William Jenning Bryant
March 19, 1860 - July 26, 1925
“Science is a magnificent force, but it is not a teacher of morals. It can perfect machinery, but it adds no moral restraints to protect society from the misuse of the machine. It can also build gigantic intellectual ships, but it constructs no moral rudders for the control of storm-tossed human vessel. It not only fails to supply the spiritual element needed but some of its unproven hypotheses rob the ship of its compass and thus endanger its cargo….If civilization is to be saved from the wreckage threatened by intelligence not consecrated by love, it must be saved by the moral code of the meek and lowly Nazarene. His teachings, and His teachings alone, can solve the problems that vex the heart and perplex the world.”
-[Source] William Jenning Bryant
One of the biggest clashes of worldviews in American history happened during the Scopes Monkey Trial. This famous trial was a battle between two ideas: a world shaped by science alone and one shaped by the Bible. Bryan, a lawyer and Christian, took the witness stand to defend the Biblical worldview. However, he was forced into an unfamiliar role and struggled to answer some questions. His mistakes were used by the defense to make it seem like Christianity was outdated and unscientific.
Although Bryan technically won the trial, the impact of the event changed public education forever. Today, the Bible and its teachings are not found in public schools. Subjects like anthropology, sociology, politics, science, ethics, morality, and justice are taught without any connection to Christian principles. But this does not mean public education is neutral—it actively promotes agnosticism and atheism. It shapes students into believers in scientism, the idea that science alone can explain everything. This belief system has given us things like social media addiction, lab-created viruses, nuclear weapons, computers, and pornography.
As a result, children grow into adults who have no solid understanding of human nature. Our society is breaking apart. Blind faith in science has removed moral values, and justice has become meaningless in a world where power rules over what is right.
Even though William Jennings Bryan is no longer alive, his warning still speaks to us today. He saw long ago what a world ruled by scientism would look like. He reminds us not only of the dangers of this worldview but also of the lasting truth and importance of the Biblical worldview.
