Hi George,

Of course I'm not accusing you of anything! If you happen to have a religious faith then fine - that is none of my business and I certainly don't begrudge you it. Neither, to my knowledge, have you ever tried to force any sort of belief on me (I think we've only been in the same room once - and we weren't even introduced!).
Trouble is the world seems to be full of religious fundamentalists who seem to want to thrust their particular beliefs down everyones' throats. On reflection I probably shouldn't have read Richard Dawkin's book, 'The God Delusion'. I suppose that book crystallised the uneasiness I've felt about (organised) religion since childhood. Why do we afford all these weird and (often not so) wonderful beliefs such respect? I've spoken in hushed tones in Anglican cathedrals, taken my shoes off in mosques in Yugoslavia and Turkey and taken off my hat in the precincts of Buddhist temples in Thailand. But I've done all these things out of respect for the local people - not out of respect for their beliefs. On the other hand why do they assume that their particular (unproven and unsubstantiated) beliefs should automatically demand respect?