Divine thoughts

Dr Angus Mair (Letters, 19 March) asserts that it is only through being trained in a faith-based institution that one can accept that Jesus claimed to be divine and was resurrected, implying that this would not be possible with “a fresh unbiased look at Christianity in an historical sense” in a secular institution.

He fails to realise that while Christianity is one world view, secularism is also a world view, both being accepted by faith. The question is the accuracy of the basis on which that faith is based. To exclude the possibility of divine intervention in the world and resurrection is in itself biased. From His claims e.g. to exist before Abraham, to be “one with the Father”, to give life after death, etc, is clear that Jesus himself claimed to be divine. This was clearly accepted by all writers of the New Testament, recent research showing the early existence of these documents.

Again, the claim of the resurrection is based on evidence to be examined rather than “regrowth in the spring. Whether or not Dr Mair accepts that Jesus is God and was resurrected, it is historically inaccurate to say that it was centuries later before Christians decided He was divine.

Sandy Gunn

Cornhill Road

Perth