There was a time in a child's life when those little wheels called stabilisers - that fit on to a child's bicycle - serve a very good purpose.

There also comes a time when keeping them on actually inhibits safe progress as many who have been caught on the ankle by these stabilisers when driven by a speeding youngster who has long passed the need for such things - will testify. Few of us would argue that it would be a good idea to keep these stabilisers on for good.

There was a time when organised religions served many purposes. These include the law, education and healing etc etc. But few of us would argue that these practical applications are now better served by other means.

Time to take off the stabilisers?