Here are this week’s letters to the editor of the Oshkosh Northwestern. See our letters policy below for details about how to share your views.
Science and faith on human origins
Human existence is explored through science and religion, each offering meaningful perspectives. Evolutionary biology explains that humans share traits with great apes without descending from current species, while biochemistry shows the body consists of common natural elements. The teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad add a spiritual interpretation, and The Review of Religions presents a framework combining physical development with purpose.
The scientific explanation of human origins relies on observable evidence and natural processes. Evolutionary Biology highlights shared ancestry with great apes, emphasizing similarity rather than direct descent. Biochemistry shows the body mainly contains oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen found in air, water, and soil, linking human life to nature.
Likewise, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad offered a symbolic view of creation. He explained life existed before Adam and that Adam represents the first prophet of a new spiritual era, not the first biological human. This reflects progressive creation, where physical growth and spiritual guidance develop together.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community teaches that divine guidance has been granted to all nations, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. Review of Religions promotes interfaith dialogue, shared spiritual origins, mutual respect, and harmony among all religious communities rather than division.
Founded in 1902, The Review of Religions aims to present Islam rationally to global audiences. It addresses misunderstandings, encourages discussion, and supports education and interfaith understanding.
Islam rejects coercion, promoting faith through moral example, reason and spiritual strength. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s mission focused on restoring the human-God relationship, reviving Oneness of God and encouraging ethical development.
Javaid Mirza
Oshkosh
Why demos are the future of gaming
For years, the gaming industry has adopted the model of “Early Access” and pre-order games as a standard. However, despite its common relevance in the industry, it is a predatory investment scheme. Players will pay full price for an unfinished game and, in doing so, become investors taking on a risk in a project that may never be finished or may launch as a failure.
Many times, we have seen the Early Access fallout: high-profile titles that wither in development or disappear completely once the revenue dries up. The number of games that enter Early Access has grown exponentially. With the ever-growing rate of Early Access games, abandonment rates are high. This cycle exploits the gaming industry, and it is only becoming more customary.
However, a shift is finally happening. The gaming community is beginning to push back against these risky commitments. They are moving toward consumer-friendly alternatives: demos and open playtesting, both once considered relics of the past.
Demos nearly went extinct, yet they are beginning to make a comeback. They allow players to experiment without having to invest in the game. Open playtests are structured similarly, and they offer more benefits for developers. They invite the gaming community to test games for crucial data and let players make a more informed decision about the game.
By putting more emphasis on demos and playtests over Early Access games, the predatory nature of this model loses its grip on consumers. There are disadvantages — game companies will not be able to get investment money to keep developing — but it forces them to prove their game’s worth beforehand. The Early Access era in the gaming industry has been an expensive journey for consumers. By shifting our focus back to “try before you buy,” you can focus more on quality, not hype, which is what will drive the industry forward.
Kendall Gebhard
Oshkosh
Our letters policy
Letters to the editor are published in the order in which they are received and letter-writers are limited to having one letter published per month. Letters can be emailed to oshkoshnews@thenorthwestern.com and Editor Brandon Reid at breid@usatodayco.com. Letters must meet specific guidelines, including being no more than 250 words and be from local authors or on topics of local interest. All submissions must include the name of the person who wrote the letter, their city of residence and a contact phone number. Letters are edited as needed for style, grammar, length, fairness, accuracy and libel.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh letters explore human origins and gaming demos
Reporting by Oshkosh Northwestern / Oshkosh Northwestern
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