Bible simply isn’t scientific

Commenting on biologist Richard Dawkins’ "The God Delusion," Tom Sears (Aug. 7) calls Dawkins’ interpretation of the Bible "insulting" without data to disprove Dawkins. Sears is also for "intelligent design," again without substantiation.

One of the "insults" is that Dawkins says the Bible preaches genocide.

But, in fact, Yahweh commands the Israelites in their invasion of Canaan to commit the ban, the total annihilation of all nonbelievers. Read Deuteronomy 20:13-18 or look up Holy War in the Bible on Internet.

"When the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally (according to the law of anathema). Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy" (Deuteronomy 7:2). Sears should explain why this isn’t "genocide."

"Who in this bowling alley bowled the sun?" Sears’ passionate answer is an "intelligent designer." I’m not against passion, but by itself, passion doesn’t teach us anything about the universe.

The Bible isn’t scientific. Because the Bible didn’t tell ancient people about supernovas, microwaves or DNA doesn’t mean that supernovas, microwaves or the genetic code don’t exist. Likewise, evolution.

Stephen Jay Gould defined "science" as knowledge on which further science can be built, such as the many medical discoveries and advances made possible by our understanding of evolution and genetics. Nothing in the Bible does that. It is science that has uncovered many wonders of the universe.

Faith, I am told, is a belief in something for which there is no evidence. Faith thus does not even pretend to be "science." Sears calls Dawkins "a self-absorbed megalomaniac ... a maniacal, irrational fool," one guilty of "character assassination," but gives us no evidence by which we can judge for ourselves. We have only Sears’ word for it.

Just who is guilty of "character assassination"?

E. T. A. Davidson

Oneonta

Criticism not unpatriotic

Many have become upset with those of us who frequently criticize our country. The slogan, "America love it or leave it" was frequently shouted at anyone who was critical of Vietnam War. Today, criticism of our dysfunctional health-care system will earn the label of being a person who hates America.

It appears that criticizing one’s country, which has attained such a high standard of living, is somehow unpatriotic. There has never been a relationship between a nation’s quality of life and its moral standards. Those who equate criticism of one’s country with that of being unpatriotic do not understand the premises upon which democracy is based or that their identity is so terribly intertwined with that of their nation that they have seemingly lost the capacity to reason in an objective manner. By making our nation the issue, blame is shifted away from what is being perpetuated by the current leadership.

The typical American tends to be terribly ethnocentric. Many American act as if having been born in the United States bestows upon them the right of a privileged person. Even worse than etnocentricism is the narrow-mindedness, which leads to an unreasoning sense of arrogance generally referred to as the arrogance of ignorance.

Most Americans look upon Christianity as the only road that leads to salvation, which suggests that every other faith leads to the fires of hell. For many, capitalism is a system of doing business that has received the blessing of God.

The goal of our present health-care industry is to maximize profits. Employees who deny people health care get a bonus, because denial of a claim saves the company money. I can not agree with such a system.

Let’s call universal health care "Christianized" medicine, because that’s what Jesus would want us to do.

Jim O’Leary

Delhi

Mustare just innocent victim

For those of us who have either been directly affected by or been following the articles related to the situation around the administrative failings at Unatego Junior-Senior High School, we know that although half the cause is no longer present, there is still a lengthy healing process that needs to be initiated. However, there can be no remedy when respectable educators are still being attacked and undermined, causing others to want to leave the district.

I feel less than proud to have graduated from a district that cannot stand behind its personnel, such as John Mushtare, someone who has devoted his life as a teacher, coach, friend and mentor to many. I am ashamed of the rumors I have heard and am appalled that people cannot give his family the privacy from unnecessary public scrutiny. As one of his former students, I believe John Mushtare has consistently shown his integrity and strong character for doing what is right during his teaching career. He has shown strong leadership, a caring demeanor and has earned the respect of many students, teachers and parents alike. I fully support John Mushtare, as he has proven himself as a greatly respected person who deserves only the highest admiration. Unatego is losing a remarkable man.

How can members of this community forget his unwavering dedication and positive actions while, at the same time, believing rumors, after all of the heartache and strife we have faced over the past couple of years? I am urging those who still care about the excellent reputation Unatego once had to involve yourself in this healing process and end the tumultuous reign of the previous superintendent who was backed by this board of education so that people like John Mushtare will not continue to be hurt.

Danielle Reed

Unadilla