A Chara, - William Reville says that there is dilute scientific evidence for an impersonal God (IT August 24th) based on the "anthropic principle" associated with Fred Hoyle. Logically, two thousand years of Christian faith prior to Fred Hoyle could not have been similarly based. May we take it that Dr Reville cannot defend, in a scientific fashion, what went before Fred Hoyle? Further into the article he says that there is evidence of a different kind for a personal God. No more needs to be said about that, scientifically speaking, than the Irish pejorative, "dúirt bean liom. . ." But in fairness, though confused in presentation, his aims are modest and should not worry an atheist. Early in the article Dr Reville says, ". . .it is not possible to prove [the existence of God]". Thus, the "dilute scientific evidence" he presents later is insufficient by his own admission. - Is mise,
JACK GANNON, Cabra, Dublin 7.
Madam, - There's nobody quite like William Reville to shake the dogmatic scientific fundamentalists out of their trees. Their unshakeable faith in the primacy of scientifically measurable evidence would be touching were it not for the stridency of its expression. One thing has often puzzled me, however, about the premise upon which this particular belief system is founded. The key doctrine seems to be that scientifically measurable evidence is the only evidence that can be considered valid.
Yet how could any scientific experiment ever prove this? It would be a bit like asking a judge to be the prosecutor, defendant, jury and, yes, judge at her own trial. And in the absence of a controlled (and God - oops! - only knows what could act as a control in this instance), double-blind, peer-reviewed experiment which proves, incontrovertibly, the premise of scientific fundamentalists, aren't they hoisted by their own petard?
Dreamers like the rest of us, perhaps some day they'll join us. - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN G CONROY BSc., Windy Arbour, Dublin 14
Madam, - Prof William Reville is inclined to bring God into his learned columns of late. As a scientist he should be aware of his limitations in this regard and of the consequences of invoking a deity into everyday life. It is hard enough having to put up with Bush, Blair, Bono et al! - Yours, etc
KEITH NOLAN, Carrick~on~Shannon, Co Leitrim.