Playing at religion

Allan Massie (Perspective, 4 February) is correct: Icelanders performing rituals relating to gods in which they do not actually believe are just “playing at religion”.

Those revelling in the outward trappings of Christianity while rejecting its core teachings are similarly play acting.

Some ministers claim to accept central Christian doctrines, but only by redefining key terms to mean something utterly unrelated to their established definition.

Sadly, in some denominations, those adhering to the historical truths of the Christian faith are a minority viewed with suspicion, if not hostility. Such unorthodoxy prevents the church from speaking with clarity about anything, as for every Christian proponent of Biblical values and faith, the media can find a man or woman in a dog collar sitting in front of a stained glass window ready to deny it.

Richard Lucas

Broomyknowe

Edinburgh