Counter claim

IN AN otherwise excellent comment on mankind’s (in this case just American’s) space probes (4 April), Alex Massie claimed, somewhat irrelevantly, that “Christ died on the cross for our sins”.

The church may believe that, but the evidence is that he died in a deliberate attempt to fulfil prophecies about the Messiah (two Messiahs in fact) and to demonstrate evidence for resurrection, something rejected by the ruling Sadducees. He was not attempting to save the world; just to rule it.

It is ironic that, although he failed (he got killed accidentally) and was never seen again (stories to the contrary are flawed), that failure has formed the basis of a worldwide religion that Jesus, as a Jew, would find alien.

STEUART CAMPBELL

Dovecot Loan

Edinburgh