Rejecting reason

Dr MARY Brown (Letters, 25 September) notes that “when 
Islamic society was powerful and influential, in the early medieval period, it was noted for its tolerance and 
respect for other religions”.

In fact, this is a reversal of cause and effect. Islamic society was powerful and influential because of its tolerance and respect for other religions and this, in turn, was because the society had an authentic respect for reason, something that has not been true for many centuries.

In rejecting reason, the society gave to the emotionalism and irrationalism, which is rampant today and which made it ripe for all kinds of dictatorship such as absolute monarchy and theocracy. Such a culture, in effect, is gripped by death worship and we can see the consequences of that to this day.

Bruce Crichton

Victoria Road

Falkirk, Stirlingshire