Letters

When Worldviews Collide

Can theories of evolution coexist with theological ideals revered for centuries? Discussion between Oxford atheist Richard Dawkins and Christian genome pioneer Francis Collins provided a platform for opposing views. Many readers believed there's room for both ideas and lauded such an open talk

The "God vs. Science" debate between Richard Dawkins and Francis Collins was fascinating [Nov. 13]. The arguments on both sides of the issue, however, are irrefutable because, in the last analysis, they are subjective. Trying to prove one side or the other results in a never-ending battle of words that makes reconciliation and progress impossible. It's important that we show respect for all reasonable beliefs, even when they strongly conflict with our own.

DANIEL JOHN BIEZAD San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Scientists will not find God unless they think outside the box, as Collins has done. Faith and miracles, so central to Christian thought, are anathema to the scientific method, as Dawkins reaffirms. "Why am I here?" and "Is there a God?" are questions that cannot be answered by science. God comes to those who have the insight to think in another dimension and have the wisdom of a child. Collins has both; Dawkins has neither.

JOHN S. MACKIEWICZ PROFESSOR EMERITUS BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK Albany, N.Y.

Pitting science against religion is demeaning to scientists. Science is not a side you can choose to be on; it is where we live and what we are. The scientific community seeks to discover the truth about the physical world, not make up stories. Your debate might as well set religion against gravitation or the speed of light: known facts that inform us about the universe. Science gave us physics and medicine, as well as evolution, which unfortunately has aspects that can be exploited by doubters. But if we left discovery up to the religious right, we might still think the earth is flat.

CHRIS JONGKIND London, Ont.

What intelligent designer came up with cancer and toothaches? Who "designed" your appendix and tonsils, organs that do nothing but get infected and cause you grief? How intelligent is the famously fragile human spine, or the narrow pelvis that makes childbirth harder for humans than for almost any other species? There are evolutionary explanations for all of these, but I hardly think there was much intelligence in designing halitosis, acne and flatulence.

LAWRENCE DORR South San Francisco, Calif.

Science and religion seemingly cannot coexist because religion is all about the past and science is all about the future. Scientists and theologians need to stop making the mistake of equating the concept of God with religious doctrines. Every scientific breakthrough reinforces my belief that God cannot be contained by the confines of religion or science.

JUNE DORDAL Moorhead, Minn.

When considering the arguments of "God vs. Science," I always revert to the notion that we're not as smart as we think we are. The arrogance of the atheists in thinking they've figured it all out is matched only by the arrogance of the religious zealots who think the same.

CHRIS KEARNEY Abilene, Texas

Nature was intelligent enough in its evolution to give rise to Richard Dawkins, who could then question whether nature is intelligent or not. But Dawkins' brand of atheism is dangerous because it hides behind the veneer of scientific credibility and academic showmanship. TIME should sponsor another debate, in which a case could be put forward for a holistic worldview, where consciousness is seen not as a by-product of biology but the other way around.

DEEPAK CHOPRA San Diego

Separation Anxiety

Peter Galbraith's article "The Case for Dividing Iraq" [Nov. 13] outlined the best solution for ending the Iraq war. The attempt to create a unified, democratic Iraq is doomed to failure. Modern Iraq as we know it has never been politically unified; religious and tribal factionalism has been suppressed by either the strictly autocratic rule of a British-imposed monarchy or the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. The new U.S. Congress and President George W. Bush should make the issue of resolving the Iraq war their very first priority in January.

DUDLEY MANN Wakefield, R.I.

The idea that Iraq should be divided so that the U.S. can withdraw its forces is monstrous. Iraq's uncertain future cannot be dictated by escape strategies for the occupying forces. But just as dangerous is President Bush's bombastic and empty talk of achieving "victory."

CLARA NIETO New York City

Dividing Iraq will not end the civil war; it will be seen only as another example of heavy-handed U.S. imperialism, especially in the Muslim world.

DAVIS ZONG New York City

Partitioning Iraq is a recipe for disaster. The civil war in Iraq could expand to engulf the whole region. No current or future government in Turkey would condone the emergence of a separate Kurdish entity in northern Iraq, as that would inflame the separatist tendencies of Turkey's Kurdish population. Arguments in favor of partitioning Iraq are neoimperialist and do nothing beneficial for the region.

SAIT T. TANGOR Ankara, Turkey

It's Snowtime

Re "The Snow Show" [Nov. 13]: The Republican Party ought to nominate White House press secretary Tony Snow as its next presidential candidate. He is vigorous and intelligent and has a way with words. He has a sense of humor, and he is fatally handsome in the bargain. In both stature and character, he's tall enough that we can look up to him. He's just the leader we need.

RICHARD H. UTT Loma Linda, Calif.

Snow may be the slickest press secretary in years, but that still makes him little more than the Bush Administration's court jester. Any credibility he had as a journalist was ruined when he took the job as mouthpiece for the White House. He is going to end up as spokesman for some corporation or lobbying firm. No matter what, he will be highly paid. My hat's off to him.

ART ROBINSON LaGrange Park, Ill.

Madonna's New Baby

I don't understand the controversy over Madonna's adoption of a Malawian orphan [Nov. 13]. Shouldn't it be taken as a sign of generosity and love? I think the media are to blame for all the accusations of impropriety. Doing something that may be seen as trendy is not always a bad thing. Madonna's action will hopefully encourage others to adopt orphan children who might otherwise have very grim lives.

RICHARD M. VALENCI Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

As a mother, I shuddered to read Madonna's pathetically low benchmark for motherhood: "Even if I'm the worst mother in the world, I'm better than death!" The comment was insensitive and reeked of arrogance. While Madonna's giving huge sums of money to charity is laudable, one needs an entirely different set of skills to be a good mother to an adopted child. I wonder whether Madonna understands that.

MADHURI PAI Singapore

Proliferating Primates

Re "Way Too Much Monkey Business" [Nov. 13], on the overpopulation of rhesus macaques in Delhi: The problem reflects the sad state of Indian society today. Indians see only the immediate trouble and its quick fix. In its quest for a high per capita income, the society is moving forward in much the same way it handled the monkey issue--creating problems and worse solutions. Some entrepreneur sees a business opportunity: Let's bring in bigger monkeys to solve the problem of the smaller ones. The entrepreneur's income adds to the GDP, and society learns to coexist with the bigger problem. That's India today: brilliant entrepreneurs content to coexist with poverty and corruption.

MANAV SAXENA Iowa City, Iowa

Pack Up for Provence

Film director Ridley Scott was right on target when he stated, "There is a very strong regard for 'living' in France" [Nov. 13]. My husband and I packed up when we reached retirement age and moved to Saignon, a village in Provence that's minutes away from where Scott's movie A Good Year was filmed. In trading the known for the unknown, we are having the adventure of a lifetime. The good life that novelist Peter Mayle and Scott have portrayed so well can be experienced by anyone who wants it badly enough. In ways big and small, the French joyfully share their country's beauty, culture, food and wine with anyone who comes here with an open mind and heart.

DIANE LIFTON Saignon, France

Raise a Glass

As someone who likes good food and wine, I was delighted to read about how a substance called resveratrol in red wine proved to have a terrific health benefit in tests with mice [Nov. 13]. Then I read, "You would need to drink more than 100 glasses of red wine a day to get as much resveratrol as those mice got," and I thought, Wow, the good news just keeps on coming!

PAUL RUDDER Mammoth Lakes, Calif. Setting the Record Straight Wrong Guard The Nov. 13 story "The Case for Dividing Iraq" included a photo of an Iraqi solider standing watch in Baghdad. The caption mistakenly identified him as a U.S. soldier.