August 22

‘A tale of two museums’

I appreciated Marvin Olasky’s story contrasting the hubris of the Smithsonian with the relative humility, or at least scientific honesty, of New York’s American Museum of Natural History. It reminded me of seeing at a little zoo a sign that read, “Pot bellied pigs have evolved unchanged for millions of years.” I kept my guffaws to myself.

Lynn Barton / Medford, Ore.

Thanks for pointing out all the propaganda. Most Christian parents and children are unprepared to deal with these museums. No wonder we have much compromise with worldly origins myths.

Michael Oard / Bozeman, Mont.

I was one of those homeschooled Christians. This article made me so thankful that my parents neither avoided museums nor ignored the propaganda. I have many wonderful museum memories (Smithsonian included) and still love visiting them, without feeling like I have to swallow everything they try to feed me.

Abby Pierce / Austin, Texas

At the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the entomology center contains wonderful introductions with a lot of science and very little scientism. Above the beetle display some years ago was a quote from an entomologist who was asked what he had learned about the Creator: “He was inordinately fond of beetles.” I loved that.

PhoebeJoy Wesley / Houston, Texas

I agree that scaring children with eco-disaster is inappropriate, but the Christian fretting over evolution is misplaced and plays into the hands of our opponents. I do not believe that the idea that humans developed from some other species undermines the doctrine of God’s gift of a soul to us today.

Scott Buchanon on wng.org

It is sad that so many museums indoctrinate people by treating evolution as fact and that they target kids. It is important that we raise kids to be able to think for themselves.

Jared Nordblom / Mattawan, Mich.

‘No foolish romance’

Not just evangelical institutions stand to lose should we elect another Obama. Faithful Catholics are in the same boat, as the court decision against the Little Sisters of the Poor demonstrates.

Peter Broda / North Charleston, S.C.

I love WORLD’s coverage of the hard things; it always leaves us with the hope of the gospel and the kingdom.

Susan Dickens / Greeenbrier, Ark.

‘Too tight to split’

When you tear down morality in one area, every other area goes with it. Progressives spent the last century tearing down “traditional morality,” but without a shared moral code you cannot have a society at all.

Phil Hawkins / Indianapolis, Ind.

It is amazing how many immoral people consider themselves “conservative” if they embrace a fiscal position anywhere to the right of “socialist.”

Wm. Rench / Temecula, Calif.

‘Caught in the thicket’

Marvin Olasky’s interviews with people from all walks of life have become my favorite part of the magazine. This one is no exception.

Meg Ishikawa on wng.org

‘Still waiting’

The Veterans Choice program protects the status quo within the VA because it diminishes the need for change. Veterans deserve “Plan A”: integrated care that brings together the care provider, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, and specialists. That is lost when the veteran leaves the VA system for outside care.

Geoffrey Parker / Prescott, Ariz.

‘Friends and strangers’

These programs to help new immigrants rebuild their lives sound exciting, and they are sharing the gospel in a revolutionary way.

Eric McCarty on Facebook

‘Blood sacrifice’

More is wrong with these churches and their pastors than just their stance on abortion. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Trena Gray Boger on Facebook

Dispatches

I enjoy the magazine but “The Hunters” comic concerning Planned Parenthood was in poor taste. I thought it unsympathetic to the victims of this organization.

Marco Whitten / Guntersville, Ala.

‘Just as they were’

Thanks for Arsenio Orteza’s music reviews. I probably won’t purchase any of the CDs, but his writing is so artful and his analyses so intriguing that I’m always compelled to read them.

Christine Scheid / Somerset, Wis.

August 8

‘Constant targets’

Thanks, WORLD, for reporting on all the news in the world, not just U.S. news. Since we’ll be spending eternity with our brothers and sisters from all tribes and peoples and languages, may God help us to pray for them now.

Tom and Sheri Muma / Boone, N.C.

I look forward to the “stepped up coverage” of international news. I have read WORLD since junior high and credit the international articles for developing my heart for international justice, evangelical missions, and global aid.

Jessica Drogowski / Estes Park, Colo.

‘The tipping point?’

After watching the video of Planned Parenthood doctor Deborah Nucatola dispassionately discussing the calvarium of a preborn baby, I thought of Calvary, “the place called the Skull,” where Jesus prayed for His executioners. He can save abortion doctors and others in the ungodly, dehumanizing abortion industry, and we should pray for them.

Charles D. Eden / Atlanta, Ga.

‘Surviving a grilling’

John Stonestreet offers a good, quick response to the subject of abortion in the case of rape: Why add violence to violence? I would add, why add emotional trauma to emotional trauma? I am pro-life especially in the case of rape. Encouraging a woman to kill her own child is not a compassionate answer, regardless of the circumstances.

Kay Scott on wng.org

July 25

‘Developing the Daniel Option’

I think Christians understand the need to continue active political and legal engagement in our republic, but we should see cultural upheaval through the lens of the catacombs. Patriotism and “moral majority” thinking can twist perspectives away from our real identity: gospel-centered Christians who are called to be lights in a darkening world.

Richard Driggers / Fort Worth, Texas

July 11

‘Trust and obey’

Thank you so much for the beautiful article on the life of Elisabeth Elliot. Through Gates of Splendor impacted me so much that my husband and I decided to go to Mexico as missionaries 53 years ago. Since then we, our five children, and some of our grandchildren have been involved in mission work in all its forms, touching every Spanish-speaking country in the world.

Nola Warren / Durango, Mexico

Clarifications

On Aug. 7 a jury in Centennial, Colo., could not agree to sentence Aurora movie theater killer James Holmes to death; on Aug. 27 a judge formally sentenced him to 12 life terms and 3,318 years in prison (Human Race, Sept. 5).

The Tribeca Film Institute and the Tribeca Film Festival are separate but affiliated organizations (“Serious play,” Sept. 19).

WORLD Around the World

Rayfoun, Lebanon submitted by Anne Schilperoort

Send photos to mailbag@worldmag.com