A Few Pro-Life Heroes

Will today's pro-life advocates be seen as tomorrow's heroes?

I've no doubt that they will. At least, they'll be noted as such in the only history books that really count; namely, those that stored for safe-keeping in the heavenly library.

But please know that defenders of the sanctity of human life are already enshrined in history, even as they continue to make history every day. For instance, did you know that among the list of men who have stood against abortion and infanticide are the names of the following?

Theodore Roosevelt, J. Hudson Taylor, G. K. Chesterton, Dave Dravecky, Franklin Graham, John Calvin, St. Ambrose, Yehuda Levin, Roy Rogers, Rosey Grier, Peter Marshall, Gordon Humphrey, Phil Simms, Samuel Alito, Dr. David Livingston, St. Basil, Tony Evans, Sean Hannity, Rosie Grier, Lech Walesa...

Ronald Reagan, Mike Ditka, Alan Keyes, Frank Peretti, Pat Boone, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, Fr. Val Peter, Zig Ziglar, St. Jerome, Don Feder, Tim LaHaye, William Rehnquist, E.V. Hill, Marco Rubio, Nat Hentoff, Orel Hershiser, Justinian, J.C. Watts, John Elefante, Philip Rivers, Pete Ricketts, Charlton Heston...

Alexander Solzenitsyn, Norm Geisler, Rush Limbaugh, D. James Kennedy, Meadowlark Lemon, Henry Hyde, Mark Bavaro, James Caviezel, Jerry Falwell, Ignatius Loyola, Jesse Helms, Carman, Clement of Alexandria, Mel Gibson, Charles Colson, William Carey, Phil Robertson, Nick Cannon...

Pope John Paul II, Reggie White, Tom Selleck, Larry Burkett, Don Francisco, St. Vincent de Paul, Pat Buchanan, Wellington Boone, Augustus St. Clair, Kelsey Grammer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, John MacArthur, Tim Burke, Casting Crowns, Rick Perry, John Whitehead, Ben Stein, Steve Largent, Joe Scheidler, Kenny Chesney...

Francis Schaeffer, Martin Luther, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Monte Coleman, Andrea Bocelli, Keith Green, William F. Buckley Jr., Tony Evans, Scott Wesley Brown, Byron White, Chris Godfrey, Charles Swindoll, Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, Pete Metzelaars, Edward Zorinsky, Jack Willke, Fulton Sheen, Tim Tebow...

Clarence Thomas, John Cardinal O'Connor, Josh McDowell, William Bentley Ball, Adrian Rogers, Chris Smith, Fr. John Powell, Phil Simms, Gary Bauer, Frank Wolf, Matt Birk, Kirk Cameron, Dr. Jerome Lejune, Dan Reeves, Benjamin Watson, Jon Voight, Dr. James Dobson, Dick Gregory, Chuck Norris...

Charlie Daniels, Bill McCartney, Cal Thomas, Earnest Byner, Joseph Sobran, Ed Cole, Phil Keaggy, Ray Bohlin, Tom Herr, David Limbaugh, Steve Taylor, Bill Armstrong, Anthony Scalia, Robert Dornan, David Alton, Joe Gibbs, Bill Bright, A. C. Green, Malcolm Muggeridge, Tom Selleck...and on and on.

Pretty impressive group? You bet. But, it's a list that only has full significance to you...if your name can also be included there.

So, how about it, fellas? Are you among this noble company?

Capital Letters!

I mentioned a few days ago that last Saturday morning we had hosted a brunch version of our longstanding letter-writing parties. And I mentioned that I would post a few samples of the 40 letters and cards that were sent out.

Well, here you go.

To the National Education Association, 

You have been a counterproductive union for sometime now. I mean, just take a look at what you’ve produced: the dumbing down of American students…an environment full of bullying…grade inflation…the most lewd and counter-productive sex education…a severe deterioration in school safety…absurd classes with no real world application… leftist propaganda masquerading as open-mindedness… persecution of conservative political and religious views…and so on. 

And now you’ve voted to double-down and make your support of abortion even more expansive, more aggressive, more irrational? I’ll bet this will be the last straw for an awful lot of teachers. Plus, it is a very serious alarm to the rest of the country as to the immoral (and violent) direction your political advocacy will take in the future.

Please – reverse your course.

To the Girl Scouts of America,  

Please discontinue your aggressive and controversial advocacy (and indeed promotion) of radical feminism, abortion, and the mega-abortion profiteer which is Planned Parenthood.  Until you do so, we must continue to suggest to friends that they and their daughters and granddaughters have nothing whatsoever to do with your organization.

And yes, that includes the cookies. 

Dear Pinterest,

 I have put your emails in my “spam” category and have suggested to friends that they do likewise as well as end any other contact with Pinterest after I learned about your heavy-handed, mean-spirited, and completely unfair censorship of pro life, conservative, and religious views. 

What a very, very sad move on the part of your company.   

To the NCAA,  

Where and when will this crazy new form of political correctness stop? I’m particularly concerned in this note with the NCAA’s surrender in the “gender wars” by awarding prizes to biological males who are competing in women’s sports. This is not merely an extreme defiance of the moral convictions of centuries by of the sciences of biology and anatomy. And it is most certainly a slap in the face of feminism as well.

Your new policies are unfair to the max; they are harmful to the general society and the sports community in particular, and they are extremely counterproductive to the interests of the NCAA itself.

Please get back to basics…of nature and common sense and fair play.

Dear Joni [Eareckson Tada],

What wonderful news about being all clear of cancer! Praise the Lord. We will continue to pray for you and Ken as we thank the Lord for your example of courage and joy. 

Blessings in bunches! 

Dear President Trump,  

You promised a lot to the pro-life community in your campaign… and you have delivered!

Indeed, your principled and skilled leadership in this key moral and cultural battle has been exceptional we are greatly impressed And, of course, profoundly grateful.

You remain in our fervent and frequent prayers.

The Latest Spins Round the Culture War (Round Two)

* "Ending daughter elimination in the developing world" (Jonathan Abbamonte, Washington Examiner)

* "6 things Big Tech is doing to suppress Live Action’s pro-life message" (Cassy Fiano-Chesser, Live Action)

* "Muslims destroying Christian crosses all over the world, and no one reports it" (Raymond Ibrahim, Life Site News)

* "Colin Kaepernick Betrays the Spirit of Frederick Douglass" (Marc LiVecche, Juicy Ecumenism)

* "I Went to a Socialism Conference. Here Are My 6 Observations." (Jarrett Stepman, Daily Signal)

* "MTV has joined in the attack against pro-life pregnancy centers" (Nancy Flanders, Live Action)

* "President Trump’s Nominee for UN Ambassador, Andrew Bremberg, is Solidly Pro-Life" (Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com)

The Latest Spins Round the Culture War

* "Polyamory is for Pre-Teens in Public Schools. Oh, Really?" (Cathy Ruse, The Stream)

* "Nation’s Largest Teachers’ Union Embraces 'Fundamental Right to Abortion'" (Alexandra DeSanctis, National Review)

* "Organizations for Journalists Largely Quiet on Andy Ngo Attack" (Daily Caller)

* "Facebook intentionally blocked pro-life ads during Irish abortion vote, CEO admits" (Calvin Freiburger, Life Site News)

* "Could hormonal contraception be on its way out? -- Natural fertility takes over the App Store." (Shannon Roberts, Mercator)

* "Watch the Video YouTube Banned" (Michael Brown, The Stream)

* "A Year After the Supreme Court Rules Against Unions, What’s Changed" (Kevin Mooney, Daily Signal)

* "Hungary sees abortion numbers plunge with rise of pro-family policies." (Lisa Bourne, Life Site News)

Ah! The Next Letter-Writing Party

Throughout the long course of Vital Signs Ministries (over 37 years and counting) and among all of our other Christian pro-life activities, we have organized frequent letter writing parties for the purpose of spreading greater enlightenment, encouragement, and advocacy of righteous causes.

We do so because we’re convinced of 3 things: 1) We seek to be “lights of the world” through all relevant means available to us; 2) Letters make a difference; and 3) We know it’s always better to speak the truth (even through a letter) than to merely whine, curse the darkness, or surrender. 

Anyhow, the next Vital Signs letter-writing party is a special brunch edition. We’ve found this to be a popular approach and so we’re looking forward to a good turnout. The brunch will be at the Hartford home on Saturday, July 13th at 10 o’clock. And, as is always the case, the menu items will be provided as will the stationery and envelopes, the pens and stamps, and the list of potential recipients of our cards and letters.

We will also have a quick time of prayer before starting our letter-writing and a review of the pertinent information to help make your letters be as effective as possible.

Among the matters on the agenda that morning will be “thank you” notes to several governors who have signed pro-life legislation for their states; Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for signing the “Save Chick-fil-A” bill; Senator Ben Sasse and others for championing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act; President Donald Trump for several key pro-life actions; Nebraska Family Alliance; Franklin Graham; Joni Eareckson Tada; persecuted Christians overseas; and more. 

And it will be no surprise that there’s also quite a few villainous actions that require our principled protest. So among the “bad guys” list will be Target and other businesses stores for their aggressive LGBT advocacy; Costco for a “puff piece” in their magazine about Melinda Gates; Pinterest; Cartoon Network; Benefit and Estée Lauder; the Democrat party and its candidates for president; Teen Vogue; Google and Facebook and Twitter; the mayor and police chief of Portland Oregon; and others. 

These letter-writing parties always provide a stimulating time of fellowship and an opportunity for meaningful service as we hold high the banners of Christ’s truth and justice. So come join us, won’t you? Please RSVP at 341-8886 or vitalsigns@vitalsignsministries.org

Before the Fireworks, Check Out These Sparklers

Here's the latest compilation of articles from the alternative media containing news and commentary you'd do well to know.

* “Did Andy Ngo get what he deserved? — The left blames the victim” (Dominic Green, Spectator USA)

* “Murder Disguised as Care” (Obianuju Ekeocha, First Things)

* “U.K. judge who ordered forced abortion was activist lawyer for abortion industry” (Dorothy Cummings, Life Site News)

* “The Citizenship Question” (Scott Johnson, PowerLine)

* “‘From the Pit to the Pulpit’ — Darryl Strawberry cherishes identity in Christ over MLB success and personal failures” (Lee Weeks, Decision)

* “Islamists Rising…in Local U.S. Politics” (Oren Litwin, Middle East Forum)

The Latest Round-Up

Here's the latest compilation of articles you need to know about.

* “Public Schools Are No Longer A Foundation Of America’s Republic” (Inez Fletcher, Daily Caller)

* “Teen Vogue tells minors how to get abortions without parents’ knowledge” (Laura Nicole, Live Action)

* “Google Chrome has become surveillance software. It's time to switch.” (Geoffrey A. Fowler, Jewish World Review)

* “Justice Thomas’s Credo: The Constitution, not precedent, is the law of the land.” (Myron Magnet, City Journal)

* “Why California Pastors Must Stand Up to Government Tyranny” (Michael Brown, The Stream)

* “Every Wind Turbine and Solar Panel Built Today Will Be Scrap Metal by 2050” (Isaac Orr, Center of the American Experiment)

* “Boy Trouble: Family breakdown disproportionately harms young males — and they’re falling further behind.” (Kay S. Hymowitz, City Journal)

Life’s Beautiful Complexity: Random Chaos or Intelligent Design?

Check out this super cool video. It’s 6 1/2 minutes but well worth your time. It’s a great “pass along” clip too. A very creative, persuasive, and science-based argument.

Checking In...with Reality

Here's the latest compilation of excellent dispatches from the culture wars.

* “When Normality Became Abnormal” (Victor Davis Hanson, American Greatness)

* “Babies Are Bad for Business?” (John Stonestreet & David Carlson, Break Point)

* “President Trump Promised He’d be a Pro-Life President, And He’s Kept His Word” (Carol Tobias, LifeNews.com)

* “19 killed by gunmen in Burkina Faso: ‘There's no Christian anymore in this town’” (Samuel Smith, Christian Post)

* “Democrats Unanimous As House Passes Bill Forcing Schools To Let Male Athletes Compete In Girls’ Sports” (Peter Hasson, Daily Caller)

* “Pinterest Says Pro-life Group’s Posts are Porn” (John Stonestreet & David Carlson, Break Point)

* “Sick: Proceeds from Selena Gomez’s ‘1973’ necklace support late-term abortion” (Nancy Flanders, Live Action)

* “Leftists Will Be Leftists” (David Limbaugh, Town Hall)

Uh, Tell Me Again; What Is Vital Signs Ministries?

Well, since our beginning in 1982, the hallmarks of Vital Signs Ministries have been a commitment to Christian orthodoxy and a comprehensive sanctity of life ethic. But the question could probably be better answered by giving a brief recap of the things Vital Signs Ministries has been up to lately.

* The prayer meetings and the sidewalk counseling outside the abortion center.

* The “When Swing Was King” shows at area senior living facilities. We do shows at 11 different places every month. Every show is different with 12 songs from the big band era accompanied by 180-220 photos of the same years in an entertaining, memory provocative Power

Point display. In addition to the shows, we visit with residents and their families, develop relationships with staff, and pass out to residents a special 4-page newsletter every quarter. (By the way, you can read those newsletters on the Vital Signs website. And the monthly schedule of our “When Swing Was King” appearances is there also.)

* There is cyberspace activity almost daily. This involves posting articles, compilation lists of “must see” news and commentary, and original material as well on the VSM website, Vital Signs Blog, The Book Den blog, our personal Facebook pages and the Vital Signs Facebook page. We also engage in a lot of correspondence. A lot of that involves cards and letters sent the traditional way but, of course, we do utilize email an awful lot too.

* The ministries of discipleship, intercession, hospitality, and networking occur in many different forms. These include Denny’s writing, book discussions, dinner parties and lunches out, Santa runs, prayer walks, the Panera conversations with colleagues, and involvement with other pro-life ministries.  There is also the occasional speaking engagement at churches, pro-life groups, and men’s meetings. In fact, we have several such engagements coming up this summer and fall including 2 weeks of meetings in Great Britain.

* Our advocacy outreach includes quarterly letter-writing parties. In fact, the next one is coming up on July 8th. There’s a lot to be addressed there: companies, celebrities, and the Girl Scouts contributing to and telling Planned Parenthood; companies and celebrities squawking about the recent pro-life legislation; the sellout of Christian schools to the propaganda and pressure of the new left; and other bad faith moves made by the likes of Disney, Netflix, CNN, Target, Estée Lauder, the NCAA, and many more. And as always, we will also take time to write heroes of the faith who could use some encouragement and appreciation.

A Devolution Watch (Part Two)

If you missed yesterday's selection of alternative media stories dealing with crucial battles in the culture wars -- and, make no mistake about it, those battles are very much spiritual in nature -- here is the link.

And below are another set of important items to check out.

* “The Ongoing Persecution of a Christian Baker” (The Editors, National Review)

* “Girl Scouts Group Gives Top Award to Teen for Pro-Abortion Project” (CBN News, Emily Jones)

* “The Media Won’t Say It, but Christians Are the No. 1 Persecuted Group Worldwide” (Paul Coleman, Daily Signal)

* “Biological Male Wins NCAA Women’s Track Championship” (Peter Hasson, Daily Signal)

* “In Support of Abortion, Leading Cosmetic Brand Pledges $500,000 to Planned Parenthood” (The Christian Institute, Christian Woman)

* “42 prosecutors in 23 states declare they’ll refuse to enforce state pro-life laws” (Calvin Freiburger, Life Site News)

* “Texas Governor Signs Bill Defending Chick-Fil-A” (Rachel del Guidice, Daily Signal)

* “Cartoon Network blatantly promotes gay lifestyle to kids” (Martin M. Barillas, Life Site News)

A Devolution Watch (Part One)

Here’s a roundup of news articles that the mainstream media either distorts badly or, more likely, ignores altogether. But you need to know what’s going down (pun certainly intended) in order to more fervently pray, protest, and yearn for the Lord’s victorious return.

* “Pinterest bans pro-life group Live Action, blocks it as porn site; Bible verses also banned” (Leah MarieAnn Klett, Christian Post)

* “Journalist Who Exposed Planned Parenthood Ordered To Pay $195,000 To Opponents” (Amanda Prestigiacomo, Daily Wire)

* “New Texas law threatens Planned Parenthood sex-ed curriculum that normalizes child sex” (Edyta Wolk, College Fix)

* “Father Raped Teen Daughter, Took Her to Planned Parenthood for Abortion. It Did One and Sent Her Back to Him” (Lila Rose, LifeNews.com)

* “Top Execs of 180 Companies: Abortion Necessary to Be Successful in Business” (Breitbart, Dr. Susan Berry)

* “Teen Vogue Instructs Teens on How to Get Abortions Without Their Parents Knowing” (Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com)

* “The Planned Parenthood sex scandal you aren't reading about” (Samantha Kamman, Washington Examiner)

A Prayer for the President

Praying for President Trump isn’t a new thing around here. I’m guessing it’s not new for a lot of you too. Indeed, I believe most of you can testify that you have also prayed quite often for previous presidents even as you’ve prayed for other government officials and judges. After all, Scripture is very clear about the believer’s obligation to do just that.

Nevertheless, there are reasons that Franklin Graham has asked Christians to lift up extra prayers today for the President, his family, and the successful administration of his duties as both head of state and Commander-in-Chief. And those reasons certainly include the unprecedented (and remarkably unfair) assaults which are being waged by the opposition party and the media upon President Trump and his agenda.

And so, as you read through the brief prayer below, will you please make it one of YOUR prayers today in behalf of the President.

Dear Father,

We are praying for President Trump today, asking You to pour out upon him all needed mercies regarding his health and safety, his complete confidence in Your revealed truth and the Spirit’s leading, and his need for Your wisdom, compassion, and commitment to justice as he seeks to carry out the awesome tasks before him. We pray that You bring wise advisors to his side, advisors who are persons of character, skill, and well-versed in their respective areas. But even so, Lord, let him pay careful attention to the priorities taught in Your Word.

We appreciate President Trump’s courage and we thank You for that but we pray that You would sharpen that courage and add to it humility and patience and prudence…plus a willingness to forgive his enemies even as he must defend himself against their all-too-often despicable attacks.

Father, we especially plead that President Trump finds Your divine power at work as he pursues policies that increase religious freedom, protect the sanctity of human life, champion traditional marriage, weaken the “deep state” and the unelected bureaucratic powers that threaten our democracy, stand in defense of Israel, and return America to its place as a beacon of justice and moral strength.

Lord, we ask that our President and his family members would fully understand the gracious offer of the gospel and would embrace it for eternal life…and that this administration would be used for Your purposes in awakening the nation to it’s dire need of Your truth, Your holiness, and Your merciful love.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Oh, That Wicked (and Irrational) Left

Here's a few of the latest dispatches from the culture wars you shouldn't miss:

* “Clarence Thomas Exposes Abortion as Part of Eugenics” (Katie Pavlich, Town Hall)

* “California Senate Passes Bill Mandating Free Abortions at All Colleges and Universities” (Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com)

* “It’s Time for California Parents to Defy the Law” (Dr. Michael Brown, The Stream)

* “Banned in Canada” (John Stonestreet & David Carlson, Breakpoint)

* “Argentinian doctor convicted of refusing to perform abortion” (Catholic News Agency)

* “Court affirms media was wrong: Those videos of Planned Parenthood dealing in baby parts were not deceptively edited” (Becket Adams, Washington Examiner)

* “Target stores donate $100K to LGBT nonprofit that promotes ‘inclusive’ K-12 schools” (Martin M. Barillas, Life Site News)

* “Daystar Television Network Studio in Jerusalem Firebombed” (Nancy Flory, The Stream)

Why Don’t More Pastors Speak Out?

Why don't more pastors speak out on the moral and political issues of our day? In this 5-minute clip, Dr. Michael Brown has some very enlightening and challenging answers to that crucial question.

The Blessings of "When Swing Was King" (To the Givers as well as the Receivers)

Oh, the joys of being a part of the When Swing Was King ministry! Here are a few examples from yesterday’s presentations…

* “Your program is one of the best things about living here!”

* “I know you come every month but do you think you could come more often?”

* “We so look forward to the When Swing Was King shows. The music. The photographs. And all of the interesting stories you tell. It is always the high point of our week.”

* “You two do such an excellent job with these shows. It seems every one of them is better than the last. Thank you so much for all the work you put in. We really appreciate it.”

* From a staff member – “You know you guys could make a fortune if you could somehow market When Swing Was King and get it out across the country. It’s really a fabulous show and our residents absolutely love it. I know everyone else would too.”

* And finally, the sweetest blessing of all -- As Vaughn Monroe began to sing “When the Lights Go On Again All Over the World” (a number one song from 1943), our new friend, T…., a U.S. Navy veteran who survived kamikaze attacks on his troop transport in the Pacific in the final year of WWII, stretched across to embrace his wife while they listened to this lovely, poignant song.

I looked over and saw Claire had noticed the same scene. She turned to me with tears in her eyes but a big smile on her face and I knew we were thinking the same thing; namely, “Lord, thank You for letting us bring such tender moments to these dear people -- moments that not only bring a respite to seniors dealing with loneliness, boredom, and the anxiety of aging bodies, but which also create a effective bridge to memory, beauty, love, patriotism, fun, and friendship. It is so cool to be a part of this.”

Melinda Gates a Heroine? An Open Letter to Costco

Dear Costco,

I have appreciated your general policy in keeping your company out of the intense controversies that so divide the country. Therefore, I was greatly disappointed to see you feature Melinda Gates, one of the most prominent and powerful proponents of abortion, in the cover story of the May issue of your magazine. To hail someone who has championed so ardently for surgical and chemical abortion (under such deliberately deceptive terms as “family planning” and “reproductive health care”) is to join in the sorrowful business. And that’s much different than avoiding the tensions of the culture wars.

The article does emphasize that there are grave, complicated problems that need to be addressed throughout the world. And those problems do include health care, malnutrition, housing, transportation, empowerment and responsibility. But the answers to such difficulties will never be solved by organizations that so utterly fail to appreciate the inherent right to life of all human beings...including the unborn children that are so crassly dismissed by pro-abortion organizations like the Gates Foundation.

By the way, one of the photos that accompanied that story showed Gates involved with a project organized by Marie Stopes International, one of the largest, most notorious abortion businesses in the world. Very sad.

I humbly suggest that Costco be more sensitive to the moral convictions of so many of your family and faith-oriented customers and therefore carefully avoid highlighting people, organizations, and ideologies that present such extreme and, in this case, such unjust and violent actions as destroying preborn boys and girls.

Thank you for your consideration of this very serious matter.

Rev. Dennis Hartford
Director, Vital Signs Ministries
Omaha, Nebraska

Lenin's "Grave" Mistake

On the Paradox of Christians Caring for the Sick

“Of all men, we hope most of death; yet nothing will reconcile us to — well, it’s unnaturalness. We know that we are not made for it; we know how it crept into our destiny as an intruder; and we know Who has defeated it. Because our Lord is risen we know that on one level it is an enemy already disarmed; but because we know that the natural level also is God’s creation we cannot cease to fight against the death which mars it, as against all those other blemishes upon it, against pain and poverty, barbarism and ignorance. Because we love something else more than this world we love even this world better than those who know no other.” (C.S. Lewis from the essay, Some Thoughts, written one evening in 1948 at the White Horse Inn at Drogheda, Ireland at the request of the Medical Missionaries of Mary who founded Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital there.The essay was one of many later published in God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics by C.S. Lewis published in 1970.)

An Embarrassing Problem for Darwinians

Here is a slightly edited note from a Vital Signs Blog post of more than ten years ago; July 18, 2008 to be exact. But it's content is as relevant as ever and even the article I mention at the conclusion is still online. Check it out.

“When a butterfly has to look like a leaf, not only are all the details of a leaf beautifully rendered but markings mimicking grub-bored holes are generously thrown in. ‘Natural Selection,’ in the Darwinian sense, could not explain the miraculous coincidence of imitative aspect and imitative behavior, nor could one appeal to the theory of "the struggle for life" when a protective device was carried to a point of mimetic subtlety, exuberance, and luxury far in excess of a predator's power of appreciation. I discovered in nature the non-utilitarian delights that I sought in art. Both were a form of magic, both were a game of intricate enchantment and deception.”

The above paragraph was written, not by William Jennings Bryan or Billy Sunday, but by the decidedly irreligious author of Lolita and Pale Fire (and, more importantly for my money, the translator of Pushkin), Vladimir Nabokov.

It turns out that Nabokov served as the curator of lepidoptera (butterflies) at Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology in the 1940s. In fact, according to his biographer, Nabokov “became the authority on the little-studied blue butterflies (polyommatini) of North and South America” and was “a pioneer in the study of butterflies' microscopic anatomy, distinguishing otherwise almost identical blues by differences in their genital parts.” And besides his novels and short stories, he published articles in such scientific journals as The Entomologist, The Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, The Lepidopterists' News, and Psyche: A Journal of Entomology.

Of course, this creates a problem of embarrassment in the secular academic circles where Nabokov's literary work has been so highly regarded. I mean, what’s with a renowned liberal humanist vigorously disputing evolution -- and doing so from the most intricate and informed scientific reasoning?

Richard Dawkins, call your office.

Here's more from the Discovery Institute.