Mailbag

God, the Gipper, and Gorbachev

Much to my disappointment, your cover story ­contained overly simplified claims about Ronald Reagan’s faith and an unnecessary political statement about higher education. It made me doubt the veracity of what I was ­holding in my hands.
    —Mary Flickner / Duncanville, Texas

What a glimpse into history. Larry Schweikart has insights I had never heard about Reagan and Gorbachev’s meetings. Every American needs to read this article.
    —David Proffitt / Knoxville, Tenn.

The List

The Southern Baptist Convention abuser database is the wrong solution for a very real problem. The hiring process is completely broken if an abuser moves to another church. Let’s get back to doing our homework, including proper background checks, when we bring someone into our churches.
   —Russ Frisinger / Divide, Colo.

Parental pushback

In my generation, this foolishness of teachers thinking they control your child would have lasted all of 15 minutes. We allow godless people to make critical ­decisions about our most important responsibility: our children.
    —Bill Russell / Brighton, Mich.

Lifemark

I kept looking for what Leah Savas called “cringey acting” but didn’t notice it. As a grateful mother of an adopted son, I’m glad I saw the movie and encourage others to see it.
    —Bunny Woods / Manchester, Tenn.

The Key of knowledge

I have never read or heard such a simple and clear explanation of constructivism as Janie B. Cheaney provided. Thank you for educating and enlightening me. I count on WORLD for both.
    —Dannette Matty / Lincoln, Neb.

The root(s) of the problem

When I received my Sept. 24 issue, I did a double take when I came to Andrée Seu Peterson’s column. I had to pull out my Sept. 10 issue to confirm my suspicion it was a duplicate. Honestly, it was worth a second read.
    —Tom Kestner / Hancock, Mich.

Editor’s note: Read Andrée Seu Peterson’s intended column for the Sept. 24 issue at wng.org/andree092422.

Courting motherhood

I am saddened that Serena Williams does not see the importance of motherhood over tennis championships. Athletic accomplishments do not have eternal consequences and can’t compare to the privilege of mothering an image-bearer of God.
    —Nancy Hollahan / Glenmoore, Pa.

Departures

You neglected to mention that Earnie Shavers was a believer and in retirement traveled as an evangelist. He came to our small town when I was in high school and preached a salvation message at the local movie theater.
    —Eben Robinson / Tucson, Ariz.

Black belt readership

It never ceases to amaze me how different WORLD readers can be. The illustration depicting gender con­fusion (“The twisted self,” Aug. 27, p. 44) is one of the most compelling pieces of art I have seen. I also appreciated the photos from the war in Ukraine (“Quest for justice,” Sept. 10) and how they show life interrupted by tragedy.
    —Ali Sanders / Montgomery, Texas

Mailbag

It saddened me to see that many of the letters you received on the serious threat free-roaming house cats pose to songbirds were of an inflammatory and irate nature. Take heart, “Killers among us” (Aug. 13) was good reporting.
    —Justin Leonard / Statesville, N.C.