Intelligent design Man’s disobedience caused flaws
I have before me W. Bennington’s letter to the Missoulian (“Does intelligent designer ever choke?) of Jan. 6. In this letter, Bennington questions the existence of a God who can’t design a better body than the one(s) we have, with their many “design flaws.” There is clearly a lack of understanding displayed in the letter.When God created the world, and mankind in it, his created design was perfect. There was no bad eyesight, no restricted birth canal, no mental illness, no disease, no handicaps, no death, etc. It was only when the world was corrupted by man’s disobedience that the problems showed up. It’s interesting how mankind causes the difficulty and then God gets the blame.
One further point: When the Bible states that God created man “in his own image,” it is not speaking about bodies, because God is a spirit (John 4:24). Our now-flawed bodies are only a temporary residence. I can promise you that even these imperfect bodies are more intricately designed than anything evolution could come up with on purpose, let alone by accident.
Christians are not ignorant
After reading the letter from David Rice regard creationism (Jan. 4), I felt I just had to respond.First of all, there is a big difference between Greek mythology and theology. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and those beliefs should be respected. In reading Rice’s comments, I cannot help but feel he is truly misinformed and a lost soul. I took personal offense when he referred to most educated people knowing better than to believe in what he considers superstition. His reference to God being a magician is not only disrespectful, it is a sign of ignorance on his part.
I will definitely pray for Rice and hope that he comes to the realization that he needs to be aware that people are not ignorant because they believe in a Christian God. By the way, people did not create God, God created people. That is my belief; please respect it.
Betty Chrestenson, Missoula
Humans are not like God physically
David Rice wrote a letter to the editor (Jan. 4), declaring that belief is just a myth. He also said that having “an imaginary, invisible magician on your side absolves people of their responsibility to protect the planet and their species.” Actually, the Christians and Jews I know have inspired me by their concern for the unborn baby, the family, God’s creatures and the environment. Belief in God is no myth.Genesis 1:26-28 identifies humans as persons as created in the image of God. We are not like God physically, but rather have the capacity to be spiritual, intellectual, moral and sociable. Genesis 1:28 says “be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” God cares about His world. He wants our hands, feet, hearts and minds to serve His desires, which are for the good of the world.
We Christians believe that the Holy Spirit leads us to want to obey and please God. This very desire to please God is beyond imagination, but proved in the lives of people throughout history, as well as today. John Adams is a classic example of a Christian man who encouraged the First and Second Continental Congresses’ delegates to separate from England. He, like so many of our founding fathers, was willing to be hung if we lost the Revolutionary War.
These heroes and rescuers gave evidence of morality and nobility derived from God with their many unselfish, good deeds. We are certainly benefited by our Constitution, for example, and should know that Christian men created it to please God. The Christian founding fathers proclaimed God’s leading throughout the creation of our government. They made no secret of their faith.
Jeanette Zentgraf, Lolo
Trapping Animals are more than just resources
In his Jan. 6 letter, Dennis Schutz claimed trappers do a lot for the community while those opposed to trapping do not. Schutz listed his friend Mike Dey’s accomplishments, which are all trapping-related. Are interests not related to trapping not valid? What about volunteers working at Montana’s animal shelters? Is this work not worthy because it’s helping animals?Schutz says trappers have worked to get “sensible” rules to protect pets on public lands. I disagree. At Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission hearings, I’ve heard trappers vehemently oppose any attempts to change regulations, such as increasing the distance from trails for trap placement.
Schutz has heard of only four cases of dogs being injured in traps since 1978. I know more incidents have occurred and many are never reported. I have had dogs caught in a leg hold trap and a conibear, which never made the news.
Like many trappers, Schutz portrays animals as “renewable resources,” rather than living creatures. The bobcats, martens, coyotes, beavers and other animals killed by trappers feel pain, anxiety and fear. Caught in steel traps for days and being bludgeoned to death is hardly an easy death.
Trappers say trapped animals simply relax and await their fate. Well, I saw a trap along the Lochsa where the marten shredded the tree’s bark trying to escape. A trapped coyote on the Salmon River chewed up the brush around her before being killed, and an otter last winter, on the same river, chewed its paw off - leaving it in the trap. I’ve also seen the carnage of non-target species, such as Stellar’s jays strewn around traps.
I, like Schutz, have a lot more to say. For instance, when I was freeing my black lab from the conibear, I had a lot to say, but it wouldn’t be printable.
Michael Koeppen, Florence
Group has compiled long list of killed pets
In his Jan. 6 guest column, Dennis Schutz painted Footloose Montana as an organization unconcerned about humans. Schutz’s contention is misleading. Footloose is quite concerned about people.
When a pet dies in a trap, more than just the animal is affected. Most people think of their pets as family members. If a pet dies a premature, gruesome death, the grieving process for that loved one can be devastating.
Schutz says that he’s heard of only four domestic dogs being injured in traps since 1978. While I don’t doubt his statement, I wonder just how isolated his life is. Footloose Montana isn’t even a year old, yet we’ve already compiled a depressingly long list of family pets who have suffered the torturous consequences of trapping.
In fact, at virtually every Footloose event, someone new shares a heartwrenching story of what happened to a cat or dog. Even worse are the stories of pets who mysteriously disappear. How many pets fall victim to trappers who quietly dispose of the bodies to avoid publicity?
Footloose Montana encourages people to visit www.FootlooseMontana.org and report trapped pets. Photos documenting what happened are especially useful.
Finally, regarding Schutz’s claim that we don’t allow free speech at our events, the only time we limit speech is during our educational trap-release workshops. People come to our workshops to learn how to rescue their pets from traps. Releasing a struggling animal from a powerful trap is difficult, and the success rate for even a well-trained person is marginal at best. Frankly, it wouldn’t be fair to the attendees if we took time away from their hands-on training to debate the perceived merits of trapping.
As many pet owners have learned, what you don’t know can hurt you and change a life forever.
Marty Essen, President, Footloose Montana, VictorM
Pet owners becoming increasingly angry
In response to Bob Sheppard’s pro-trapping comments (Dec. 18):The heritage argument doesn’t work. Does society still condone gun fighting on Main Street, vigilantism, etc.?
To say that furs are “green” is confusing apples and oranges. And, it is worth noting that Brian Giddings, furbearer coordinator for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, has stated “furbearers are hard to count.” Absent reliable quotas, how is the viability of a resource known?
Trapping for scientific purposes has a legitimacy that trapping for sport and profit cannot claim. Furthermore, animals trapped for research studies, and/or relocation, are closely monitored and humanely handled, and the traps are altered to minimize stress.
Sheppard suggests that “animal extremists” ignore the reality of certain human vs. wildlife conflicts. The truth is that people who are concerned about our wildlife are seeking compassionate solutions, while others are happy to perpetuate the tradition of cruelty.
In the guest column of the same day as Sheppard’s, Ben Lamb of the Montana Wildlife Federation cites the billions of dollars contributed by hunters and anglers to, among other things, “restoration of wildlife populations.” There is no mention of trappers, or any benefit from trappers. The trapping industry does not appear to fit with the community of outdoorsmen and -women who treat our animals with respect.
Interestingly, in the same Dec. 18 issue, there was an article about a couple who had lost their dog and received an outpouring of help and support from the people of Missoula. The dog was found alive and well. A happy ending. These same caring citizens, throughout Montana, are becoming increasingly angry at the threat trapping poses to their pets, and to their personal freedom to recreate safely.
Let’s have a happy ending to the cruel and grisly practice of killing and torturing animals for the fur market.
J. Stratton, Florence
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