History

The Press Weighs In

Condensed editorials from the summer of 1925 show a nation at odds.

It is exceedingly significant, that evolutionists generally, theistic, atheistic and otherwise, allied themselves with the infidel crew engaged in the defense of the Christless Scopes. It should also be remembered that not one of the several witnesses who testified, by affidavits, or otherwise, in behalf of Scopes, believed in the inspiration of the Scriptures or the Deity of Christ. The Civil Liberties Society, a diminutive aggregation of atheistic asses, not only endorsed the Christless Scopes, but assisted in financing this crusade of atheism.

—The Baptist Monthly Magazine

At bottom, the issue is whether the separation of church and state shall be maintained. To be sure, there is no mention of this at Dayton. The fundamentalists are not saying, even among themselves, “There should be a Protestant state church in America.” No such monstrous ambitions are consciously entertained by fundamentalists, but the significance of fundamentalism lies not in what it is consciously but in what it is unconsciously. Unconsciously it puts the church above the state.

—The Nation

The appearance of Mr. Darrow on the side of the defense was an embarrassment and a misfortune. At the best, Mr. Darrow’s agnostic views completely disqualify him to represent any but the most extreme antagonists of the Bible and the Christian faith. If he had possessed any adequate knowledge of the Bible and the processes by which it is interpreted today, he could have set Mr. Bryan some real questions, rather than the stale inquiries that were the stock in trade of skeptical argument a generation ago. It was inevitable that the impression made by the conduct of the defense would be that of hostility to the Bible and the church.

—The Christian Century

Mr. Bryan and the people who support him and give him power intend that their opinions shall get into the law of the country. What he wants is that his ideas, his interpretations and beliefs, shall be made mandatory. When Mr. Darrow talks of bigotry he talks of that. Bigotry seeks to make opinion and belief mandatory. Mr. Bryan would have his habits, customs, ideas, and opinions the law of the land, and to a considerable extend he is succeeding.

—The Chicago Daily Tribune

The fact that geology can produce not one true fossil that shows one species changing into another, makes evolution a mere rope of sand, or a chain whose every other link is missing. The natural atheism of the unregenerate heart is grasping quickly at the false claims of the pseudo-scientist who propagates this bunk.

God has said, “He is Antichrist who denieth both the Father and the Son.” What the Romans [Catholics] have never done, apostate Protestants are now doing, under the leadership of Jews and Unitarians, deceived by the false claims of science.

—Moody Bible Institute Monthly

Thousands of columns of newspaper debate have been published under Dayton date lines in the past two weeks, and from it all, the cause of the religion of Jesus Christ has not been helped, but the world has been broadcast with the reeks of doubt and skepticism, and only the future can tell what the harvest will be.

—The Atlantic Constitution

Copyright © 1997 by the author or Christianity Today/Christian History magazine. Click here for reprint information on Christian History.

Our Latest

Gen Z Isn’t Asking Why Bad Things Happen to Good People

Jared Dodson

Christians have long asked how a good God can let evil happen. My students want to know when the evil will get their due.

News

Kenyan Christians Battle Domestic Violence Epidemic

Harriet Chimea

Nearly half of East African women experience abuse at home. Church leaders are working to stop it.

The Russell Moore Show

HW Brands on the Patriarch of America

What does it mean to call someone the “father” of a nation?

How God Helps Me Eat on $33 Per Week

It’s a very faith-stretching way to get by, compared to trusting in a salary and benefits.

News

Franklin Graham to Hold Evangelical Gathering in Authoritarian Belarus

Pastors of the small evangelical community are eager to unite, but religious freedom experts doubt the event will lead to greater freedoms.

Excerpt

In the Beginning Was the Word, Not the State

Robert J. Joustra

An excerpt from Christ and Covenant in Global Politics: A Christian Introduction to International Relations.

Review

The Apostle Paul Was Not an Escapist

Justin Ariel Bailey

Theologian Nijay Gupta’s new book argues that the goal of the Christian life is not to “go up.”

News

Trusting God Through a Year of Trump’s Tariffs

Short on lobbying power, Christian small business owners rely on faith to endure rising prices and supply chain threats.

addApple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseellipseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squarefolderGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintremoveRSSRSSSaveSavesaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube