DAVID WALSH,
Madam, - I think John Grenham (November 11th) - and Prof Crews, whom he quotes - fail to distinguish between time and eternity. As the psalmist more elegantly puts it, "For a thousand years in thy sight is but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night." (Psalm 90.)
The creator has infinite patience. Having set the seeds of evolution in progress he can wait for his plan to enfold, perhaps with a nudge now and then. Mammals had to evolve to a certain stage before he could communicate his plan to them through the prophets. And free will had to lead us astray before he intervened by sending a Messiah.
As for Prof Dawkins, he is obviously prejudiced against religion. But even he cannot explain all of creation, nor all of evolution - the more inexplicable parts being where, I believe, the creator intervened to ensure such an elegant natural order in the universe. However, to accept this needs a gift of faith. Some scientists have that gift; others, unfortunately, have not. Whether they feel under peer pressure, as Dr Reville suggests, I don't know, but such deep thinking about our origins is bound to lead to doubts. When in doubt in the scientific world one tends to be cautious and wait for proof. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID WALSH, Bellevue, Delgany, Co Wicklow.