Christianity’s toll

“Scotland was made great by Christianity,” says Robert Anderson (Letters, 24 September). It is difficult to see how, in view of Scottish Christianity’s long history of conflicts, schisms, witch-hunting, homophobia and sectarianism – the last two persisting into the present.

It was the Union with England that made Scotland great by clearing its debts, opening markets and accessing English capital, with the result that Scotland led in the industrial revolution.

Scotland also led in the Enlightenment. How did Christianity contribute to that?

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If Christianity is relevant today it is only in that it remains a social ill. Witness its state-funded faith schools, its opposition towards equality for sexual minorities, and its demands for special exemptions.

All of which are evidenced in Michael McGrath’s opinion piece (Friends of The Scotsman, same issue) suggesting that Catholic schools be exempt from providing sex education that recognises the worth of same-sex marriage. Scotland is the great nation it is in spite of Christianity, not because of it.

(Dr) Stephen Moreton

Marina Avenue

Warrington, Cheshire

Rev Dr Robert Anderson writes: “Some time ago … former SNP member Alan Clayton foretold defeat for the SNP due to its alienation of Christian voters by promoting homosexual marriage.”

Does he seriously think there would have been a Yes vote had the SNP announced: “In accordance with our country’s glorious Christian tradition, we vow never to legalise same-sex marriage and to write into the constitution of an independent Scotland second-class status for homosexual people”?

Paul Brownsey

Larchfield Road

Glasgow

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