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Don’t blame religion

Re A waste of time ( Adver. Roger Lack. 26/6/18). When religion turns men into murderers, God weeps. So the book of Genesis tells us. Having made human beings in His image, God sees the first man and woman disobey the first command, and the first human child commit the first murder. Within a short space of time ‘the world was filled with violence.’

God ‘saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth.’ We then read one of the most searing sentences in religious literature. ‘God regretted that He had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.’ (Gen.6:6)

Even when booted out of paradise for disobedience God, however, displayed mercy, helping them in any way he could (clothing). He even gave them rules to live by so that they’d suffer little on earth.

Most conflicts and wars have nothing to do with religion whatsoever. They are about power, territory and glory, things that are secular, profane even.

Christ went about healing people, expelling demons, etc. If his heavenly father were a monster as Roger Lack maintains, why didn’t Christ warn us about Him? He doesn’t!

In India, the Australian missionary, Graham Staines, was burnt to death by Hindu extremists in his station wagon together with his two sons (six and 11).

According to Roger Lack and Janet Woodham, such martyrs are stupid.

Perhaps Roger Lack never meant to criticise Christianity itself, but other religions. However, he seems most adept at vague generalisations with zero substance, so we deserve an answer. I look forward to his erudite response, I’m sure he’ll clarify the situation soon.

Jeff Adams, Bloomsbury, Swindon

A bunch of wimps

I AM totally sick of our bin collectors in Swindon.

When I was a kid they had to empty heavy solid metal dustbins by hand using their actual muscles. Nowadays they have lightweight plastic bins and automated machines that do all the lifting. Yet despite their twice a month service they moan and whinge about the heat and the extra weight of the bins. You really are a bunch of wimps.

Roger Lack, North Swindon

An example to us all

It is was with sadness when I read Bill Williams’ letter of thanks yesterday.

But Bill, I salute you kind sir, and thank you for all the many many letters that you have written over the past nine years, when I first arrived in Swindon. I am also of Scottish blood, but you have not had a bad word to say about life and the many different cultures and diverse population .

It is even at times of great personal loss that you took to time in thanking all those kind folk, who allowed your good lady to pass to heaven with compassion and dignity.

God be with you Bill, you are a fine example of “The Old School”

Robert Bruce Fenton, Kimmerfield Court, Swindon