The concepts of "life evolution" and "creatoin begnnings" both have valid arguments for support. The fossil record of paleolife presents factual proof for the concept of evolution. However, the fossil record does not offer positive factual proof for evolution beginning with the first one-celled life continuous to mankind.

There is no fossil evidence of evolution between kingdoms, phyla or classes of life forms. But once a class of life form appeared in the record, there is factual evidence of evolution within the class, but not between classes. We attempt to bridge the gaps between classes by assuptions and guesswork.

Since science cannot offer an answer for the origins, then Genesis 1:1 becomes a valid anser. The concept of creationism is not founded on scientific date (data, sic) and does not purport to be scientific. It goes beyond the realm of science. Science cannot prove the existence of God, nor can it disprove God. The world and all therein operates under a set of natural laws that were instituted in the origin. These laws are in complete harmony - one does not violate the other.

Approximately 50 years ago I embarked upon 20 years of teaching geology at the university level. I came to the realization that in order to be academically honest with my students it became necessary for me to discern between fact and fiction (academic guesswork) in trying to honestly answer leading questions from my students, and not leave them with open-ended halftruths. I had to rethink some of the "brain washing" that I received during parts of the 128 semester hours of geologic education that I received.

At that oint, I came to the realization that there were some questions that were beyond the realm of science. Since we are real, there must be some answers, and at this point I accepted the biblical truth of Genesis 1:1. Once the origin became a reality, science could then begin to discern some of the workings of the physical natural laws under which the earth and universe operates.

If Mr. Patton (April Reader's Forum) would canvas the several geologists of his acquaintance that he references, I dare say not one would accept the origin of the earth by "black magic" out of total chaos, but would rather conclude that it all came about by intelligent design. There is a maxim that implies that geology is 2 percent fact and 98 percent theory. This quote is essentially correct, except the percentages may be skewed.

Earl Harrison, Abilene, Texas . . .