Sir, – In "Why Irish atheists still need the Catholic Church", (Opinion & Analysis, January 14th), Joe Humphreys seems to suggest that left-wing political values and Catholic moral values are roughly analogous and that proponents of both systems of social organisation should unite in a fight against the inherently immoral system of capitalist individualism. The record of history does not support either the idea that societies run along religious or socialist lines are better off, or that the system of free trade is in itself inherently immoral. Throughout history, hundreds of millions of people have died in wars waged in the name of God. In the last century alone, as many as 100 million people died as a direct result of actions taken by left-wing (socialist or communist) governments in places such as the former USSR and China. By contrast, during the same period, the system of largely free trade and movement has allowed millions of people to lift themselves out of poverty, in countless unsung success stories in countries all over the world.
The author mentions migration, climate change and corporate tax avoidance as examples of the greatest problems of the 21st century. But is corporate tax avoidance even on the same scale as poverty, youth unemployment or preventable disease as a problem facing the world today? And is it not the case that people every day are fleeing brutal and illiberal theocracies of the Middle East in favour of the largely irreligious, capitalist countries of the EU? – Yours, etc,
DERMOT REID,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – If I or any other person representing the Humanist Association of Ireland has engaged in a “slagging match”, as Joe Humphreys calls it, against people of religious faith in the ongoing debate about equality in education, I am truly sorry. Such behaviour is not very humanist.
Let us hope there is more respectful debate and dialogue in 2016 leading to a more equal and inclusive state education system in all local communities.
No one wants to dismantle existing communities. We just to live in harmony and equality with our neighbours of all faiths and none and go to the school around the corner together.
Certainly the churches deserve credit for the role they have played in creating communities historically, but community-based activities do not segregate or discriminate anymore on the grounds of religion. Why is it, for example, that a child can join a local GAA club or soccer club or Irish dance class or ballet class or scouting group and no-one asks about religion on the enrolment form? – Yours, etc,
SIOBHÁN WALLS
Humanist Association
of Ireland,
Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Joe Humphreys refers to the egalitarian ethic of “loving your neighbour as yourself” and its challenge to the “individualistic culture” of the West.
His article is a recognition that the ethic of “love of neighbour” is the basis for the equality of citizens in a democracy. The fact that it is not always practised does not render it invalid. In reminding us of the importance of the “love of neighbour” ethic in community living, his article is also a warning that its opposite, ie intolerance and arrogance, can do great damage. – Yours, etc,
A LEAVY,
Sutton, Dublin 13.
Sir, – The “egalitarian ethic” of the Catholic Church is a laughable notion – just ask homosexuals, women or the non-religious. Joe Humphreys may be on surer ground when he asserts that the Catholic Church “provides the basic unit of community”, namely the parish. However, it is by no means the only basic unit of community; we all live in a variety of communities. Nor is there a need to “dismantle communities” in order to “build a better and fairer society”. Communities may evolve and Irish society as whole is evolving, often in the face of resistance from the Catholic Church. We can manage very well without it, thank you. – Yours, etc,
ALAN TUFFERY,
Raheny, Dublin 5.
Sir, – Joe Humphreys’s praise for the Catholic Church as the organisation best fitted to promoting values of community, trust, reciprocity, civility and so on, ignores other organisations. Both the GAA and the amateur dramatic societies are national organisations based on parish-level affiliates that do just that. They are absolute models of their kind, do not require any particular confessional, metaphysical or cosmological outlook and generally, if not always, bring out the best in people. The Catholic Church betrayed people’s trust. Thankfully it is by no means the only organisation where trust and civility find expression. – Yours, etc,
EOIN DILLON,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – Joe Humphreys is to be commended on his nuanced and thought-provoking contribution to the debate on the relationship between religion and atheism. His article is a refreshing change from the rather tedious and simplistic tirades against religion that your newspaper routinely publishes.
The Catholic Church has been concerned for some considerable time as to how to engage with atheist thinkers of good will.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, as he then was, had a famous dialogue with one of the leading atheist thinkers in Europe, the philosopher Jürgen Habermas, in 2004, in which both participants agreed that proponents of secular reason and religious conviction should learn from each other. Consequently, in 2011, Pope Benedict XVI, as he then was, inaugurated a series of dialogues between Christians and atheists.
Even before these initiatives, one of the key clauses in a document promulgated by the Second Vatican Council, namely paragraph 16 of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, leaves open the possibility, on one reading, that God's salvation is possible for atheists of good will. – Yours, etc,
JOE O’HANLON,
Clontarf, Dublin 3.