Mailbag

Basic training

Thank you for "Darwin's meltdown" (April 3). The futuristic commentaries by your "fanciful historians" have educated me on the basics of Intelligent Design theory and have also provided me with solid insights with which to engage those still holding to Darwinism. I appreciated reading their thoughtful, intelligent, and witty pieces, and I pray that much of their speculation on the next 20 years is realized.

-Jason Gibson, Anoka, Minn.

I applaud the successes of Intelligent Design over the pseudo-science of the competition, but I think your "2025" gloating is probably premature. Evolution is the only explanation of origins the atheists have; they cannot let go of it, no matter how incredible it becomes. Perhaps Darwinism is dying, but I suspect its replacement will be anti-scientism-a new "dark ages"-not ID.

-Tom Pittman

Bolivar, Mo.

Intelligent Design is a half-measure and wholly inadequate. Isn't the identity of the Intelligent Designer a necessary ingredient? Yet, your cover story offers no viewpoint from those who hold God's Word as the final authority on a literal, six-day creation.

-David Roden

Edgewood, Md.

The series of articles about the supposed supplanting of the theory of biological evolution by so-called "Intelligent Design theory" are, to put it bluntly, delusional.

-Scott Goodman

Maple Ridge, B.C.

By 2025, although the ID movement may have defeated atheistic Darwinism, instead of a biblical worldview it's plausible that a New Age god or goddess will be enshrined.

-Bob Ayanian

Cambria, Calif.

I disagree with your premise that Darwinism is either dead or dying. Both sides hold presuppositions that can neither be proved or refuted. Darwinian theories will be around as long as anyone holds presuppositions like those of Carl Sagan, who wrote by faith that "the cosmos is all there is, ever was, or ever will be."

-Ken Holcomb

Colorado Springs, Colo.

All organisms that lived on Earth descended from one of, at most, a few single-celled microorganisms that lived between 3.5 billion and 4 billion years ago. What is the alternative? That God or extraterrestrials turn inert matter (or "nothingness") directly into some organisms?

-David P. Crocker

University Park, Md.

Each article made a number of important points, but overall the triumphalist tone of the articles can only do more harm than good. While Intelligent Design theorists have much to teach evolutionists and philosophical materialists, thoughtful scientists have much to teach intelligent designers-and Christians in general-about the formal and disinterested methods of investigating our natural world.

-Garrett Brown

San Diego, Calif.

Today's teens

Thank you for Gene Edward Veith's column on the new "culture of restraint" ("Boys will be men," April 3). Even though the statistics are low, I was encouraged that they showed a new attitude toward abstinence. I hope my generation will step up against what the culture is trying to feed us.

-Aubra Whitten, 16

Germantown, Tenn.

I would like to believe American teenagers are developing a "culture of restraint," but I suspect that the drop in teen pregnancies is partly due to teens "discovering" (i.e., being taught in public-school sex-ed classes about) "outercourse"-other kinds of sexual activity that don't lead to that messy side effect of pregnancy.

-Barbara Irvine

Syracuse, N.Y.

Mr. Veith makes a good suggestion, in encouraging earlier marriage, but we have made that next to impossible today. What I call "extended adolescence" is the result of stretching of eight years of education into 13 plus college. My grandfather received a good basic education by the eighth grade; when I graduated in 1967 it was dubious whether the average high-school graduate had received an equivalent preparation for business and life. Another factor is conflict between parents and adolescents, perhaps stemming from the frustration of youngsters who are ready to get on with life but whose parents keep them dependent until they graduate.

-Steve Cast

Bethany, Okla.

All over?

What stood out to me was that Michael and Tonya, whose daughter found the pro-homosexual children's book King & King in her school library, said "they are considering transferring their daughter to another school" ("All over but the brimstone," April 3). I say get out, and get out now.

-James Fink

Brookhaven, Pa.

Regarding the trial of UMC minister Karen Dammann for violating church laws against lesbianism (The Buzz, April 3): The jury that found Ms. Dammann innocent fell into the pit of magisterially overruling the plain and clear teaching of Scripture. The UMC's Pacific Northeast regional conference's refusal to stand against this practice is a tacit rejection of Jesus Himself. Joel Belz is right; it's all over but the brimstone.

-Steven Van Epps

Glen Burnie, Md.

Clarke's colors

Bob Jones wrote an excellent article on showing the true character of Richard Clarke ("Standard deviation," April 3). He's another one to flip-flop, like John Kerry.

-Rebecca Alford

St. Matthews, S.C.

Just judgment

Did it occur to Chris Stamper that the European Union's punishment of Microsoft ("Mario's revenge," April 3) may be as a result of Microsoft breaking the law? Though the judgment issued is severe, many consider it appropriate in light of Microsoft's repeated flagrant abuse of its powers.

-Ram Rao

Indianapolis, Ind.

Awakened

"Putting his money where his mouth isn't" (March 27) was a real wake-up call for me. I never would have dreamed that 8,000 people are dying every day from AIDS. We need to pray that this disease can be conquered.

-Meredith Lorencz

Owendale, Mich.

Takes and leaves

Your Quick Takes articles are engaging and the dry humor is splendid.

-Jon Cassel

Lock Haven, Pa.

I've had all I can stomach of your worldviews. No more.

-David Marsceau

Easley, S.C.

Correction

Fewer than half of marriages in America end in divorce ("Remaking the American family," March 6, p. 19), but the exact rate is uncertain. Some studies put the figure at 20 percent or lower; a 2001 Barna survey found 34 percent of those who have ever been married have divorced; a National Center for Health Statistics study predicted that 43 percent of new marriages will end in divorce within 15 years.