“William Jennings Bryan was a fundamentalist Christian who used Christian imagery in his political campaigns on a regular basis. He got a bad rap from his sorry defense of the Young Universe in the Scopes trial”
Bryan didn’t actually defend the “Young Universe” he maintained that beginning of Genesis was not literal 24 hour days. Here is the exchange: (The “Q” is Darrow and the “A” is Bryan).
Q–Would you say that the earth was only 4,000 years old?
A–Oh, no; I think it is much older than that.
Q–How much?
A–I couldn’t say.
Q–Do you say whether the Bible itself says it is older than that?
A–I don’t think it is older or not.
Q–Do you think the earth was made in six days?
A–Not six days of twenty-four hours.
Q–Doesn’t it say so?
A–No, sir….
Frankly, as cross-examinations transcripts go, I think Bryan one the battle.
Unfortunately Inherit the Wind, a novelization of the event, has been taken as fact and given people a false impression.