Looking Back to Summer 2025

This summer marks a one-year anniversary for trips I made south to Tennessee. One in July to Dayton and one in August to Nashville. I have fond memories of both visits.

July 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of the trial of John Scopes in Dayton. This event is also known as the Monkey Trial. I was fortunate to have a book table in the very courthouse where in July 1925 Scopes was on trial for breaking a state law regarding the teaching of Darwin’s ideas about evolution. I was downstairs with copies of my book while upstairs the trial was reenacted using court transcripts one hundred years old. The folks in Dayton know how to do this. I want to publicly thank those who sponsored the commemoration of this important trial, and for their kindness and help to me. My brief time there was the first time I had an opportunity to sell my book. I did not sell very many, and one gentleman bought a copy because I was wearing a white linen suit! I have made three blog posts about what happened in Dayton in 1925 because, even though the anniversary did not receive the attention I believe it should have, I wanted to bring that trial to my readers’ attention.

I journeyed to Tennessee again in August and had a book table at the convention of the Tennessee Apologetics. My small set-up was nothing like the book tables for the other companies there, but I sold out and that was very gratifying, especially since it WAS my first time to the rodeo. (I also met Zach Wright of Kosmos Coffee Company. It was a delight to connect with Zach. All you folks in the Nashville area, this is the place to get your coffee fix!) I want to thank again Aaron Yost and Tim Tant for making me welcome at their event and helping to promote The Naked Darwin.

My first blog post about the Scopes trial will soon be posted on social media, the other two will follow. This July will mark 101 years since Bryan and Darrow squared off and one of the chapters of The Naked Darwin helps people understand that event in light of the impact of the play Inherit the Wind.

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer. Enjoy, summer goes so fast.