Trial and Error - The American Controversy over Creation and Evolution
Edward J. Larson
Oxford University Press 1989
pp. 243

This is a history of the legal debate over the teaching of evolution and
creation in the United States.  It begins with the introduction of
evolutionary ideas into botany and zoology textbooks towards the end of
the 19th Century (there were no complaints about this for thirty years).
It then discusses the rise of fundamentalism and the beginnings of
opposition to the teaching of evolution, culminating in the passing of
anti-evolution laws in several states and the drama of the Scopes trial
in the 20s.  The final chapters deal with the successful overturning of
all anti-evolution statutes in the 60s and 70s and the final rejection
by the Supreme court of attempts to get "creation science" equal time in
schools.

I learned a lot from from this book about the separation of church and
state in the US, and about the parts of the American constitution that
mandate it.  My feelings about this, like so many other similar aspects
of American modern history, are best summed up with: Thank God for the
ACLU, without whom most of the constitution would probably be ignored by
the bigots who find it inconvenient.  

9/1/92