Religious criteria

Lori Anderson wistfully pondered what life would be like if we were still “capering nakedly with the disturbing and blood-thirsty gods of Scotland’s ancient pagan past” (Perspective, 
21 September).

While Ms Anderson might hope we focus on the “capering nakedly”, I think the answer is in the “disturbing and bloodthirsty”. With the decline of Christian influence in Scotland over recent decades, we now see the unborn casually sacrificed on the alter of feminist dogma, and contemplate sacrificing the elderly and sick to the god of NHS efficiency. Also, contemporary philosophers now ponder the merits of killing babies after birth – like so many pagan nations in the ancient world.

I suggest that Ms Anderson reconsider her geographical suitability criterion when assessing the merits of religious systems of thought: what counts is whether beliefs are true, not whether they are “Middle-Eastern” or more fitted to “this cold and craggy landscape”. Or are the principles of logic and evidence also unsuited to small northern European nations?

Richard Lucas

Broomyknowe

Colinton, Edinburgh