Inherit the Wind: The Ongoing Clash Between Art & Religion

LEFT LION
By Ashley Carter

Michigan production of Inherit the Wind in 2010. Courtesy Michigan Live

MINNESOTA---Inherit the Wind is adapted from the play of the same name. It portrays the events of the 1925 Scopes ‘Monkey’ Trial in which a teacher stood trial for violating a state law with his introduction of Evolution to his class’s syllabus. Barely two months ago, in St. Paul, Minnesota, The New Ulm Actors Community Theatre cancelled their production of Inherit the Wind following strong lobbying from local evangelicals. Chief amongst this religious objection to the arts is the Catholic Church’s obsession with boycotting anything they find offensive, no matter how tedious the link is to their faith.  The Golden Compass, Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code and The Passion of the Christ have all fallen foul of their organised boycotts, with even Roger Ebert claiming that their efforts impacted box office results. What remains most discouraging, however, is the lack of vocal condemnation of these attacks. [link]