Freedom of Religion: "Principle that supports an individual or community to have the right to believe in any religion (or none at all) and to manifest in its teaching, practice or worship without limitation or interference"
Freedom of Religion in Inherit the Wind
The town of Hillsboro is occupied by a community who've been brought up by the teachings of Christianity. This overall impacts the behavior and attitude of the people within this town. They are nurtured under the influence of their religion which also had made them intolerable for those of a different faith, leading to unjust treatment.
The whole play revolves around the conflict between Exodus' story of creationism versus Dawrin's Theory of Evolution. The confinement of the town and seldom lifestyle of the people inhibited them from being exposed to new ideas or and any contrary beliefs.
Though it is okay for different people to have various beliefs and religions, the ability to have the right for religion should prohibit tensions between people who are trying to prove which ideas are right and wrong. The interference of believing in these opposing ideas removes this freedom of the right to believe.
These are various examples of how the issue of freedom of religion ties within the play Inherit the Wind:
“I was a school teacher. I feel I am… I have been convicted of violating an unjust law. I will continue in the future, as I have in the past, to oppose this law in any way I can” – Cates ( page 115).
- Cates loses his job for violating Public Act Volume 37, Statue Number 31428, which prohibits the teaching of Darwinism. This ties to freedom of religion because though the townspeople know of Cates’ religious background, law still interferes with one’s own right to teach a certain concept which in effect Cates loses his job for it. This issue portrays that any agnostic teachings (even though Cates was only reading it to his class rather than really teaching it) would lead to consequences since it goes against the Christian fundamentalist’s idea of creationism.
“The workmen hoist the banner above the heads of the crowd, where it hangs for the reminder of the action. The banner blares: ' READ YOUR BIBLE'” (page 13).
Later on when it asked if the banner should be taken down, a workman replies with, “The Devil don’t run this town. Leave it up” (page 59).
The banner exemplifies the community’s faith of being Christian and supports the fundamentalists as for the bible should be taken literally. To be a part of the town and to be socially accepted in the community, one must be in the same religion with the majority group. “The Devil don’t run this town. Leave it up,” portrays the people’s view that, again, the town is ran by Christians and not by any other faith; those of other faith are dehumanized and are not tolerated.
Later on when it asked if the banner should be taken down, a workman replies with, “The Devil don’t run this town. Leave it up” (page 59).
The banner exemplifies the community’s faith of being Christian and supports the fundamentalists as for the bible should be taken literally. To be a part of the town and to be socially accepted in the community, one must be in the same religion with the majority group. “The Devil don’t run this town. Leave it up,” portrays the people’s view that, again, the town is ran by Christians and not by any other faith; those of other faith are dehumanized and are not tolerated.
“Henry Drummond, the agnostic?” - Brown (page 27)
“A vicious, godless man!” - Brown (page 27)
“Henry Drummond is an agent of darkness. We don’t let him into town!” - Brown (page 27)
“It’s the Devil!” – Melinda (page 36)
“Hello, Devil. Welcome to Hell.” – Hornbeck (page 36)
“A vicious, godless man!” - Brown (page 27)
“Henry Drummond is an agent of darkness. We don’t let him into town!” - Brown (page 27)
“It’s the Devil!” – Melinda (page 36)
“Hello, Devil. Welcome to Hell.” – Hornbeck (page 36)
- When the townspeople hear of Henry Drummonds arrival it was not wanted from the community to not let him into town until they found out that he was an agnostic. Proven by the words of Reverend Brown, Drummond is dehumanized and shunned because of the ways he views religion. Because it is interfered with the people from the town, this shows another example of the struggle for freedom of religion.
- Those who have different views and have different beliefs should not have to undergo prejudice along with rejection and isolation from any group of people on behalf of their religion.
“Howard Blair, that’s sinful talk! I’m gonna tell my pa and he’ll make you wash your mouth with soap!”- Melinda (pg 4)
- Melinda says this after Howard puns about everyone being all worms once (introducing the idea of evolution). The children of Hillsboro being so brought up by the faith of their parents, they are taught to believe that believing in contrary ideas are 'sins'.
- "He'll make you wash your mouth with soap!" - A kid hearing things like these would prevent him/her from thinking of any ideas outside what was brought up to them. This example portrays the consequences one would give for stepping out the boundaries and having the right of free thought to believe and to say what he/she wishes to.
"Ask him if his Holy Faith in the scriptures has been shattered" - Brady to Howard (page 73)
- The concept of free will and freedom of religion is omitted by this quote; one should be able to convert or have the right to freely believe in whatever they want, also with the choice of changing their religion without the interference of someone telling them that it's wrong or morally bad. (Relates to the religious conversion law).