NEIL Barber is always a welcome read in the letters page of The National. As representative of the Scottish Secular Society, Mr Barber has regularly informed us of how the churches in Scotland should not have the right of representation to the Scottish Government or local authorities.
May I remind Mr Barber that all churches in Scotland represent the congregations, via the Kirk session for example and the parish councils, mosques and orthodox and reform synagogues. May I also point out that the Church of Scotland was disestablished in the early 20th century and a strong ecumenical movement had developed in Scotland. Also, same sex-marriages are a reality in many churches.
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I am not exactly sure what Mr Barber’s contention is. His theological quote about the belief that only God can decide who lives and dies is puzzling. Human beings take life all the time in wars, streets and as a result of organised crime. Seventy per cent of theology students at Glasgow University are atheists and more than 50% of students who enrol at the same university to study the Bible as literature are atheists.
Churches are probably among the most conservative organisations in the world, but they are not impervious to social change. Many, many changes have taken place in ecclesiastical circles in the 20th century, including the internal reformation of the Roman Church worldwide, Vatican 2, which took place in 1968.
Like I say, I am not sure what Mr Barber’s bone of contention is, but I fear, without prejudice, he does not understand that theology changes, as do opinions of churches.
I admire Mr Barber’s activism and to demonstrate an alternative definition for him, may I finish by quoting the late, great John Lennon, who may put God into some perspective for Mr Barber: God is a concept by which we measure our pain.
WJ Graham
East Kilbride
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