familial and social atmosphere where I can express my ideas without too much fear. But plenty of people
don't have that privilege and for them every indicator points toward believing in a Christian God. So I
guess it is because of fear that Christianity is so popular. Fear is not always recognized by the self.
Some happy Christians are totally unaware of their own daily trepidation. It is only the most intelligent
people I have met who are forthright about expressing their fears and who understand how fear might
affect their motives and beliefs. My fear of persecution for my beliefs is not as powerful as my fear of
failure at accomplishment. So the best way for me to achieve is to make music that questions religion,
pursue scientific academic avenues, and pass along goodness to my children. It seems productive.
I have been asked to give a talk at the Cornell Christian Faculty Fellowship. It seems that you are not
the only religious academic who is interested in hearing about the views of the evolutionists. I welcome
the invitation. I expect a lively discussion.
Sincerely,
Greg
P.S. Please tell me how Brideshead Revisited is supposed to initiate a sense of compassion toward
religious people. I saw the story as depicting religion as a horrific burden on the happiness of Brideshead
family, all the way up to the end of the story in the eventual dissolution of Charles's relationship.
It just dawned on me yesterday, during songwriting, that I had deleted that message you sent a while
back that asked me about Brideshead Revisited (remember-because I hadn't yet finished the story).
Dear Greg:
I've been nailed by the Tidal Wave: midterms, students in revolt because I hammered the bad grammar in
their papers, writing deadlines, the lecture I mentioned before to finish (delivered it last night in Dallas).
Ever have so much going on that you get panicky? That was me up to yesterday-and my parents, from San
Bernardino, have just arrived for the weekend! So let me catch my breath and digest your last letter.
I heard the California fire was heading for San Fernando...?Peace,
Preston
Dear Preston,
I am going to LA on Monday. My mom, who lives in the S.F. Valley, said the smoke was awful but it has
been contained.
The talk today at Cornell Christian Faculty Fellowship went well. The largest complaint was that my
definition of theism is misleading. Apparently I wasn't kind enough to God. I guess I said a theist's God is
one that manipulates and intervenes and this was offensive to one of the audience members.
In the pre-talk prayer, the emcee said thank you to God "and we hope you will speak through Greg
today to help enlighten us"Ap- parently I am not totally due all the credit for the ideas in my work!