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Our Readers Write * He Has Closed His Mind K

To The Editor: This is in response to Ted Lederach's letter printed in the Aug. 29 edition of the Herald/Latem. I was very disappointed concerning the judgment in the part of the Herald/Latern's editorial staff to print such an immature, antagonistic letter that was clearly written in order to maliciously attack the deeply-held beliefs and values of the decent, God-respecting people of the community This same man wrote an almost identical letter to the Gazatte-Leader two years ago. where it was also publish ed and caused a great deal of controversy and disturbance It will no doubt do the same again, because the Herald/Latern has again chosen to give this man an audience

LEDERACH obviously has little respect for other pecy pie or their beliefs. His offer of $1,000 to anyooe who will "argue" with him concerning Gods existence is rude, ludicrous.and insulting to the newspaper public. His reasoning concerning religion represented in his letter is disjointed, illogical, and irrelevant to the basic question of God's existence or non-existence — and it contains little or no resemblance to honest, scholarly evaluation or a sincere attempt to discover truth, j He is quite obviously not in a ps&hological position to honestly and objectively evaluate any "evidence" concer ning God's reality because he has clearly closed his mind to that possibility — therefore any evidence presented to him (valid or not) would be automatically rationalized away or completely rejected. His extravgant offer of $1,000 to anyone who can "convince" him that his beliefs concerning God's nonexistence are in error is evidence of this fact: he clearly plans to never have to pay anyone that kid of sum. He is simply looking for a fight. His attitude of contention and extreme dogmatism betrays this — he is clearly unwilling to accept anything that may contradict his own preconceived viewpoint, valid or not. TTius there is no risk of losing his money. IF THIS MAN wishes to convince anyone of the invalidity of belief in God's existence, be is going to have to do much better than this type of letter. I for one know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God exists, and that He is everything Jesus Christ claimed Him to be — and I know this based on experience, faith, and solid, reasonable, rational evidence, both subjective and objective. There are many others who know this as well, as that evidence is freely available to anyone who wishes to see it. examine it. and partake of it. If Lederach is completely unaware of this evidence, then that is because of his own self-will and shortsightedness — not God's inadequacy (or unwillingness) to provide it. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." — Jesus Christ (Matthew 11.M5) KIRK HASTINGS Wildwood Crest Do you have an opinion on this subject? Write a letter to the editor. Herald and Lantern, P.O. box 430. Cape MayCourt House, N.J. 08210.

Faith Is Basis To The Editor: Ted Lederach's sophomoric dissertation or "life" would be amusing if it were not so pathetic— revealing a tortured spirit's frantic attempt to rationalize a flawed hypothesis. Alexander Pope < 1688-1744 1 had issued a cogent warning to pseudo-scholars: "A little learning is a dangerous thing. Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring." Lederach's biological hypothesis has several flaws— primarily in its failure to identify the source of the "single celled algae" nor the "ancient seas" that spawned them— "Algae" by definition implying plurality, so whence the "single celled"? With regard to evolution versus religion, is Lederach unaware that logic and intelligence had long since laid to rest that controversy0 Nor will his "$1,000 reward" have any bona fide takers, since the basis of all religion is FAITH— a priceless commodity that is neither salable nor debatable, nor indeed, attainable except by the humble heart. As for branding the Bible, it contains at least one pertinent sentence that Lederach should ponder: "The fool says in his heart, there is no God!" CLARA M. DORIS Cape May Fisher's Fabrication To The Editor: RE: article appearing on July 25. on the op-ed page, written by Ruth Fisher, president of the Citizens' Assn. for the Protection of the Environment. I must challenge her outrageous statement which attacks the credibility and integrity of the New Jersey Farm Bureau. Fisher boldy claims that a baby in a playpen was sprayed with pesticides and then somehow is now mysteriously missing and somehow the New Jersey Farm Bureau and its lawyer were involved. This is a complete fabrication, created to serve the needs of her emotional lobbying. It is unprincipled to suggest that the New Jersey Farm Bureau would intervene in such a, case This tactic used by Fisher is devised to astonish readers, offend their sensibilities and persuade them to join her anti-pesticide bandwagon. I appreciate your publishing the Farm Bureau\ response. WALTER ELLIS JR. New Jersey Farm Bureau .. Trenton ,r r~ ft 7 "N CAPE MAY Jy 4 \ couimtv PohlkllMf |. < u. U I . J .. _ _ Published Kvm Wrdnrsdas

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"In The Name Of The Father (The Mother). The Child And The Sexless Holy Ghost. Aperson..." f

I Am a Person To The Editor: Some people make me sick. We all have our opinions, but "it's better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt." Ted Lederach (Aug. 29 letter to editor) can keep his $1,000. 1 won't say "I hope or I believe." I'll say I know you may be an animal, but I am a person. I am not running around on four legs There-is a difference. I have a dog and four cats; four legs, right?! don't depend on them for food and water; they depend on me. - /-~- I love Christmas and Easter and what they stand fpr' God wanted all kinds. He sure got them. Lederach prtives it. I'm very glad I don't know him. y MAY McENEANEY Villas Stuff the $1,000 To The Editor: In reference to Ted Lederach's letter on how to make $1,000, 1 would like to say the following. • t If you think I came from a piece of algae, so be it. Some people still think the world's flat, too. I don't have to use the words "I hope or I -believe." I know there is a God. He helped me write this.ietter As for . the $1,000, stuif it. God and I don't need your money. It f would be dangerous to our mental antTBhysical wellbeing. / John E Paynter / } . jErma ^

-Better Than Bondage Neither Freak Nor Purist

By JOE ZELNICK 1 was stopped at a bank drive-in the other day when an acquaintance walked by, peered in at me. shook his head and said. "When are you going to stop dressing like a 14-year-old?" I was hurt, of course. It was hot and I was wearing shorts and a pink Panama Jack shirt with no sides, purchased at the Stone Harbor Sidewalk Sale for five bucks. Later that day I met friends at the ferry and as we head--tti toward the car, it seemed they were trying not to walk alongside me When we got in my car, one friend commented, "Muscle shirts were meant for people with muscles." HAVING GONE two for two, I've been reconsidering my wardrobe. Why do I own (and wear) about 35 tee shirts with various messages on them? Do I have an ego problem? Is this one way to make sure people notice me? Some have called me a tee shirt freak. Freak seems a litUe strong. But I'd rather be a tee shirt freak than a necktie freak They tend to be into bondage and all that. Tee shirt messages can be very significant. I told you last week about the ones commemorating the deaths of the Philadelphia Bulletin and Buffalo Courier-Express 1 also have two that say "You've Got a Friend in Penn sylvania," one that s<fe "Protect the Dolphins" on the front and "Save the Whale" on the back, and one from Scotty's Pub (Sanibel. Fla.) that says "Free Beer Tomorrow." KEEP IN MIND that the message isn't always true. For example, I've got one from my home town that says "Gowanda on the Grow ' ' Actually, it's dying. And I've got a shirt from the Pen and Pencil Club in Philadelphia that says "Not Tonight, Dear. I Have a Deadline " Fortunately. weekly newspapers only have one deadline a week. I also like tee shirts with people's faces! I've got a nifty Willie Nelson and a fantastic Ernest Hemingway, both of which drive the women crazy.

My most bizarre tee shirt says "North Catholic Football j 33. It was left on my clothesline by some tourists who stayed upstairs over me earlier this summer. After that, I spent most Saturday mornings, between checkout and checkin time, inspecting resort clotheslines. MY TEE SHIRT TASTE seems to go for lost causes I have a red and white one that says "Re-elect Pat Peterson Middle Township Committee. " And my most recent addition proclaims "Mary Mochary U.S. Senate." I think I Mochary would make a heckuva senator, but don 't bet onv I her beating Bjfl Bradley For one thing. I doubt females will vote fori woman who looks good in a jogging suit. I often bring back tee shirts from places I've vacationed: "TorAnto's 150th Birthday." "Cancun Magic Tropic." The Mucky Duck, CapUva Island Florida." But rm not a purist who will only wear a tee shirt from a place I ve been. I encourage friends and relatives to bring me starts from where they've been. So I've got shirts that ^ "vm 8 V™,GIN Island." "Deerfield Beach, Fla..'' and Village Cellars Tasting Room, Sansalito, Calif." II like commemorative shirts, particularly out-of-date y,°2 ran4et a B00"1 b"J'- Thus I have two 1982 Sfa 5hlrts tha> for five or six dollars last year ace a dollar °r tw0 wben 1 bought them p™1.; BK'ST BU,y ' aver 8°' has a picture of Pope John Paul II and says Welcome John Paul II 1979," Some entrepreneur apparently overestimated the spending habits ! .^ u S, Se 1 picked UP a handful of those hi Cape May a couple years ago for 50 cents apiece ■JT ^people at Christmas and found nonSS «P««lly appreciative I figure many nonCatholics have just a tinge of doubt about which is the true religion and they probably feel safe from harm Z !^JH^ar'ng Shirt' No doubt #'■ a favorite in rides 0rmS °r °° S°me °' 1116 Wildw«xf boardwalk