I WOULD like to reply to Mrs Thompson's letter 'A Matter of Faith' (October 21). I openly admit this lady has some knowledge of widely differing world religions.

According to the Bible, the Jeromic version on which today's Christian values are preached (there are other versions such as the Pistis Sophia) King Solomon had many wives at the same time.

Likewise, the Medici and Borgia popes indulged in polygamy, as well as incest, paedophilia, prostitution, murder and political corruption.

Popes and Christian authorities condoned the genocides and rapes committed by the Crusaders as well as the horrific tortures inflicted by Tomas D'Torquemada during the inquisition, in the name of Christ!

It is no offence for a man to have as many mistresses as he likes, so why not wives? The wedding certificate is just a piece of paper!

Arranged marriages are not only part of the Hindu caste system, I personally know Catholic parents who object to their children making friends with non-Catholics and vice versa.

I agree that as many world religions as possible should be taught at all British schools, time allotted of course. All religious theologies have just as many negative, as well as positive, aspects which should never be overlooked.

Socrates stated "Are not all things which have opposites generated out of their opposites?" Personally, I do not find the violence and cruelty abundant in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, in the philosophy of Socrates, Plato, Goethe, Voltaire etc.

It is my view that all world religious theologists and preachers can only give a personal or social conception of a divine creator. Imperfect homo-sapiens attempting to create an image of divine perfection is, and always will be, impossible.

In the natural law of cause and effect the thought or idea always precedes the act or deed.

Therefore, the creator must be pure thought and who can see thought?

British Democrat (name and address supplied).

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