To the editor:

These past few weeks I have been reading with amusement the antics of the gods on Mount Oread and the hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing of the humans who worship them. Yes, we have created gods in the athletic department of Kansas University. We have built temples and altars, provided sacrifices and offering, created rituals and mythologies, established high holidays with all the celebration. There is a pantheon of lesser gods and high priests and other servants to perform the rituals and mediate with the gods. We expect them to be more than human and look to them to make our world a better and more prosperous realm.

But how do the gods of classical mythology act? With capriciousness and utter disregard for the humans who serve them. They fight among themselves, and lesser gods who misbehave are thrown down from Mount Oread to dwell among mortals. They are greedy, selfish, petty, and vain. The priesthood who serve them take the temple offering to fatten themselves.

And let’s not forgot the gladiators who perform for their amusement and are pampered until they are killed or too feeble to perform.

The gods we have created on Mount Oread are created in our own image. Recognizing this you would think we would let them go the way of the gods of antiquity. Don’t hold your breath!