Bold honesty

THE EDITOR, Sir:

A DAY later, I'm still somewhat breathless from reading Melville Cooke's exquisite heresy, "Myths, miracles, mumbo-jumbo and morality," published June 3. What writing!

The Bible brigade will no doubt come baying at his heels, foaming with fury and fit to be tied.

His expressed sentiments concerning Christianity and the Bible are also mine, in large measure, but for me the thoughts extend to all religion that invasively proselytises and seeks socio-political conquest.

That people cleave to obviously nonsensical beliefs is cause for great wonderment, but what can one do? What people choose to believe is entirely their affair, and I wish them success and joy in the enterprise. But their religious beliefs are only their personal beliefs, nothing more.

When these beliefs are thrust upon whole societies and are made the basis for public policy, great harm can be done - and in fact is repeatedly demonstrated to be done - to other people's liberty and to entire societies' prospects for embracing modern and enlightened thinking and, ultimately, realising progress.

As for Melville Cooke, I salute his bold honesty and look forward to reading more of his writing.

I am etc.,

GILBERT DUNKLEY

E-mail: jembe@bellsouth.net

Miami, Florida

Via Go-Jamaica

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