Jerry Summers
The second acknowledged authority on a topic that was addressed in court for 12 days (July 10-21) in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee is author, Nicholas Spencer, from London, England.
Spencer is a Senior Fellow at Theos (a Christian think tank in the United Kingdom) who “untangles the many entangled currents at the intersection of science and religion.”
His latest publication that addresses his literary efforts described above is “Magesteria” (2023- Simon and Schuster) which was recognized by the Economist publication as one of the “Best Books of 2023.”
Prior accomplishments include the book “Darwin and God; The Evolution of the West and Athiests” a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) series on the same two topics involved in the Scopes trial in 1925.
On July 16, 2025 starting at 9:00 am in the historical Rhea County Courthouse (now air conditioned) Spencer will make a presentation on “Science, Religion and How We Got There,” at a symposium on the historic trial.
“Magesteria” is a 467 page book based on the eternal discussion pertaining to the two topics debated in Scopes between the competing sides involving three time presidential loser William Jennings Bryan, for the prosecution, and Clarence Darrow famous criminal defense counsel and agnostic.
The title of the aforementioned treatise that includes the word “entangled” is described by one reviewer “as an academic treatment of a vast array of issues at the interface of science and religion, written in a remarkably accessible manner.”
(Although the topics are timeless Spencer’s reputation and ability to break down the dialogue into understandable language provides further professional insight into the never ending debates!)
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