190 - Do Church Leaders Support Scripture or Science? | Church History Matters I Science & Religion Series

Church History Matters

Scripture Central

Religion & Spirituality:christianity, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.9 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2026

⏱️ 84 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths explore one of the most enduring questions in the science-and-faith conversation: how should religious believers approach evolution? Using the famous Scopes “Monkey” Trial as a historical touchpoint, they unpack how the early 20th-century clash between fundamentalist and modernist perspectives shaped the broader American debate over science and the Bible. They explain what those two models mean—fundamentalism emphasizing strict, literal readings of scripture, and modernism seeking to reconcile faith with emerging scientific knowledge—and how these frameworks still influence discussions today. The hosts then bring the conversation into a Latter-day Saint context, tracing how members and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have wrestled with evolution over time. Rather than framing the issue as a simple conflict, they highlight the diversity of views within the LDS tradition and the Church’s general focus on spiritual truths over scientific declarations. The result is a thoughtful, historically grounded discussion that invites viewers to think deeply about how faith and science can interact, coexist, and even enrich one another.

Transcript

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0:00.0	There's still an institute manual that contains some statements that strongly condemn the theory of evolution.
0:06.0	This is where we get to the main course.
0:08.0	The professors teaching evolution and higher criticism of the Bible were asked to resign from the school.
0:15.0	Some people see evolution as a contradiction.
0:18.0	It sounds like there were monkeys that were put on trial.
0:21.1	That means we can end the podcast and go home.
0:23.8	Revelation leaves some very big question marks.
0:26.3	To connect mankind with monkey kind is like a blind man hunting through a haystack for a needle
0:31.9	that is not there.
0:33.3	Our position on evolution has evolved.
0:35.4	Casey, hello. Hello, Scott. How are you doing? position on evolution has evolved.
0:39.1	Casey, hello.
0:41.2	Hello, Scott. How are you doing?
0:44.6	Things are great. Just a little couple end of the year procedures.
0:49.3	Just getting some touchups. So things are good. Thanks for asking.
0:53.5	I'm glad you're okay. Your arm was in a sling last week.
0:54.4	And now you've got bandages. So I just hope that you're, you're okay. Your arm was in a sling last week. I know.
0:59.3	Now you've got bandages, so I just hope that you're doing all right.
1:01.2	Because we need you to... Everything is good.
1:02.2	We need you to guide us through this complicated subject that we're going to talk about today.
1:07.6	Well, I don't know that you need me much, but I'm very excited to dig in with you, Casey.
1:11.4	This will be fun.
	...

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