God of all things

Dr Mary Brown (Letters, 8 May) rightfully draws attention to the “atheist zealots” and “religious literalists” who fight it out between themselves rather than attending to the ills of this world.

It is a real sadness that neither party could or would associate themselves with Ghandi’s proposition that “God has no religion”.

(Rev) George Coppen

KIldary

Ross-shire

Debate over religion and society would benefit from a clear understanding of terms. “Secularism” means religions having no special role in government but all having equal rights.

Most Christians, Jews, Moslems and Hindus agree and are then “secularists”.

So are humanists but they also believe that decisions should be made on the basis of facts and reason, not any religious belief.

The former Bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway, agrees, In his autobiography he says religions are as much human creations as music, art, etc and that “morality” should not be linked to a belief in a God.

Humanists believe mankind is basically good; Christians think is it basically bad, due to “original sin”.

“Secular humanism” has not, as David Robertson says (Letters, 5 May), anything to do with materialism. Many Christians, including evangelists, are multi-millionaires, such as Pat Robertson and Joyce Mayer (who has an 18-hole golf course on her land).

Conservative (“fundamentalist”) Christians contribute huge sums to the right-wing Republican Party and strongly supported the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghan wars.

They want cuts in social services to reduce their taxes. Sarah Palin, a multi-millionaire “born-again” Christian, is one of their idols.

By contrast millions who don’t believe in any god live very simple lives; Buddhism teaches pursuit of power and possessions does not lead to fulfilment.

The Dalai Lama personifies these tenets.

His talks attract huge audiences, far larger than most Christian evangelists.

Talk of “godless materialism” is then fatuous.

Kevin Lawrie

Dundyvan Road

Coatbridge