Evolution

Relax, folks, evolution is only a theory To the editor: Why - I am asking - why all the fuss about evolution? Why is the theory of evolution such a big deal in the eyes of some? Why are the supporters of evolution called names like "Darwiniacs"? Why does the theory of evolution evoke such crude sentiments of hostility? There is no need for that. Evolution is just another scientific theory! No more and no less. No different than the theories of gravity, electromagnetism, or thermodynamics.

MOVIE REVIEW: "Underworld: Evolution"; rated R for graphic violence, explicit sex, strong language; 105 minutes In "Underworld: Evolution," the sequel to the big hit "Underworld," Selene, a female vampire played by Kate Beckinsale, hunts her own kind in Eastern Europe. She is also protecting a vampire-werewolf hybrid named Michael, played by Scott Speedman. The movie involves flashback across the span of human history to recall moments in the eternal struggle between werewolves and vampires.

To the editor: As Mr. Buhrer stated in his letter of Dec. 4, the "thorough lack of understanding of how science works" is sad indeed. Science is the study of observable phenomena that are repeatable and subject to hypothesis, testing and independent verification. Anything outside this process of observation and repeatability cannot be investigated scientifically. And this is exactly the problem with Darwinian evolution. To be fair, we must first define some things.

Nineteenth-century British naturalist Charles Darwin's theory of evolution claims that complex creatures evolve from simple ancestors naturally over time. Mankind, for example, evolved from primates. And all multicellular animals - mammals, fish, birds, worms, etc. - evolved from single-cell creatures over billions of years. This familiar theory, generally accepted as factual among biologists, is facing challenges in school districts across the country. The Kansas State Board of Education prohibited nearly all in-school references to evolution in 1999.

To the editor: What could explain the serious factual errors found in Allan Powell's "Faith, science and the difference?" Did the professor not do his homework? Did his source material fail him? Is he being less than honest with his readers? Whatever the explanation, here are the facts: The Kansas State Board of Education was not involved in a bitterly contested debate. Oh, Darwinian scientists vented plenty of bitterness, just not before the Board of Education. Instead, they decided to boycott the hearings and not debate the merits of the proposed changes.

To the editor: I read with interest Allan Powell's (Jan. 23) essay against Christian fundamentalism. While I support his free speech rights, I continue to be amazed at how far he goes to build a case against people of faith. His straw man keeps growing bigger. This time, it is allegedly a "harmful social movement. " His criticisms of creation and various miracles in the Bible don't carry any serious weight. If a person only accepts a naturalistic view of the world, without any possibility of events beyond our declared laws of nature, then of course anything else is dismissed arbitrarily.

A young mother feels depressed and suicidal after the birth of her baby. A young man hears voices and fears leaving his house. Alcohol abuse tears a family apart. A grandmother gradually loses her memory and becomes frightened and disoriented. Psychiatric disorders are a source of suffering and disability to many people in our community, making these all too common stories. Helpful treatments have been developed, but these conditions remain a source of fear and confusion for many people.