LETTER : Uncritical church aids Dawkins
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: Terence Conran's comments on the proposed Christian Centre in Battersea (letters, 1 Jan) are wide of the mark. Evangelical churches such as Holy Trinity Brompton are not empty. They are full to overflowing with eager young professionals seeking spiritual renewal. Nevertheless, rather than praising God for this, were I not a tolerant member of the liberal wing of the established Church my uneasiness would turn to alarm.
The successful HTB gospel is one which calls us to a belief strongly based on evidence of direct everyday intervention of God in the material world. Miracles, supernatural influences on random events and direct manifestations of angels and devils are taken for granted. Having recently attended the well-known HTB Alpha course locally, I was amazed by the continual use of fervently believed anecdotes as evidence to support religious faith. The suspension of the normal critical faculties underlying all scientific progress which this implies is to me no different from accepting The X- Files as evidence for the devil.
Both The X-Files and supernatural religious phenomena are obviously popular, and I expect Prince Charles, Mr Costa and his supporters will get their Christian Centre. Even if it does no permanent damage, it helps the cause of people like Richard Dawkins more than those who quietly hope for a sincere accommodation between religion and science, which is quite possible, even though not as likely to fill 10,000-seater auditoria.
RICHARD WOODALL
Milborne Port, Dorset
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments