This is regarding the April 24 letters by Russ Graves, “Science, religion can coexist,” and Lynnette Turner, “Science takes faith, too.”

To Russ Graves: Yes, many of the world’s greatest scientists were indeed believers, even creationists.

But they also believed in other mistaken ideas, such as life by spontaneous generation, animal volition by vital life forces and light propagation by the vibrations in an imponderable medium known as the luminiferous aether.

None of these ideas, including that of creationism, has the slightest scientific credibility these days, save perhaps in the imaginations of certain students, faculty and staff here at Iowa State.

Despite the many believers in science even now, modern science itself ignores all things supernatural, including God, gods, demons, angels and such.

It seems the only ideas capable of long term survival in science are the completely atheistic/materialistic ones.

All the rest were discarded long ago.

To Lynnette Turner: Faith is required only when supporting evidence is lacking or, worse yet, when counter evidence is mounting.

Thus belief in creationism requires faith.

Scientists place confidence in research and sound reason, not faith, because they are justified in this by more than ample supporting evidence.

Experience clearly shows that employing research and sound reason brings more success than not employing them. But belief in prayer does require faith, because praying is as unsuccessful as doing nothing.

John W. Patterson

Emeritus professor

Materials science and engineering