Letters to the Editor 10-15-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Reese Column Is Bunk - Religion And Inhumanity - Burket Says Thanks - Special Mother
Reese Column Is Bunk
Editor, Times-Union:To put it plainly, Charley Reese's column on Darwin's theory (Times-Union/Oct. 11) is bunk. Reese attempts to make a theological argument using scientific evidence that he claims disproves evolution. He cites only one astronomer and one biochemist and would have the public believe that the entire scientific community disputes the validity of evolutionary theory, which simply is not true.
Reese's claim that the fossil record contradicts Darwin because of the "abrupt appearances of species that hang around with few changes and then disappear" is not a contradiction of evolution, but rather eludes to a different interpretation of the mechanism of evolution. This alternate theory, called punctuated equilibrium, proposes that evolution occurs erratically with evolutionary innovations occurring in rapid bursts of change rather than gradually over long periods of time, as Darwin suggested. The dispute is not whether evolution happened, but how it happened. Reese's argument recruiting the laws of probability is also faulty. Life did not begin at the level of 747 jets but rather with the formation of simple chains of proteins. For billions of years there was nothing more complex than single-celled organisms. This is more like snapping a few Lego blocks together, not building a skyscraper. The formation of these simple precursors did not happen in an instant like a tornado but over billions of years. It is the length of time needed to transform rock into something as magnificent as the Grand Canyon.
Reese's impetus for attacking evolutionary theory is not for the betterment of science but to propagate creationism. This is obvious in his naive blurring of philosophy and science. Political theories like socialism are not science and evolution is not philosophy. Evolution does not advocate contempt for life and nothing in the theory makes an argument for or against the existence of a god. It is the accepted scientific definition of how life came into being through the gradual development from earlier forms, from the simple to the more complex. Reese would do better to remember that one cannot make an argument for faith using scientific evidence.
Allyson Vale, Warsaw
Religion And Inhumanity
Editor, Times-Union:As I read Rollin Jump's letter (Sept. 28), I could only shake my head in disbelief. Religionists believe that evil is rooted in man's lack of spirituality. If this is true, then the Middle East should be the most wonderful place on earth to live.
But in reality, it's the worst. Why? Because of religion. Christians, Muslims and Jews constantly at war in the name of religion. The stronger one's faith in the supernatural, the more intolerant they are toward anyone who disagrees. The church, throughout much of its history, has demonstrated a disregard for human freedom and dignity. Christianity is embedded in the belief in a singular authoritarian God who demands unquestioning obedience and who mercilessly punishes dissent. Within such a belief structure, God is understood to reign singularly from the pinnacle of a hierarchy based not upon love and support, but upon fear. The Bible repeatedly exhorts people to fear God. With this framework of intimidation, it is not difficult to understand how prophets like Jim Jones, Charles Manson and David Koresh were able to gather a legion of followers and lead them to their demise.
A grim pattern is visible in history when religion is the ruling force in a society. It produces horror. The stronger the supernatural beliefs, the worse the inhumanity. A culture dominated by intense faith invariably is cruel to those who don't share the faith and sometimes to many who do.
When religion was all powerful in Europe, it produced the epic bloodbath of the Crusades, the torture chambers of the Inquisition, mass extermination of non-believers and 300 years of witch burnings. These atrocious acts were the result of human ignorance and superstition. The world would be a much better place to live if ignorance and superstition were confined where it has always resided and flourished, in the churches.
Rollin, I know your beliefs are well meaning, but if you want to know the source of all evil, the answer can be found in Isaiah 45:7.
Jim Snyder, Plymouth
Burket Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:To TVSC patrons...
The staff at Burket School would like to thank Dr. Dan Kramer for being the acting principal of our school for the past seven months. We appreciate that he has taken time from his duties to accommodate our concerns. We have all enjoyed working with him and appreciate his efforts during the past several months. His concern for the children and the community became very obvious to everyone. Thank you again!
Burket School Staff
Special Mother
Editor, Times-Union:I lost my mother Sept. 25. I guess the term we use is she passed away. She will never pass away from my mind, my heart and my soul. I had 15 wonderful months with my mother.
We brought her back from Florida after my dad died last June. During that time, I took care of her medical needs. She had M.S. and breast cancer, which had spread to the bone. It is a horrible disease that wasn't pretty to watch, but we got through it. The last five weeks were the worst. I saw our roles completely reverse. I was the caregiver and she was the helpless one.
What a privilege to spend countless hours with her daily and give her the love she had always given me. There must be a special place in heaven for those who suffer much. She waits for me to join her someday. If you get there before I do, her name is Helen Price, my mother, a very special gift from God.
Rita Price Simpson, Mentone
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- Reese Column Is Bunk - Religion And Inhumanity - Burket Says Thanks - Special Mother
Reese Column Is Bunk
Editor, Times-Union:To put it plainly, Charley Reese's column on Darwin's theory (Times-Union/Oct. 11) is bunk. Reese attempts to make a theological argument using scientific evidence that he claims disproves evolution. He cites only one astronomer and one biochemist and would have the public believe that the entire scientific community disputes the validity of evolutionary theory, which simply is not true.
Reese's claim that the fossil record contradicts Darwin because of the "abrupt appearances of species that hang around with few changes and then disappear" is not a contradiction of evolution, but rather eludes to a different interpretation of the mechanism of evolution. This alternate theory, called punctuated equilibrium, proposes that evolution occurs erratically with evolutionary innovations occurring in rapid bursts of change rather than gradually over long periods of time, as Darwin suggested. The dispute is not whether evolution happened, but how it happened. Reese's argument recruiting the laws of probability is also faulty. Life did not begin at the level of 747 jets but rather with the formation of simple chains of proteins. For billions of years there was nothing more complex than single-celled organisms. This is more like snapping a few Lego blocks together, not building a skyscraper. The formation of these simple precursors did not happen in an instant like a tornado but over billions of years. It is the length of time needed to transform rock into something as magnificent as the Grand Canyon.
Reese's impetus for attacking evolutionary theory is not for the betterment of science but to propagate creationism. This is obvious in his naive blurring of philosophy and science. Political theories like socialism are not science and evolution is not philosophy. Evolution does not advocate contempt for life and nothing in the theory makes an argument for or against the existence of a god. It is the accepted scientific definition of how life came into being through the gradual development from earlier forms, from the simple to the more complex. Reese would do better to remember that one cannot make an argument for faith using scientific evidence.
Allyson Vale, Warsaw
Religion And Inhumanity
Editor, Times-Union:As I read Rollin Jump's letter (Sept. 28), I could only shake my head in disbelief. Religionists believe that evil is rooted in man's lack of spirituality. If this is true, then the Middle East should be the most wonderful place on earth to live.
But in reality, it's the worst. Why? Because of religion. Christians, Muslims and Jews constantly at war in the name of religion. The stronger one's faith in the supernatural, the more intolerant they are toward anyone who disagrees. The church, throughout much of its history, has demonstrated a disregard for human freedom and dignity. Christianity is embedded in the belief in a singular authoritarian God who demands unquestioning obedience and who mercilessly punishes dissent. Within such a belief structure, God is understood to reign singularly from the pinnacle of a hierarchy based not upon love and support, but upon fear. The Bible repeatedly exhorts people to fear God. With this framework of intimidation, it is not difficult to understand how prophets like Jim Jones, Charles Manson and David Koresh were able to gather a legion of followers and lead them to their demise.
A grim pattern is visible in history when religion is the ruling force in a society. It produces horror. The stronger the supernatural beliefs, the worse the inhumanity. A culture dominated by intense faith invariably is cruel to those who don't share the faith and sometimes to many who do.
When religion was all powerful in Europe, it produced the epic bloodbath of the Crusades, the torture chambers of the Inquisition, mass extermination of non-believers and 300 years of witch burnings. These atrocious acts were the result of human ignorance and superstition. The world would be a much better place to live if ignorance and superstition were confined where it has always resided and flourished, in the churches.
Rollin, I know your beliefs are well meaning, but if you want to know the source of all evil, the answer can be found in Isaiah 45:7.
Jim Snyder, Plymouth
Burket Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:To TVSC patrons...
The staff at Burket School would like to thank Dr. Dan Kramer for being the acting principal of our school for the past seven months. We appreciate that he has taken time from his duties to accommodate our concerns. We have all enjoyed working with him and appreciate his efforts during the past several months. His concern for the children and the community became very obvious to everyone. Thank you again!
Burket School Staff
Special Mother
Editor, Times-Union:I lost my mother Sept. 25. I guess the term we use is she passed away. She will never pass away from my mind, my heart and my soul. I had 15 wonderful months with my mother.
We brought her back from Florida after my dad died last June. During that time, I took care of her medical needs. She had M.S. and breast cancer, which had spread to the bone. It is a horrible disease that wasn't pretty to watch, but we got through it. The last five weeks were the worst. I saw our roles completely reverse. I was the caregiver and she was the helpless one.
What a privilege to spend countless hours with her daily and give her the love she had always given me. There must be a special place in heaven for those who suffer much. She waits for me to join her someday. If you get there before I do, her name is Helen Price, my mother, a very special gift from God.
Rita Price Simpson, Mentone
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