To the editor:

Leonard Krishtalka might well be forgiven if he inadvertently misrepresented the theology of biologist Kenneth Miller, who spoke at Kansas University regarding intelligent design and faith versus reason. I attended that talk and, while Miller’s presentation of the anti-ID case was crystal clear, his attempt to reconcile his Catholicism with his science was not.

To call evolution the Big Bang, and all the doings of science the gradual discovery of natural processes God set in motion, is no resolution to the problem. Miller never said on what basis, if not hard-nosed reason, he concludes that such a creator exists, nor did he elect to expand on how, if at all, that prime mover still intervenes in the natural world since kick-starting nature so long ago. Does Miller reject such scientifically implausible ideas as virgin birth, resurrection of the dead, selves outside of brains, transubstantiation, and other standard, miraculous Catholic doctrines? He didn’t touch on these while speaking here.

Perhaps the answer came when he ran a clip of his appearance on TV’s satirical “Colbert Report.” Asked whether God might have fabricated evidence of evolution just to fool us, Miller said he didn’t choose to believe in a deceptive god. So God is, finally, whatever Miller chooses to believe He is? No professional theologian could have said it better.

Bruce S. Springsteen,

Lawrence