Religion Is Religion, and Evolution Is Fact

In the Nov. 9 article, “Georgia Evolution Lawsuit Is a Fact,” the writers make the same error as do the uninformed fundamentalists. In referring to the Scopes trial, they include the comment: “The theory is still rejected by many Southerners.” Evolution is the scientific term for the millions of solidly established facts -- empirical evidence -- about how life-forms changed over the last several hundred thousand years on Earth. These facts are indisputable, and therefore evolution, the term that represents these facts, is also indisputable.

Theories that explain evolution, like Darwin’s theory of natural selection, are humankind’s efforts to explain the facts. Theories are open to debate, discussion and revision based upon better theories that explain the facts better. “Creationism” theories explain none of the facts, and that is why science rejects such nonsensical theories.

Evolution is not a theory!

Bill G. Aldridge

Former executive director

National Science Teachers Assn.

Henderson, Nev.

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What is The Times doing to prevent copies of your Nov. 9 issue (which in Richard Dawkins’ piece, “Just Don’t Call Them Hobbits,” presents “facts” about “evolution”) from falling into the hands of Texas schoolchildren? By reading this, children whose parents want them to believe that the world and everything in it was created in seven days, as it is written in the Holy Bible, may become confused or even rebellious.

Furthermore, the article challenges the fact, proven by Scripture, that God gave mankind dominion over all the animals. What are children to think if a so-called respectable newspaper presents information that challenges what their parents and pastors want them to believe?

Marvin J. Wolf

Mar Vista

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Reading about the Cobb County, Ga., tempest in a teapot over teaching evolution in the public schools brought to mind Thomas Jefferson’s circumspect solution to a similar problem facing the schools of Virginia in 1817. No doubt the awkward wording was deliberate, but the intent is clear and the approach is admittedly unique: “No religious reading, instruction or exercise, shall be prescribed or practiced [in the elementary schools] inconsistent with the tenets of any religious sect or denomination.”

To this one might add Benjamin Franklin’s terse observation: “The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.”

William L. Moore

Hollywood

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After reading about the latest objections to evolution being taught in public schools in Georgia, I’m sorely tempted to drive to Cobb County to learn more from the school board, but I’m deathly afraid of falling off the end of the Earth.

Bill Robbins

Los Angeles