Make sure what you believe rests on solid foundations
Re: “Beady-eyed crowing atheists are missing the big picture”, Have Your Say, April 29.
Leaving personal insults aside may I respond to Mr Setters’ view on the founding of religion.
Ancient writings in the Bible, Dzogchen tradition, Gita, Torah, etc, may well inform our understanding, but insight does not arise from knowledge any more than does wisdom.
For me, the relevance of religious tradition was diminished with the publication of “On the Origin of Species” in 1859, a diminishment that continued with the further scientific discovery of DNA common to all plants, animals and humans.
Belief is a deeply personal decision formed over time, privately and unconsciously.
That decision may be based on uncontestable, replicable hypotheses, on our own insights and perceptions or on the messages in these ancient texts, but one must agree with Mr Setter that making the choice between these is indeed important, and rather stark.
Christian Knottone
