Letters: Jul. 24, 2000

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Your report discussed whether gays should be ordained and the recognition of same-sex unions [RELIGION, July 3]. The issue of the full participation of gays in the church rests in the interpretation of Scripture. Many of us believe that Jesus Christ is the axis around which the whole Bible should be interpreted. Not everyone agrees. But 150 years ago, many church members believed that the Bible allowed or supported slavery. Today almost no one holds that position. The axis shifted. And on the homosexual issue, the axis is also shifting. JOHN REAGAN Southern Pines, N.C.

If Jesus were around today, would he be hanging out with gays? You bet. But Jesus would do more than just spend time with gay people. He would call them to embrace a new way of life. To embrace God's word means to turn away from what he tells us is wrong and to embrace what he tells us is right. For the homosexual, it means repenting of that lifestyle. Some readers may think gay people who claim to be Christians are victims of a stubborn, narrow-minded group of other Christians who refuse to embrace them. TIME should be more tolerant of the evangelical church and of biblical Christianity. JEFF AUSTEN Waterloo, Ont.

What's Up at the Pump?

In Europe, where gas prices are higher than in the U.S. [NATION, July 3], people deal with the situation by driving cars that are more fuel efficient. If people in America don't want to pay so much for gas, then they should quit buying gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles and stop polluting the air. ADAM LEVINE Los Angeles

Only the oil companies and OPEC are in favor of oil profiteering. However, relatively low gasoline taxes and the resulting insatiable U.S. demand for oil have led to environmental destruction around the world as well as to urban sprawl and blighted city centers. ROLAND JAMES Phoenix, Ariz.

I have worked in the oil-refining industry for 15 years. Oil companies have done a poor job of convincing consumers of the need for increased gasoline prices. Additional cash has long been needed to address ever increasing regulation, the refurbishment of existing plants and the building of new facilities to meet a rising demand for gasoline. Consumers should know they are not guaranteed the right to low gasoline prices. KRISHNA SUBRAMANIAN Houston

Is Tiger the Greatest?

Johnny Miller hit the nail on the head in his piece praising golfer Tiger Woods [ESSAY, July 3]. But there's more: how a 24-year-old could become the youngest winner of golf's Grand Slam eludes words. Anyone who has not seen this man in action should switch on the TV and watch him play a full tournament. I'm a 20-year-old who is finally getting a chance to see a superstar in the making. I've become a fan and player of golf in no small part thanks to Tiger. The scary thing is, he's going to keep trying to get even better! RAJEEV RAO Richmond, B.C.

I have one thing to add about Woods: Will the U.S. Attorney General seek to have Tiger broken up for being a monopoly and creating unfair competition? RONALD HARRISON Atlanta

While I agree that Woods is one of the greatest athletes, we should never forget that beyond North America there are other worlds that have sports personalities as great as, if not greater than, Tiger Woods. Let's look beyond North America's borders. PETER MCCOLL Vancouver, B.C.

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