Letters to the Editor: Feedback

READING LIST

God isn't subject to science experiments

David Valk's narrow summer reading list (letter, June 18) must come from the atheist book-of-the-month club. It's easy to disprove the "God hypothesis" if you limit your inquiry only to methodology acceptable to atheists. Stop looking for God with the scientific method in the natural world. You won't find him. If God were subject to your experimentation, then you would be God.

Further suggestions for summer reading:

- "The Language of God." Dr. Francis Collins (now a Christian), who as head of the Human Genome Project wrote that evolution cannot explain DNA.

- "There is a God." Antony Flew, formerly "godfather," but now traitor, to the neo-atheist cause.

- "Reason in the Balance." Berkeley law professor Phillip E. Johnson exposes the mythical presumption of scientific materialism.

- "The Case for Christ." Lee Stroebel (ex-atheist journalist).

- While you're at it, read ex-atheist author A.N. Wilson (New Statesman, April 2): "The real mistake made by atheists is not about God, but about human beings. We are very much more than collections of meat. The religion of the incarnation, asserting that God made humanity in His image, is simply true. As a working blueprint for life, as a template against which to measure experience, it fits."

GARY MILLER, Meridian

Everyone has a right to believe what they believe

This is in response to David Valk's "summer reading list for the 'Religious Right.'" Why does he assume that the Religious Right is uninformed? Anyone who has read the Bible as a book of "revelation" understands why Valk believes the way he does, and trust me we are much more "informed" than he can imagine. The tone of his letter says that if you're ignorant enough to believe anything I disagree with, then you need to read these books, and then you'll understand why my point of view is right and yours is wrong.

I believe what I believe, not because someone told me to but because I have a choice in life. You know who gave me that choice? God. And just like the authors of the books Valk listed have a choice to believe what they believe and write about it, so does the religious right. Why that annoys people like Valk I will never understand.

1 Corinthians 3:19 says that the world's wisdom is foolishness to God. Whether or not Valk chooses to believe that will never change its truth.

CATHY SISK, Boise

Try some other books on the same subject

As one of the uninformed by virtue of not having read any of the books cited by David Valk in his recommended reading list, I fully appreciate his concern for my lack of erudition and would like to reciprocate by offering the following list of books addressing the subject:

- "The End of Reason," by Ravi Zacharias.

- "More Than a Carpenter," "New Evidence that Demands a Verdict," by Josh McDowell.

- "Evidence for the Resurrection," by Josh McDowell in collaboration with Sean McDowell;

- Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ," "The Case for Faith," "Case for a Creation," and "Case for a Real Jesus."

- "So What's the Difference," by Fritz Ridenour.

- "Know Why You Believe," by Paul E. Little.

- "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist," by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek.

GIL ESTES, Boise

DEATH NOTICES

Switch back to old format

The Statesman needs to return to the old format of printing death notices. I need to get my magnifying glass out to be able to read. I hate the new print. I see our paper going the way of the computer if paper continues with this format. It makes it very hard to read.

ALLEN ROBERTS, Meridian

CROSSWORDS

Easier puzzles are OK; mistakes in clues are not

I see you have received many letters concerning the crossword puzzles. I don't mind the easier puzzles; it's nice to finish them and move on to other things, but I do miss the funny themes and clues often found in the previous puzzles. However, the puzzle maker needs to double check with a dictionary now and then.

A correct clue for Wednesday, June 18, 20 across could have read, "an automatic antiaircraft gun firing explosive shells."

That is a pompom.

Balls on a tam are pompons.

This is according to The New Lexicon Webster's Dictionary 1989 Edition, page 780. Sometimes errors continue long enough to become "correct," which may have happened with this common error.

VERNEAN PERRY, Boise

Easier puzzles are still challenging for some

Cross words for crosswords! How shameful. Shame on those who find the puzzles too easy.

There are many persons who are losing the ability, or have lost the ability to complete the simplest of puzzles. Why remove any challenge for them?

If the present puzzles have lost their sparkle, charm and fun, then you might consider running away to join the circus. Enjoy!

BRUCE A. FABBI, Boise

FIGHTER JETS

F-15 letters remind me of a 'Dragnet' episode

Recent letters to the editor concerning the noise made by the F-15s from Oregon nudged my memory. Those of us who are a little older remember the television series "Dragnet." Jack Webb played the part of LAPD Sergeant Joe Friday. He and his partner were standing on a porch conversing with a lady when some noisy fighter planes flew over. The lady asked "Did you ever hear such a racket in your life?" Joe Friday replied: "Yes, ma'am ... at Pearl Harbor."

PHIL CHRISWELL, Boise

WEISER CONTEST

Fiddlers Contest should have made special section

Is it because Weiser is at the end of Treasure Valley that it is neglected?

Last week thousands attended the National Old Time Fiddlers Contest, and the Gems of the Treasure Valley section didn't include it. Shame on you.

I lived in Weiser for 58 years and worked at the contest for 23 years. It is a great festival.

I'm 84 years old and now live at a senior village, Northgate, but my heart is still in Weiser.

E. HOPE JACKSON, Boise