Morals exist in a world without God : LETTERS

From Mr Nicolas Walter Sir: Thomas Dalby's opposition to proposals to include "the secularist viewpoint" in religious education and religious broadcasting (Letters, 29 December) shows exactly what is wrong with the present system; it encourages the falseassumption that only religious thinking provides a positive alternative to the evils of the world and that non-religious thinking is purely negative.

If the function of such things as school assemblies and Thought for the Day is to provide "a short time of reflection", this may surely be non-religious as well as religious; unbelievers also have serious thoughts and reflections, and humanists have already contributed to many school assemblies and religious programmes.

And if Mr Dalby doesn't know what positive addition secularist moral thinking can make to traditional theistic moral teaching, he should keep off the subject; non-religious people have contributed to moral philosophy and ethical activity for a very long time. Humanism involves not just the deletion of God from moral thought, but the development of humanity on a rational and practical basis; this could provide material for many school assemblies and for many thoughts for the days.

Yours sincerely, NICOLAS WALTER Humanist Centre London, WC 29 December