BOSTON (Reuters) - Harvard University is planning a scientific study of how life emerged on Earth, thrusting one of America's most prestigious universities into the growing, politically charged debate over an alternative to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Dear Reuters:

There is no "debate over an alternative to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution."

There is the theory of evolution, proven by scientifically gathered evidence for nearly 150 years, and there are religious fundamentalists whose fragile worldview requires them to attack any fact that conflicts with any story in the Bible, no matter how clearly mythological the Biblical story is.

To these people, if evolution is "true," then the Bible is not literally true. If the Bible is not literally true, then the New Testament is not literally true. That, in turn, means that fundamentalists who uttered the phrase "I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior" at the age of 12 may not have received the Magic Key to Heaven, one that can't be taken away from them no matter how much hatred and bile they spew in the rest of their lives.

If they can't hang an entire theology on a few literal phrases, then salvation might not be by faith alone. God might judge them for their works. That could mean being held responsible for the years they spent hurting women, gay people, poor people, and people of other faiths. But if evolution is false and every word of the Bible is literally true, then they can continue to believe that saying "I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior" at some point after the start of puberty gives them immortal immunity from actions of hatred.

Therefore, they work very hard to convince people there is a "debate" where none exists. Facts remain facts. I look forward to your upcoming correction.