On evolution versus creationism, think for yourselves

This is in response to two letters on evolution in the March 29 issue, sent in by Pete Gerard and Michael Newlon.

Your readers who are interested in this topic might find it enlightening to know what some of the world's greatest scientists and thinkers have concluded on the subject of human origin.

Robert Boyle, the father of modern chemistry as well as the greatest physical scientist of his day, was an outstanding apologist for the Genesis account of origins.

Isaac Newton, a prodigious intellect who developed calculus, discovered the law of gravity and designed the first reflecting telescope, strongly defended the biblical account of creation.

Louis Pasteur, well known for the process of pasteurization and for utterly demolishing the concept of spontaneous generation, was devoutly religious and strongly opposed Darwinian evolution.

A host of other great intellects who were also creationists could be cited, including Johannes Kepler (scientific astronomy), Francis Bacon (scientific method), Blaise Pascal (philosopher/mathematician), Carolus Linnaeus (biological taxonomy), Gregor Mendal (genetics), Michael Faraday (electromagnetics), and Joseph Lister (antiseptic surgery).

Albert Einstein, one of the greatest intellectuals of modern times, was drawn "to the conclusion that God did not create by chance, but rather that he worked according to planned, mathematical, teleonomic, and therefore," to him, "rational guidelines."

I'd like to conclude with this:

Look around, consider what you see and ask.

What exists that wasn't first a thought or an idea before it came into being? Kevin Urquhart Newbury Park

Editor's note: Einstein, in a 1954 letter, is quoted: "It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God. . . " Princeton Press