Letter:Carey and the causes of 'moral decline'

Jeremy C. Henty
Tuesday 25 June 1996 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: The Archbishop of Canterbury questions whether atheists have a logic for their morality, stating that "of course" religious people have one. In fact, faith, or a holy book, are as illogical a basis for morality as any that the most muddle-headed atheist could come up with. And why does he insist on logic anyway?

If, as he concedes, atheists can be morally virtuous, surely this is the best possible endorsement of their morality, whatever its basis. Has it occurred to him that when people disagree on fundamental values, a healthy scepticism about the origins of morality is the best possible position from which to come to an agreement, or at least a workable compromise? Perhaps it is too much to expect that sort of open-mindedness from someone who sees no contradiction in preaching the virtues of tolerance while hijacking the Millennium for Christianity.

JEREMY C HENTY

Cambridge

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in