended to be an account of history, yet it has shaped history. Over time, interpretations of the play have shifted from a focus on freedom of thought to a debate on evolutionary theory.
4 Inherit the wind Distorts Reality and Possibility Carol Iannone 79
Inherit the Wind oversimplified and distorted the details of the scopes trial. What some celebrate as freedom of thought in the play is perceived by others as reverse bigotry.
5 The First Amendment and Freedom of Speech in the Scopes Trail and Inherit the Wind David Depew 90
Inherit the Wind focuses on freedom of speech, but the trial on which it was based questioned the first Amendment's establishment clause.
6 Freedom of thought should be for All phillip E. Johnson 99
Inherit the wind's caricaturizing of the evolution-creation debate allowed Darwinists to use their power of media to diminish dissent, thus shaping people's perspectives on the issue.
7 Before Inherit the wind, Scopes put the Law on Trial Steve Benen 107
Inherit the wind dramatized the events of the Scopes trial, but the 1925 trial was dramatic enough to be singled out as "the trial of the century".
8 Inherit the wind Mistakenly celebrates the End of the Antievolution Movement Edward J. Larson 113
In the immediate wake of Inherit the wind, it seemed the antievolution movement was a thing of the past, but contemporary religious sentiment recalls 1920s ideas.
9 Playwrights were Divided on the State of Freedom, in 1950s America Albert Wertheim
Intherit the Wind represented a moment in history when the country was divided over fears of communism and fears of anti-Communist witch hunts. Playwrights such as Lawrence and Lee represented the side of freedom of through for all.
10 Modern Interpretations of Inherit the Wind Mark Lawson
In the 1950s, Inherit the Wind used the events of the Scopes trial to criticize McCarthyism, and in 2007, the play brought renewed attention to religion in politics, but at the heart of each interpretation is the question of freedom.
Chapter 3 Contemporary Perspectives on Freedom of Thought
1 A Judge Finds No Place for Intelligent Design in Public School Curricula David Postman
After a judge rules against the teaching of intelligent design, advocates continue to fight for the theory's legitimacy
2 Quebec Should Not Mandate a Course in Ethics and Religious Culture Jean Morse-Chevrier
Critics of a mandatory course in ethics and religious culture call for more parental control of curricula and, consequently, their children's faith-based education.
3 Freedm of Expression in Books Comes at a Cost David L. Ulin 152
Whereas some powerful books have inspired positive historical events, others have inspired crimes against humanity. Critics of book banning ignore those negative cases.
4 the Patriot Act Allow for Unconstitutional Search and Seizure Los Angeles Times 157
Beyond the reasonable enhancements to national security, the USA patriot Act has infringed on citizens' right to privacy.
5 Scholars of Middle East Studies Are Victims of the New McCarthyism Larrry Cohler-Esses 162
American fears of terrorist sympathy have paved the way for profiling of those involved in Middle East studies.
6 Skeptics Are Denied Freedom of Expression on the Subject of Climate Change Peter Lilley 168
Critiacal voices are increasingly suppressed in climate change discourse while the unquestioned consensus rules policy making and tax dollars.
For Further Discussion 172
For Further Reading 174
Bibliography 175
Index 178
