There are 19 major world religions and thousands of smaller ones. At least 500 creation stories are known. Yet, the "creationist" theory of Southern fundamentalists within the United States has dominated your correspondence columns.

This being so, it is time to put the current controversy in its proper context. A culture of biblical interpretation is common to a particular geographic area within the United States. A significant part of the oil and gas industry is located in that region. The exponents of creationism are likely to come from this region.

Since the AAPG membership includes a very considerable body of professionals from not only other geographic areas of the United States but from other countries that, for the most part, are unlikely to agree with this parochial view, the subject ought to be put to rest.

David W. Edgerly
ueensland, Australia