Scientific rigour

Back to God

Recent articles highlight an appalling suicide rate and the commendable efforts some groups are making to help.

Looking at our society I am surprised the rate is not higher. We are told that we descended from a slimy blob in a primordial swamp, without any explanation as to where even that came from. Abortion and euthanasia are extolled but we are worried about suicide - what hypocrisy.

If you subscribe to the view that our pseudo-scientists proclaim, we are nothing more than the animals we eat, there is no hope for a future life, when you die it is all over so why not finish it when you have had enough, or when it all gets too much – our euthanasia advocates think that is a good idea.

Add to that, recreational drugs, some prescribed drugs, alcohol, cyberbullying and other pressures and you have a lethal mix that can be hard to resist.

We set young people out on the sea of life without a rudder or anchor and wonder why there are shipwrecked lives.

If we really want to prevent suicide let’s get back to the truth; creation by God who loves us and gives eternal hope to those who trust Him. A genuine call to Him can change your life for He is the answer; I met Him nearly 60 years ago and He has never let me go despite all my failings.

To those who blame Christianity for the entire world’s evil, I can categorically say you do not know Him.

Your personal belief will determine your eternal destination but it can’t change the rules God has set in place. Peter Wilson New Plymouth In regards to the article ‘‘We can’t let superstition trump science’’, (Taranaki Daily News, September 9). David Aaronovitch has misunderstood (or not read) Darwin’s rather broad theories on evolution when he suggests we ‘stop being superstitious’ about Darwin’s work.

The vast progress in micro evolution vs macro evolution, complex cell function, DNA and genetics, let alone microbiology and other related fields either supports or questions previous suppositions and must be rigorously vetted and questioned by each generation of scientist; because that’s scientific, and that’s the spirit of discovery that has always driven science.

Whether related to Darwin or not, no book is unchallengeable or closed because we are simply scraping the surface (some pioneers get deeper than others) on what each generation knows about the natural world.

Why build a Hadron Collider when we already know what Einstein said about the speed of light?

Aaronovitch’s ’leave Darwin alone’ discredits good empirical, testable science and makes himself look superstitious or worse still a ‘believer’ in Darwin. Paul Maessen New Plymouth

Super suffering

I feel I have to agree with Frank Gaze’ letter (TDN, September 7) re politicians and National Super.

At the current level the 65 retirement age is too high for many workers especially those engaged in heavy industry work. Raising the age to 67 is unfair and foolish, as would be reducing the current superannuation earnings.

Based on the latest figures obtained from Statistics, the New Zealand average income is $60,000 per year. After tax at 30 per cent it’s $42,000 which equates to $807.00 per week.

The current Super net income per week for an individual is $390, Sharing is $360. Married with one spouse eligible is $285, Married with both eligible $600.

Imagine for a moment a 65-yearold on $285.00 per week with a 62-year-old spouse?

Unless she, or he, who is not yet eligible for super has some form of employment, or large personal savings, they would not survive.

When you see an elderly couple who, for the first time in their lives were forced to go to the food bank for food, and were highly embarrassed by this situation, what is that telling you?

Our elderly are not being cared for within the current climate of escalating food prices, fuel and electricity prices, insurance increases, rates rises, mortgages etc. etc.

There are some benefits from the super gold card and community services card but not enough to outweigh living costs.

Except for Winston Peters I haven’t yet heard anything positive for the biggest number of voters in the coming election, the over 60s. Dennis Stewart Oakura