Setting Variables Through Scripting

I am making a game and thought it would be a good idea not to hard code some physics values, hp values, etc. I figured I could use config files. They would look somthing like this Gravity 200 P1Hp 100 P2Hp 100 P1Ammo 150 P2Ammo 150 ShowIntro false Is there a function that I could pass a variable name into, and a value then it would set the value to the variable, because i do not want to have to hardcode the varaibles in. Thanks for your time!