Sir, - Congratulations on publishing Dr Tassot's critique on the theory of evolution (Opinion, July 18th). Some of your readers, judging from their letters, regard this as creationist claptrap.
However, many of the founders of science firmly believed in creation as opposed to evolution. It was their faith in God as Maker and Preserver that drove them to examine his world - confident that they would find order and purpose there. These included Sir Isaac Newton, James Joule, Lord Kelvin, James Maxwell, Michael Faraday and Sir Ambrose Fleming. The last four were fully aware of Darwin's theory and were completely opposed to it. Had these great scientists been labelled as people who believed in claptrap, the mind boggles as to what state science might be in today.
There are also many eminent scientists today who are convinced Christians, including some in the biological sciences like Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project.
The most fascinating factor in the modern debate is that many recent books casting doubt on current evolutionary theory have been written by scientists who are not creationists, and who could not be accused of believing in claptrap. One example I have read is Evolution : A theory in crisis, by Dr Michael Denton.
It is important is that issues like this should be open to debate based on evidence and not advanced by mud slinging. Please continue to preserve the freedom of the press. - Yours, etc.
J. Tuttlebee, MSc, DipTh., Tramore, Co Waterford.