In "Stop reading if you believe fact and faith are synonymous" (Tribune, Jan. 28), Robert Kirby states that politics and faith "are so personally subjective and intensely held that debating them is pointless."

I understand Kirby was simply making an observation, but his column seems to suggest we should avoid discussing such matters. Progress is best accomplished by promoting fact-based debate. Voting the party line, or blindly following ecclesiastical leadership, benefits no person.

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Francis Collins, former head of the Human Genome Project and a Christian, believes that religions tying themselves too tightly to certain factually unsupported creationist views (for example, the earth being 6,000 years old or denying evolution) has been destructive.

Similarly, politicians from both sides stuck in their ideological camps, ignoring the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and members of the scientific community, are equally destructive.

As uncomfortable as debating religion and politics is, a bit of civil objective criticism might go a long way for everyone.

Kenneth Donaldson

Pleasant Grove