Oblivious

I applaud your July 17 cover story, "Worldview warehouses." Last summer I toured the National Museum of American History. I noticed many of the same things that Mr. Veith did: the large amount of space given to the internment of Japanese Americans, the prominent mention of women, and the almost lack of mention of our founding fathers and the principles our nation was founded upon. I left very troubled and sad. The saddest thing for me was that I toured it with my 13- and 11-year-old niece and nephew, who were completely oblivious to what they were missing. They were only getting more of the kind of history they were familiar with from their public school. To try to explain to them all that was overlooked would have probably just brought me blank stares. - Joni Halpin, Allen, Texas

An eloquent bang

Although some exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry are objectionable and others cater to the lowest common denominator, other educational displays are well worth the trip. To squeeze through the cramped quarters of a German U-boat and bang your head on overhanging pipes and valves teaches far more eloquently than any textbook the hardships of submarine warfare in the Second World War. - Kenton Skarin, 17, Wheaton, Ill.

Perfect little people

The display at the Museum of Science and Industry of human embryos in various stages of development, right up to what could have been a healthy baby, was not easy to look at. But this exhibit is most profound because those babies were perfect little people, not fetuses that had no identity. I made sure that my teenage daughters saw the exhibit and impressed upon them the wonderful sanctity of life before birth. - Gary Darling, Siloam Springs, Ark.

Sensitive worship

William H. Smith takes the worst offenses of the seeker-sensitive approach to worship and makes it sound like anyone who is trying to be sensitive to an unbeliever in their worship service is guilty of all the atrocities listed in this article ("Who's the seeker?" July 17). Certainly we should continue to preach the Word so that unbelievers in our services might fall under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but we can be sensitive in the way we express our faith. Also, over the history of the church we have added many things to "improve" worship. The attempts to introduce hymns in America's early years were considered by many to be very unbecoming and not dignified enough to intrude upon true worship. - Ron W. Hammer, Prescott, Ariz.

Self-centered worship

I thought Mr. Smith's article hit the nail on the head. In our self-centered, entertainment-focused society, we look to the "worship" service to meet our needs, and unfortunately many churches have shifted their focus to accommodate this mindset. - Jamie Hunt, Malabar, Fla.

Seeking worship

"Who's the seeker?" explains why after several years of anguishing I left the evangelical church where I was active to join a church (conservative Lutheran) of the liturgical tradition. Now I am worshipping where the worship focuses on God rather than on how I feel. Some of my friends have trouble understanding my change. But I believe that I'm truly worshipping for the first time in years. - Dan LaRue, Lebanon, Pa.

Fitting worship

I disagree that seeker-service worship is not focused on God. True, worship styles have changed to fit the "consumer," but Luther, Calvin, and Handel all changed music styles to fit the "consumers" of their days. - Sue Alexander, Springfield, Ill.

Surrendering

Thanks for unveiling another example of the theological decay so rampant among American evangelicals today ("What does God know?" July 17). It has long been the case that few evangelicals engage the finer points of orthodox theology, but with the like of BGC Pastor Boyd of Minnesota, who so limits God's sovereign foreknowledge of all things, we now see evangelicals surrendering the main points of orthodox theology. - David J. Bissett, Clifton Park, N.Y.

Unbelievable

I don't know what is more unbelievable: that a Baptist pastor would teach that God is not omniscient, or that an amendment to his denomination's doctrinal statement avowing God's omniscience should fail due to the errant pastor's popularity. - Christian N. Temple, Raleigh, N.C.

Too far

I appreciate your efforts to identify the dangers of immoral cultural elements seeping into our minds, but you may have gone too far with "Stopping a foul practice" (July 3/10). A foul or penalty in sports is not necessarily a sin; it is often strategy. If you have an unplayable lie in golf, it is perfectly acceptable to take a one-stroke penalty and a free drop. In chess, you may sacrifice one of your own pieces to gain an advantage. Hardly a "Christian" action, but I don't think we should change the rules of chess. - Gavin Sinclair, West Lafayette, Ind.

Untainted

The "tainted" goal, as you called it, was only tainted by differing interpretations of a "hated rule" ("A goal from Hull," July 3/10). According to the NHL, the officials, Brett Hull, and the Dallas Stars, the goal was legal. The rule was interpreted to allow the goal because Mr. Hull "had possession" of the puck when his foot went into the crease, not because it had been a long game and the carpet had already been rolled out. - Rhonda Wesselius, Flower Mound, Texas

Not-so-nice

I deeply appreciated Andree Seu's article, "Nice" (July 3/10). As a street preacher here in Portland, it is refreshing to hear from another Christian about the critical need to confront this society with "sometimes-not-so-nice" dialogues. Ironically, it is not the mockers and hecklers who oppose us the most, it is Christians who take exception to our confrontational style and claim it is not quite "nice" enough. - Daniel J. Lee, Portland, Ore.

Frankenstein science

Although Princeton University continues to hide behind the banner of academic freedom and Professor Peter Singer's scholarly credentials while claiming "non-endorsement" of his views ("Professor Death," July 17), the fact that he was appointed to such a prestigious position demonstrates the administration's tacit support for his views. In their zeal to be on the cutting edge of new medical technology, university officials appear poised to open up a "Pandora's Box" of genetic discrimination, eugenics, and "Frankenstein science." - Marie Tasy, Cranford, N.J.

Staying

The Internet has revolutionized the way that information is made available, but this doesn't signal the end of libraries ("The death of libraries?" July 3/10). There's a misconception that everything is, or soon will be, on the Internet. Lots of information is available on the Internet, but that doesn't mean that the information is free, useful, current, or complete. Libraries and librarians are using technology to enhance existing services and provide new ways of accessing information that were unknown 20 years ago. Are libraries changing to meet the challenges of a new technology? Yes. Are we going away? No. As Mark Twain once said, "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." - Jeff Kushkowski, Ames, Iowa

Unfair

"Taxing the net" (July 3/10) expresses concern about the possibility of sales taxes on Internet sales. We are no fans of more government intrusion, but as owners of a Christian bookstore we find that our large mail order/Internet competitors have an unfair advantage because they are not required to charge sales tax to sell the same product to the same customer as we do. The burden of a "mountain of paperwork and accounting chores" is already being borne by local establishments but not their remote competition. - Pam & Stuart Smith, Salisbury, N.C.

Frightening

Joel Belz's explanation for the George W. Bush phenomenon was as plausible as any that I have considered ("Guilt-trip politics," July 3/10). If his early popularity carries him to the nomination, it appears that as a pro-life, pro-moral, social and fiscal Christian conservative, I may not have a presidential candidate that I can vote for on Nov. 2, 2000. Mr. Bush has not stated his position on many important issues, but he has made it clear that he won't necessarily select a pro-life running mate and that he will not use the pro-life position as a "litmus test" in making his appointments to the Supreme Court. Frightening, considering that the next president will likely appoint two and possibly three justices who will determine the end or continuation of the abortion holocaust. - Lee Eaton, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.