If God’s so loving, then why the mess?

A few thoughts for P.J. Bertrand (Pray for a stop to this downhill slide, Oct. 5) after picking my jaw up off the ground: He/she has fallen in the all too familiar trap of generalization and negligence regarding philosophies, typical of the people in this country who are afraid of science and change.

Although he/she may be shocked by this, it is possible for right and wrong to be taught without the aid of a made-up deity in the sky. The Golden Rule is bound by no god — Christian or Jew, monotheistic or poly. Parents should teach it everyday without the burden of religion.

I particularly enjoyed this quote: “From a psychiatric perspective, people who have broken with reality, either temporarily or permanently, are capable of heinous acts. So are people who are not psychotic but have been deluded into believing that their truth is truth.”

Were you not just observing the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 a few weeks ago? Then perhaps you are aware of the people who committed this “heinous act” were deluded into thinking their truths were the only truth, too.

As for teaching creationism along with evolution ... aside from that being similar to teaching how to swim and fly simultaneously, it is one of the most crippling things you could do to our schools. Our kids are behind the rest of the developed world, specifically in math and science, and you want to put them even further behind by dumbing down curriculum? I’m afraid I don’t follow. And on top of that, you want everyone to “pray that god stops this downhill slide before it is too late?” If your God is so loving and forgiving, as you assume him to be, then why all the mess in the first place?

Joe Bauer

Naperville