Well said, Tony

I agree with Tony Blair's assessment of the media that hammer us today ("'Like a feral beast,'" Aug. 4). Reporters no longer report facts. "News" has ballooned into full-time commentary spiced up with off-point abrasive questions in the hope of snaring a saleable quote. Babbling heads are forced to generate and use "filler" 24/7 and call it "the news." The driver is clearly money. That's sad. Well said, Tony Blair.
-Ron Williams; Morgantown, W.Va.

Blair has seen the enemy and knows it's us. I have often wondered why we need five helicopters recording a car racing through Phoenix streets. I have this same feeling when I see a reporter in Iraq reporting live with mortars exploding around him.
-George W. Fellendorf; Kenne, N.H.

Mixed message

I am surprised at some of your remarks about the Creation Museum ("Museum with a message," Aug. 4). Why say that a museum of biblical creation "blatantly" incorporates biblical presuppositions? One of the purposes of the museum is to show that anyone who considers the origins of the world and the universe must start with presuppositions.
-Julie Nagelkirk; Roseville, Mich.

You wrote that a tour of the Creation Museum "is more than a lot to swallow." I found the entire article a lot to swallow.
-Richard Gainer; Greenville, S.C.

Is a supernatural being or "time and chance" behind the natural processes of this world? Where do we go for answers? What is our source of authority? Answers in Genesis and the Institute for Creation Research have done a great deal of open-minded research searching for the how's and why's behind the natural world. Thanks for the article on the new Creation Museum.
-Herman Schwingle; Williamson, N.Y.

Not all Bible-believing Christians support the six-calendar-day creation as portrayed in "Museum with a message." Many evangelical Christians embrace the "old-earth" creationist view, which posits God miraculously created all matter, energy, space, and time billions of years ago, ex nihilo. Further, contrary to young-earth proclamations, most old-earth creationists adamantly reject evolution. Even billions of years will not make that fairy tale come true.
-Jon Greene; Issaquah, Wash.

The last virtue

Your review of I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry ("Ugly propaganda," Aug. 4) noted that while professing to promote tolerance, it unfairly stereotypes all believers as hate-mongering bigots. I am reminded of a quote I recently heard, that the "last remaining virtue recognized by a decadent society is tolerance." This is the tacit agreement between us that we will not mention each other's sin, regardless of the damage done either to ourselves or our society.
-Bob Renckly; Gig Harbor, Wash.

While Priya Abraham is worried about whether it is uncool to like Hairspray, a movie with a kitsch Beatnik theme ("Going hoppin'," Aug. 4), I am more concerned with how uncool it is to like a movie that promotes tolerance for everyone except Christians and depicts them as racist and over-the-edge. Then there are the gay undertones. Why would you promote this movie as fun and harmless?-Julie Nagelkirk; Roseville, Mich.

Potter's millstone?

I was stunned and disappointed to read your review of the latest Harry Potter book ("The end of the wand," Aug. 4). It delivered a positive view of a book that encourages sorcery and witchcraft. How discouraging to know that WORLD does not see Satan masquerading as an angel of light.
-Kathryn Loveland; San Antonio, Texas

Having read all seven Harry Potter books, I'm convinced that there's no danger in them provided readers (or their parents) take the time to inform themselves. As John Granger argues, the magic that forms the backbone of the books is completely different from the magic that the Bible forbids. They deal in moral absolutes, but make it clear that things aren't always as they seem at first-exactly the way real life operates. The Potter books are serious stories about the war between good and evil, the consequences of thoughts and actions, and the need to choose correctly.
-Bill Bader; Eden Prairie, Minn.

In the past year our girls have read from Ted Dekker, C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Robert Louis Stevenson, G.A. Henty, Thomas Merton, Alexandre Dumas, Jane Austen, and Jeff Shaara, among others. With such inexhaustible literary treasures available, is it any wonder many families aren't bothering with the likes of J.K. Rowling? After all, there is that millstone to consider.
-Cindy Bowers; Payette, Idaho

Zounds!

Always being creative, demonstrating excellence featuring generous humor illuminating journalistic knowledge, lovable Marvin N. Olasky produces quintessential reportage, such that ululating vagabonds writhe xenophobically, yelling "Zounds!" ("Some benchmark," July 28).
-Stefan A.D. Bucek: San Jose, Calif.

Olasky's column was elegant, but an attack on the wholesomeness of deciduous trees? Whatever would we do without apples?
-Esther C. Mumford; Port Angeles, Wash.

Worthy to suffer

Regarding your story on the 23 Korean missionaries kidnapped in Afghanistan, "Zeal for the lost" (Aug. 4): I was disappointed by the weight you gave to the view that nonprofessional, short-term missionaries should not go to such dangerous places. I say praise God for the boldness He gave to this team. Let us pray for the safe return of these 23 brothers and sisters, but let us also pray that they would be encouraged that God has found them worthy to suffer for the sake of the gospel.
-Joshua Wallick; Washington, D.C.

Rank arrogance

Regarding "Two kinds of smarts" (Aug. 4): I'm afraid that TeamBush's "communications lockdown" and "stifling tactics" transmogrify (as Calvin and Hobbes might say) to rank arrogance in the eyes of other observers.
-Sam Reid: Issaquah, Wash.

To fulfill the law

Author David Blankenhorn says that Jesus never said "anything one way or another about homosexuals" ("Marriage matters," Aug. 4). However, Jesus did suggest in Matthew 11 that Sodom, the epitome of homosexual lust, would have repented had it seen the "mighty works" Jesus did in Chorazin and Bethsaida. It appears that Blankenhorn is blind to Jesus' goal that biblical Christians should be seeking to live lives of holiness and purity in thought, word, and deed.
-John Smith; Fairfax, Va.

A sad reflection

The quote from TBN's fundraising letter, "If you have a need-'GIVE GOD A SEED!'" seems a little inaccurate to me ("Big bucks ministries," July 28). And this claim that we're "robbing God" by not contributing to the wealth of a televised clergyman is especially offensive. It's a sad reflection of the times we live in that we would treat our Lord and Creator as a mere investment portfolio. Thank goodness for people like Rusty Leonard who want to keep these shepherds accountable to their sheep.
-Aimee Blakemore; Naperville, Ill.

Your article is a disgrace. The good these ministries do far outweighs the costs. We would gladly give more to these ministries if we could. Not everyone is called to be a Mother Teresa and take a vow of poverty. These ministries have been blessed because they have poured out their hearts and lives to win the lost to Christ. We ask that our subscription not be renewed.
-Mrs. Richard Pierce; Spokane, Wash.

I really appreciated your article on these prosperity gospel "ministries" and their horrendous use of money. Our family has known little old ladies sitting in their homes sending every last penny they have to this type of ministry, honestly believing that it is being used for the kingdom of God. I do agree that an $800,000 annual salary may sound small compared to that of television executives. I was wondering, though, what it would sound like compared to a pastor in China who is currently serving prison time for his faith in Christ.
-Karen Reyburn; Airdrie, Scotland