The religious apologist knows no bounds when it comes to defending an argument which lacks evidential clarity.
I recently argued that science and religion are inevitably in conflict, as science relies on evidence whereas religion has no scientific basis. Without any justification, Gerry Glennon altered this to claim that the Catholic Church was being blamed for opposing the arts and science. While this amended claim was never made, nonetheless he has cleverly changed the argument to one which he can more easily defend.
He continues with this sophistry (April 24) by accusing me of trying to delude readers through emotional appeal rather than application of objective facts (or as he puts it “of giving readers a perfect illustration of post truth”).
The deception is obvious. He tries to influence the reader that they are being deceived by others yet expects them not to see through his deceit. It matters little as even his amended argument is flawed.
I had stated that none of Hitler’s works were banned by the Vatican while the works of scholars like Bacon, Descartes, Paine etc appeared on the infamous Index Liborum Prohibitorum. This reference to historical truth was made to counter his inference that the Church was an exemplar of artistic patronage and was not, as Mr Glennon falsely claimed, a biased historical analysis of the times. Naturally, this falsity facilitated his factual retort that Hitler bullied the Catholic Church, which at times condemned Nazism from the pulpit. This, of course, has no more relevance to my original discussion than the historical fact that the Catholic hierarchy ordered an annual celebration of Hitler’s birthday (April 20), or that it opened its genealogical records to the Nazis to facilitate the identification of anyone with Jewish blood. The introduction of irrelevant detail is merely a smokescreen to shift emphasis from an intrinsically flawed argument to one which has the semblance of credibility.
It seems distinctly incongruous of Mr Glennon to challenge a claim that, if faith is required to believe something then the truth value of that something is diminished while failing to recognise that if manipulation and sophistry are required to sustain an argument then the validity of that argument must also be greatly reduced.
John Rooney (May 16) is another who makes it up as he goes along.
According to him we must accept the doctrine of Original Sin, but we don’t have to “adhere rigidly to the explanation of it”. Very good. So the Bible must be obeyed in parts but we can play about with the other parts as we see fit. So much for it being the inerrant word of God, who incidentally Mr Rooney accredits with all the good in the world but absolves Him from all the evil, which apparently is our fault (albeit “in a transcendental state of being in God”).
It really is senseless trying to argue with such fatuity.
DANNY TREACY
Templepatrick, Co Antrim
Sinn Féin has silly notion EU is on Ireland’s side
Gerry Adams and fellow travellers assume a ‘united Ireland’ is on the cards sometime soon.
Sinn Féin have adopted the silly notion that the EU is on Ireland’s side and ‘border shy’, but in fact the dictatorial bloc is in the process of hardening the frontier by announcing the probable introduction of tarriffs, etc but only to thwart Brexit. We have become a hapless rod to beat Britain with. EU bosses care nothing for our membership.
This is after the UK had assured north and south that all could stay as it is currently between our countries, but every brickbat will now be utilised to destroy our harmonious relationship with Britain.
I would urge people in Sinn Féin to ponder the consequences of what they laughingly call a ‘united Ireland’.
Do they really think loyalists in that part of Ulster are going to welcome such airy-fairy nonsense without a fierce war ensuing? The UDA/UVF have not gone away you know and expecting the EU to deliver unity is no more than a bad joke. Constitutionalist Ulster Unionists would also produce vehement opposition to any such a proposition. There is more to just numbers made up of votes when dealing with a fractured society made up along sectarian lines. The EU is in itself a vicious conglomeration with the interests of Little Ireland very low on its priority list.
ROBERT SULLIVAN
Bantry, Co Cork
GFA’s consent principle shouldn’t be underrated
The importance of the formal recognition by the EU27 of Northern Ireland’s route back into the EU by virtue of the consent principle of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) should not be underestimated. The agreement, overwhelmingly endorsed in a double referendum, states that the constitutional status of NI is a decision for the people of Ireland alone without ‘external impediment’. If we were to have a referendum on a united Ireland, uncertainty about EU membership would be such an external impediment. Indeed we saw such ambiguity being employed in the Scottish independence referendum in 2014. Thanks to the work of the Irish government and the SDLP in Westminster, not least in the Brexit Select Committee, such uncertainty can’t be used by any party in a future referendum here.
Some have dismissed this recognition and said it is unnecessary due to the German precedent. On the contrary, not only did the reunification of Germany take place before the Lisbon Treaty, which governs the entry of new member states into the EU – there was a political consensus in Germany that is clearly not mirrored in Northern Ireland. The British Government should waste no time in reciprocating the EU27’s acknowledgment if it has any regard for the GFA.
GERARD McDONALD
Belfast BT13
Punishment should fit the crime
The Irish News declares (in its editorial dated May 13) that the 14 year minimum sentence imposed on Orhan Koca “should certainly have a deterrent effect” and that “it should be accepted that Koca has been handed a very significant punishment”.
Orhan Koca, who was found by the court to have planned the murder of Eamonn Magee, is 34. Assuming he is released after 14 years he will be 48 and assuming an average lifespan can expect to enjoy a substantial part of his life as a free man. Not so for Eamonn Magee.
It is surprising that The Irish News considers that a wholly inadequate sentence of a minimum of 14 years will have any deterrent effect.
The reality is that this light sentence will have no deterrent effect whatsoever. It is a grave injustice that a crime of this nature should merit a mere 14 years imprisonment. All cases of murder should carry a mandatory whole life tariff. That would have the effect both of deterring crime and administering fair punishment.
No sentence can ever undo the damage that has been done. But it is reasonable to expect that punishment should fit the crime. In this case, as in so many others, it does not.
DARRAN McGLINCHEY
Limavady, Co Derry
Gildernew is ideal MP
Michelle Gildernew should never have been robbed of her seat in Fermanagh/South Tyrone.
The small number of nationalists and republicans who robbed her last time, must not do so again.
Shame on them if they do.
Michelle is the ideal MP – a charismatic people-person, strong, intelligent, compassionate, non-sectarian and progressive. She is a leader who wants to unite people, not divide them. She rejects all forms of bigotry and discrimination and she believes in fairness, equality and justice for all.
Fr SEAN McMANUS
Washington, DC
