Revisiting the Scopes Trial: Young-Earth Creationism, Creation Science, and the Evangelical Denial of Climate Change
In the century since the Scopes Trial, one of the most influential dogmas to shape American evangelicalism has been that of young-earth creationism. This article explains why, with its arm of “creation science,” young-earth creationism is a significant factor in evangelicals’ widespread denial of an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/133 |
| _version_ | 1797395913690316800 |
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| author | K. L. Marshall |
| author_facet | K. L. Marshall |
| author_sort | K. L. Marshall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the century since the Scopes Trial, one of the most influential dogmas to shape American evangelicalism has been that of young-earth creationism. This article explains why, with its arm of “creation science,” young-earth creationism is a significant factor in evangelicals’ widespread denial of anthropogenic climate change. Young-earth creationism has become closely intertwined with doctrines such as the Bible’s divine authority and the <i>Imago Dei</i>, as well as with social issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Addressing this aspect of the environmental crisis among evangelicals will require a re-orientation of biblical authority so as to approach social issues through a hermeneutic that is able to acknowledge the reality and imminent threat of climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:42:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-65bd6d69f4b649e7806d033ceaddd60f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:42:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-65bd6d69f4b649e7806d033ceaddd60f2023-12-11T17:43:54ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-02-0112213310.3390/rel12020133Revisiting the Scopes Trial: Young-Earth Creationism, Creation Science, and the Evangelical Denial of Climate ChangeK. L. Marshall0New College, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH1 2LX, UKIn the century since the Scopes Trial, one of the most influential dogmas to shape American evangelicalism has been that of young-earth creationism. This article explains why, with its arm of “creation science,” young-earth creationism is a significant factor in evangelicals’ widespread denial of anthropogenic climate change. Young-earth creationism has become closely intertwined with doctrines such as the Bible’s divine authority and the <i>Imago Dei</i>, as well as with social issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Addressing this aspect of the environmental crisis among evangelicals will require a re-orientation of biblical authority so as to approach social issues through a hermeneutic that is able to acknowledge the reality and imminent threat of climate change.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/133evangelicalismcreation scienceyoung-earth creationismclimate changeAnswers in Genesisbiblical literalism |
| spellingShingle | K. L. Marshall Revisiting the Scopes Trial: Young-Earth Creationism, Creation Science, and the Evangelical Denial of Climate Change Religions evangelicalism creation science young-earth creationism climate change Answers in Genesis biblical literalism |
| title | Revisiting the Scopes Trial: Young-Earth Creationism, Creation Science, and the Evangelical Denial of Climate Change |
| title_full | Revisiting the Scopes Trial: Young-Earth Creationism, Creation Science, and the Evangelical Denial of Climate Change |
| title_fullStr | Revisiting the Scopes Trial: Young-Earth Creationism, Creation Science, and the Evangelical Denial of Climate Change |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revisiting the Scopes Trial: Young-Earth Creationism, Creation Science, and the Evangelical Denial of Climate Change |
| title_short | Revisiting the Scopes Trial: Young-Earth Creationism, Creation Science, and the Evangelical Denial of Climate Change |
| title_sort | revisiting the scopes trial young earth creationism creation science and the evangelical denial of climate change |
| topic | evangelicalism creation science young-earth creationism climate change Answers in Genesis biblical literalism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/133 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT klmarshall revisitingthescopestrialyoungearthcreationismcreationscienceandtheevangelicaldenialofclimatechange |