How we cite our quotes: (Act, Scene, Line)
Quote #1
HOWARD. […] When the whole world was covered with water, there was nuthin' but worms and blobs of jelly. And you and your whole family was worms! […]
MELINDA. Howard Blair, that's sinful talk! I'm gonna tell my pa and he'll make you wash your mouth out with soap!
HOWARD. Ahhh, your old man's a monkey! (I, I, 40-47)
This argument between Melinda and Howard shows how evolution has been misconstrued by many. Maybe they shouldn't be so mad at Bert for teaching evolution, because at least he could set kids like these straight.
Quote #2
HAWKER. Hot dog?
ELIJAH. Bible?
(HORNBECK up-ends his suitcase and sits on it.)
HORNBECK. Now that poses a pretty problem!
Which is hungrier—my stomach or my soul?
(HORNBECK buys a hot dog.)
ELIJAH (Miffed) Are you an Evolutionist? An infidel? A sinner? (I, I, 281-89)
Hornbeck's joke points out the way that religion can sometimes seem to be sold or pushed onto people like a petty product—like hot dogs in the park.
Quote #3
BRADY. […] What a challenge it is, to fit on the old armor again! To test the steel of our Truth against the blasphemies of Science! To stand— (I, I, 507-09)
Here Science and Religion are like two professional wrestlers… and they are not on the same tag team. When Brady uses rhetoric like this, he intends for Truth and Science to sound completely incompatible. If that were true, then Bert's actions must've been wrong.