To the editor:

The Sept. 29 letter from students at Veritas Christian School, like the ultimate choice between the Bible and science offered by Kansas Board of Education Chairman Steve Abrams, only confirms the religious agenda of evolution’s opponents. The students note that “science never produces absolute truth” and that no scientific explanations “will ever be truly satisfying.” Religious faith, by contrast, delivers on both counts.

However, the problem is that there is no consensus on which religion (or absence thereof) represents “absolute truth” or is “truly satisfying.” Unlike parochial schools, public schools are required by law to remain silent on this matter. They must teach science, but they are prohibited from teaching religion.

Faith, unlike science, is strengthened through the repetition of dogma. The students provide a good example of this in their letter. However, despite the false claims they repeat, evolution “can” be observed, and it “is” repeatable in the lab. (For evidence, see www.talkorigins.org/origins/faqs-qa.html).

Evolution is as much a fact as the theory that germs cause disease. Just because some people doubt the existence of germs and find the absolute truth that ghosts can make you sick to be truly satisfying does not mean it should be part of the science curriculum.

John W. Hoopes,

Lawrence