I just wanted to congratulate you for publishing the article by Billy Goodman on religious scientists (The Scientist, Jan. 9, 1995, page 1). It seems that most scientific publications, and perhaps many scientists, are embarrassed by the fact that there are theists in their midst. Rather than try to understand the origins and implications of such faith, the scientific media tend to ignore its existence. As a Christian, I have long been confused by the attempts of my atheistic and agnostic collea

"... We may safely pronounce that the true test of a good government is its aptitude and tendency to produce a good administration." -- Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist, No. 68. Since the majority of government employees, including the director of the National Institutes of Health, are appointed in some fashion, the establishment of selection criteria is unavoidable. The question is what will the criteria be and how will they be weighed? The need for a director of NIH is apparent on several

Alex Weisskopf's exposition in defense of fetal tissue research (The Scientist, Nov. 13, 1989, page 15) was masterful. By applying his suggested guidelines to this "socially sensitive" issue, he assures us we can allay the fears of the public and our own conscience in engaging in fetal tissue research. Not surprisingly, Weisskopf neatly skirted the central issue. His assertion that those who vocally object to the use of abortuses obtained through elective abortion are attempting to force "their

The editorial by William Provine was a tremendous revelation to me, especially since, prior to reading it, I was lost in an ignorant state of religious faith without the ability to think critically. I must confess that I once believed that not all of Truth was demonstrable through science. As hard as it is to admit now, I even believed (oops! I behaved as if I believed) that I made choices and was responsible for them. How wonderful it was to learn for certain that life has no purpose or meaning