Faithless future

I agree with Julia Wait (Letters, 8 April), who suggests “a newly independent Scotland would have a golden opportunity to build its fresh foundations on the shoulders of giants rather than dogma”.

Recently there has been a self-promoting suggestion by church groups that there should be special recognition of religion in any future constitution for Scotland.

Claims that this proposal is made more “diverse” by its “inter-faith” support again underscore the fallacy that all Scots are represented by some religion or another. We know that ever-falling total levels of religious belief now include fewer than half of us.

Religious leaders already speak loudly in public debate and are entitled to do so but they do not speak for all.

There is no justification for religious belief to be singled out for further constitutional privilege.

Neil Barber

Edinburgh Secular Society

Saughtonhall Drive

Edinburgh