Opinion

Religion and reason are at opposite ends of the spectrum

‘Do not seek answers, or surmise about behaviour... it was a tragedy beyond our understanding.’

These were the words spoken by Fr. Felim Kelly at the funeral of teacher Clodagh Hawe and her three sons who had just been butchered in a premeditated act of barbarity by their father. But this was not beyond our understanding as it now transpires that Alan Hawes’s  controlling personality had already given out signals that all was not well. Questions should have been asked and should continue to be asked, otherwise how will we be able to influence the avoidance of further such tragedies.

Religion did not kill the Hawes family but there is a disturbing connection, not least in the final act of this appalling religious ritual where murderer was laid side-by-side with those he murdered. Religion teaches us not to ask questions, not to seek answers, to slavishly accept what mother Church instructs us. Religion and reason are at opposite ends of the spectrum, or as Martin Luther said – Reason is the Devil’s Harlot.

In a recent letter I highlighted the fatuous, biblical feud between the Rev Gray and  Fr McCafferty and questioned why an omnipotent God could not have inspired a book less ambivalent and less controversial than the Bible. I sought an answer based on reason rather than biblical or metaphysical but Fr McCafferty’s response (December 2) made no attempt at verisimilitude. His  reasoning “God makes Himself known to human beings by His Word who is a person”, lacks the evidential clarity required by the enquiring mind.

He surreptitiously conspires to blur our vision when confronting the weaknesses in his argument by lecturing us that “God our Creator is Love, and God loves those He has created” (and infinitely so). This seems strange, that those He created and loves so much He has also condemned to death for a trivial theft (which obviously He mandated as He is omniscient), that all mankind is blemished with ‘original sin’ for this minor transgression even though they had no part in the ‘crime’. He has drowned all mankind except the virtuous Noah and his family, slaughtered the first born of the Egyptians and been responsible for many other atrocities, leaving us to reasonably speculate if these are the attributes of a loving creator. Fr McCafferty’s response answers nothing but just adds another layer of complexity in an attempt to confuse.

Attempting to demonise me with oxymoronic labels like ‘fundamentalist atheist’ admits only of his own lack of candour.

We cannot allow those who seek to distort the way the world truly is to go unchallenged.


As Daniel Dennett so simplistically put it “Religion contradicts the hard won discoveries of science, history and literature”.

DANNY TREACY


Ballyclare, Co Antrim

Political lemmings urge forward movement for flawed ‘process’

New Sinn Féin has recently misused publicity around two commemorations at the gravesides of Ireland’s patriot dead to ‘attempt to reach out to comrades who have drifted away’. This latest ‘outreach’ no doubt has the imprimatur of the Belfast/Derry ‘leadership’, the latter now apparently content at being burdened with the additional ‘London’ pre-fix.

Those who hold steadfastly loyal to the core elements of Irish republicanism are simply remaining true to the noble principles enunciated in the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic. Far from drifting away from anything they have watched on in horror as ‘a terrible beauty is born’ wherein all that one of the key protagonist’s predictions at the 1986 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis has come to pass, whereas all that the other said would never happen has in fact now fully materialised. Conversely, those who did not just ‘drift away’ but who have been led by the nose by their former imperial enemy have left nothing but an empty political abattoir shorn of all its previous sacred cows. 

The Irish News’s excellent On This Day column (December 15) reported proceedings from the British House of Parliament in 1916 where Major William Redmond championed a ‘settlement’ in Ireland which would “…contribute to the good of Ireland and the United Kingdom and the strength of the Empire.” Those no longer bound by ‘the average industrial wage’ continue to congregate on the hill at Stormont to dream about a United Ireland while wholeheartedly accepting and supporting such a settlement. Simultaneously, the ‘leadership/ Randalstown Axis’ prays protection at every opportunity on the very ‘institutions’ that were so carefully designed by the British to ensure permanent partition and like political lemmings urge continued forward movement for a fundamentally flawed ‘process’.

Meanwhile, far from the fanfare of further failed ‘initiatives’, others stand in solitary silence at these hallowed spots alongside their loved ones’ graves and ponder the emotive lines of the incomparable Luke Kelly’s evocative poem. Not only are they sorely troubled for their own, and Ireland’s loss, but they too will justly enquire, ‘For What Died The Sons Of Roisin?’ 

P NUGENT


Galbally, Co Tyrone

Stormont absurdity

On a day when the Stormont assembly succeeded in assigning itself to the realms of absurdity, it is difficult not to attribute ‘the emperor’s new clothes’ to the DUP and Sinn Féin.

These two insular parties, masquerading as sincere and earnest government participants, have morphed into something reminiscent of a late 1950s unionist-controlled county council.

One can only stand and wonder when First Minister Foster gets up in parliament and berates the media for presenting to the public an excellent piece of investigative journalism, arguably uncovering the greatest scandal in the history of Stormont. This is the same media which gives members of her party a platform to spout their contradictory claptrap.

Mrs Foster would appear to assume that eight months ago she was given a mandate that would excuse her monumental error. We are now left with a corporate government and an untouchable First Minister.

As for Sinn Féin her deferential bedfellows, their day has come – and gone.

WILSON BURGESS


Derry City

Interpreting scripture

In recent weeks we have read some very lively debates regarding Protestant and Catholic interpretation of scripture and the right and wrong way of worshipping God.

Sacrifice – the Word of God – comes to us through divinely inspired messengers who it would appear on occasions, got their wires crossed.

Paul tells us that salvation is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ and that good works don’t count. This is favoured by Protestants.

Catholics go for James who tells us that as the body without the soul is dead, faith without good works is dead.

In Matthew, Mark and Luke Christ’s ministry was one year, in John it was three.

Matthew, Mark and John have women as first witnesses to empty tomb and resurrection.

Paul’s list of witnesses includes no women.  

Life has it’s contradictions and so it would seem does God’s Holy Book.

G SAVAGE


Newcastle, Co Down

Misogynistic streak

Welcome back Francis Rice (December 14). 

As a mother I detect an ongoing misogynist streak in your musings and style of writing.

I suggest you at least mildly attempt to embrace the female view point. Your ongoing ‘pop’ at female journalists and feminism is repetition and discourteous.

I am busy with family Christmas arrangements so am pleased to sign off as  Mrs Frances Wilson


Craigavon, Co Armagh