IT is perhaps well perceived by Atheist (August 30) that someone would respond to his/her letter. The perception of the writer is matched only by the apparent lack of diligence in his/her research, which Ieads to the conclusions stated.

Surely no atheist would want to be tarred with the same brush as your writer. He presents a view of religion which is stereo-typical, of that we must concur, but to display such a measure of ignorance of a subject that has presumably taken up research time, is really rather lamentable to the most ardent of atheists.

Having mentioned something called the 10 commandments he/she tells us of five only. Presumably atheistic humanism can agree with these ideals, but what about the other five? Again, the presumption is that your writer has a religion which he/she can pick and choose what to believe and what to reject. Such a religion is not even known in the animism of other lands, let alone in the falsely called "developed world".

It is also noticeable that he/she conveniently forgets to mention that it is his/her fellows who ethnically cleanse other members of the same species, on the basis of their nationality or their religion, not to mention the colour of their skin. It is members of his/her species who kidnap its children, subject them to horrific treatment, and finally deprive them of life itself. It is his/her specie which carries out such things, thankfully not mine. It is more than evident that the writer displays and supports the sentiments of hatred and bigotry he condemns in others. If we taught our children these morals, presumably Mr/Mrs Atheist would be happy and contented in such a society.

His final statement regarding the "rush into heaven" really does take the prize for ignorance. Religious people I know are doing all they can to make a better world. The last thing they want to do is bequeath to their children, and their grandchildren, the society, the world Mr/Mrs Atheist would encourage. The "religious" people seek to influence society in such a way as to show that there could be a better way for social order. All the hot air of self-induced atheism is of value only for those, like your writer, who is in a "rush to get to hell".

David Wood

Bromley Cross

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