Evening star., 1925-07-22
DARROW EXPOUNDS
VIEWS FOR BRYAN
Bible Not Inspired and Does
Not Believe in Miracles.
He Says.
By the Associated Press.

sy the Associated Press.
DAYTON. Tenn. July %. Forbid
den to examine Clarence Darrow on
the witness stand concerning the Chi
caso lawyers religious views, VIII
liam Jennings Bryan yesterday ad-
rninistered the examination through
he medium of a statement. Nine
questions were propounded and these
We're answered by Mi. barrow.
Mr.. Bryan'S questions were pre-
ceded by the following statement:
In accepting the invitation of the
defense 10 testify I did so on Condi-
tion that I might question the at
rornevs on the other side in the same
way.
When the court reached the con
Clusion that such testimony was in
competent and eXpunged it from the
record I was precluded from asking
the questions which I have prepared
Fhe questions. with answers, are:
Asks Belief in God.
Mr. Bryan-Do YOU believe in the
existence of God as described in the
Bible?
Mr.. Darrow-I do not know Of any
description of God in the Bible. We
are informed. in the first part of the
Bible. however. that God is a spirit.
II Mr. Bryan will describe what he
mea ms by God. | probably could tell
better whether or not | believe in
his God. Mr. Bryan said. in effect.
that God is like a man and is ash
foned in the image Of man. do not
believe in this kind of God. As TO
origin Of the universe and who or
what is back of it. do not pretend
to know.
Mr.. Bryan Do YOU believe that the
Bible IS the revealed viii Of God. in
Spired and worthy?
Mr.. Darrow-I think that there is
much that is of value in the Bible.
I do not believe II was written or in.
spired by God. | believe it should be
taken like every other kind of book,
and that the portions that are sublime
are like such portions of any great
hook-as much inspired as. say, I'm
His lima ge"
Mr. Bryan DO YOU believe in the
supernatural Christ, foretold in the
Old Testament and revealed in the
New Testament?
Mr.. Darrow--T do NOT believe that
anv supernatural Christ was foretold
in the Old TestamC Mt or revealed in
the New Testament. ] believe that
the Christ propheSied in the Old Tes-
lament was a great Jew who should
deliver his people from their physical
bondage and nothing else.
Questioned on Miracles.
Mr.. Bryan-Do YOU believe in the
miracles recorded in the Old and New
Testaments? II you believe in some
but not all Of them. please name a
few of those which you accept and
those you reject. with the reasons for
the same. Do you believe that Christ
was conceived Of the Holy Ghost and
born Of the Virgin Mary. as recorded
In Matthew and Luke? Do you believe
that Christ rose from the dead as
described in the four Gospels?
Mr.. Darrow i do not believe in
miracles. | believe the universe acts
end has always acted in accorda nee
with an immutable law. and that
whatever may he back OF the universe
has never violated these laws.
Mr.. Bryan-Do you believe in the
Immortality Of the soul?
Mr.. Darrow-I have been searching
for proof of this all my life. with the
same desire TO find it that is incident
to every living thing. and I have
never found any evidence on the sub
jeCt
Mr. Bryan-If you believe in evolu-
tion, at what point in mans descent
from the brute is he endowed with
hope and promise Of life beyond the
grave?
Mr.. Darrow-I have no know wIedge
IN the question of when man first be
lIeved in life beyond the grave. ] am
not at all sure whether many other
animals have not the same hope of a
future life that man has. The origin
NJ this belief may have arisen in
vivid dreams concerning the return of
the dead. or. for all ] know. from ac-
tual evidence of the return of the
dead.
Il have never tried to impose my
views on religion on any human be
ing" said Mr.. Darrow, as he finished
his answers. Il have 4 right TO my
own views, and | try as hard to pro
tect the right Of every other man to
his views as | do 10 protect my own. =