LETTERS

FINDING RELIGION ON THE INTERNET

"If Jesus is really online, what's his personal E-mail address? I've got a few bones I'd like to pick with him." RICHARD S. RUSSELL Madison, Wisconsin

The Internet is indeed exploding before our astounded eyes. It is encouraging that the religious world realizes that it must become involved [RELIGION, Dec. 16] if it wants to connect with its membership, especially the youth, who have embraced the new technology. This bombardment and exchange of ideas is both fascinating and frightening. We have all heard of the dangers lurking on the Internet to corrupt our children, and it is reassuring to know there will be a spot on the Net for those who seek spiritual comfort and guidance. MIKE TRAYNOR Glenolden, Pennsylvania

The Internet may be great, but it is also the most compulsive waste of time man has yet devised. Your article adopted an uncritical "wow" attitude toward the Net. Jesus came specifically for those shut out from the good things of life. He challenges us to bend all technology to a human cause, not to plug ourselves in exclusively to a culture that exists only for a small minority. As a Catholic, I will be impressed with the Vatican's presence on the Net only if the church shows an awareness of the Net's prime difference from all other media: it offers two-way transmission of ideas. Communications by the church have always been one way, and it doesn't need the Net for that. Will it listen now? Let us pray but not hold our breath. SEAN O'CONAILL Coleraine, Northern Ireland

Never has there been such an opportunity for the cross-cultural exchange of ideas as the Internet provides. For a person to discover that aspects of his religion are similar to those of another is to open an additional door to the true oneness of humanity. RON SMITH Scotia, New York

With 6 billion potential subjects of this newest evangelization, the revolution possible is beyond even Gutenberg's wildest dreams. But who will be evangelized? And who will do the evangelizing? The creation and maintenance of a Website, as compared with a radio or television broadcast, is neither difficult nor expensive. But only the richest of the people on the planet own the necessary equipment to visit such exclusive religious sites as those of the brothers of Christ in the Desert or the Vatican. The rich are at the top of the information mountain; the poor receive the leavings. While mainline denominations and lesser-known religions get equal time in cyberspace, a realignment of membership will affect only the rich. The poor will still depend on real persons to tend to their spiritual needs. PHYLLIS ZAGANO Boston

It seems as though TIME is being converted into a religious-studies magazine, as an increasing number of cover articles have appeared lately on the topics of God, Jesus and other aspects of religion. Snap out of it! STEVEN ONLEY Bexley, Australia

I had trouble with religion professor William Grassie's statement, "If you believe in an eternal, unchanging God, you'll be in trouble." Just the opposite is true. God is not changing; it is we who are changing in our understanding of God. He is not evolving; it is we who are evolving in our conception of God's redemptive presence in the world. DENA LEE Amherst, Virginia

Silly me. For half a century, I deluded myself into thinking I was worshipping an eternal, spiritual being, the Creator. Now I discover from the proponents of process theology that I have been worshipping a process. What implications does this hold for the event that occurred in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago? Instead of the Son of God, was a computer born? The mind reels. JAN ALKIRE Seattle

One of the greatest aspects of Jesus online is that people who are timid about going to their local church or parish can go to a chat room and talk to a priest about their problems. They can share their experience with someone who wants to help. This will assist more people in finding that God is part of their lives, a realization that has been lacking in our culture. ANDREW MCLOONE Merchantville, New Jersey

OBSCURE RELIGIONS ON THE NET

Perhaps Robert Wright was just being polite when he referred to the presence on the Internet of "legions of obscure but enterprising people who harbor ambitions of spiritual leadership" [RELIGION, Dec. 16]. To call such people enterprising understates the case. If you eliminated the money angle, religion would die a quiet death. Religious hucksters are much more concerned about the kingdom than about the king's message. DALE KLCO Boca Raton, Florida

Wright overlooked an important point: the Internet provides the opportunity for the truth to be revealed to those who would otherwise never see it. Any true or untrue theology can be expressed on the Web. Yet when all the clutter is stripped away, only the valid, unchanging message of Jesus Christ will remain. JEFF LUKENS Farmington Hills, Michigan

THE DEATH BUSINESS

Your article on corporate consolidation in the funeral industry [BUSINESS, Dec. 9] may mislead readers into thinking all funeral directors have firms similar to those of funeral-home and cemetery "consolidators" like Service Corp. International and the Loewen Group. Wrong! It would have been more appropriate to interview one or two of the more than 23,000 independent owners of funeral homes. CHARLES W. VAUGHN, Funeral Director Heath & Vaughn Funeral Home Champaign, Illinois

Few consumers are aware that the Federal Trade Commission permits all funeral overhead fees to be lumped into the nondeclinable "basic services" charge. Those consumers who opt for modest or minimal funeral arrangements must pay for overhead they do not use. Today bereaved families pay on average $4,457 for a funeral, not counting cemetery and monument expenses. At a funeral chain, it is likely to be 50% higher. Compare that cost with what you would pay in England ($1,650), France ($2,200) or Australia ($2,100).

What self-defense is there for a funeral consumer? You could decide not to be one of the 45% who simply call the funeral home that buried their nearest relative. If there is a nonprofit memorial society in your area, its volunteers have probably done the price comparison for you. Call them if funeral price shopping seems too daunting a task. LISA CARLSON, Executive Director Funeral and Memorial Societies of America Hinesburg, Vermont

We don't agree with the way our company was portrayed in Erik Larson's report. We offer the highest-quality services to consumers at a range of competitive prices. We are recognized for our leadership in consumerism. We are dedicated to achieving market-share gains with the integrity and compassion our profession demands. A hostile takeover of the Loewen Group by Service Corp. International would be harmful to consumers and the industry. In our view SCI is attempting to eliminate its most formidable competitor in North America. RAYMOND L. LOEWEN Chairman and CEO Loewen Group Inc. Burnaby, British Columbia

I was in no way intimidated into selling my funeral home to Ray Loewen, despite the account that appeared in your article. Loewen was one of four potential purchasers my sons and I considered, and he became our first choice, a decision we have never regretted. The account of Loewen's threatening to build a competitive funeral home misrepresents the events that occurred and the positive atmosphere of the transaction. JOHN WRIGHT, President Wright & Ferguson Jackson, Mississippi

Many people think a funeral is required by law. It is not. My family chooses cremation and has the ashes scattered at sea. Then we hold a memorial service in the backyard of the family home, where we have had so many good times. Family and friends gather for a potluck meal, and we bring out the photo albums and reminisce. No fuss, no stress and very little expense. Down with funeral homes! JOYCE ELLIOTT Los Angeles

THE NEW TEAM IN WASHINGTON

In naming his new foreign-affairs team, President Clinton has again shown his perspicacity [NATION, Dec. 16]. He cemented the allegiance of women, appeased Congress (at least temporarily) and, most important, ensured continuous loyalty. As Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright may or may not turn out to be another Henry Kissinger, but she is not going to cool her heels waiting for an audience with a Syrian dictator. Perhaps a consistent foreign policy, sorely missing during the past four years, will now come into existence. While at this time media attention is concentrating on Albright, William Cohen as Secretary of Defense may emerge as the strongest member of the new team. SAMUEL TENNENBAUM West Orange, New Jersey

Albright looks and sounds like a latter-day Margo Channing (Bette Davis) in All About Eve on the verge of uttering her famous line, "Fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy night." Go get 'em, Big Mama! ERROL ALLAN Guntersville, Alabama

A thought: Madeleine Albright is Margaret Thatcher, Yankee-style. ANTOINETTE CORBIN Laurelton, New York

THE NEXT BIG THING

Although you stated that alternative rock is on its way to becoming extinct [MUSIC, Dec. 16], you failed to mention that this is in the context of the mainstream music industry. It is very sad to learn that MTV and record sales have become the only indicator of the popular-music scene. Believe it or not, alternative music is still out there and thriving in the subculture of youth. Stick your head out of the office and take a look around. Don't rely on the tube and a few statistics. NORA GRUBER San Diego

I once had the opportunity to see Pearl Jam live and up close. But then MTV fame grabbed hold, and I now watch them (and many other of my favorite bands) from afar. Perhaps declining record sales are in a way a blessing for these bands, and will make them truly alternative once again. JONATHAN HURWITZ San Francisco