John Harris refers to a fan’s surprise that Nick Cave found “solace in Christianity” in his search for meaning (I’m a devout agnostic. But, like Nick Cave, I hunger for meaning in our chaotic world, 15 September). It is sad that the church fails to communicate the Christian faith attractively to today’s agnostic seekers. This is hindered by those “culture warriors” whose purpose for “Christian revival” is their loathing of Islam, and those who marginalise gay people and women.
However, Sunday worship is the only place where one can give thanks, confess to failure, offer prayers of solidarity for the suffering, and hear an exposition on the scriptures. Last Sunday’s reading from James warned readers of the poison of the tongue. Our elderly preacher observed that was true, although today there is the poison of the fingers, hovering over “Send” on a keyboard.
The older congregation included some recent refugees who show great enthusiasm for Christianity, surprising those to whom it had become rather a habit. Today’s churches are more diverse, in age, ethnicity and formulation of the faith. They offer a sense of community hard to find elsewhere, and sit lighter to traditional forms of expression. Ultimately, Christianity is about following Jesus; much doctrine piled on top is debatable. Churches do exist where there is both hunger and meaning.
Rev David Haslam
Evesham, Worcestershire
• A big thank you to John Harris for expressing, in such a personal and honest way, thoughts and feelings that are no longer a part of the usual public discourse in mainstream British society. He describes well the current state of things in our society. For me personally, being part of the non‑creedal Society of Friends (Quakers) and, on a Sunday morning, spending an hour in silence with others, feeling their solidarity and companionship and hearing, from time to time, their deep reflections or hesitant insights, answers the need that he describes.
Joining a choir that sings beautiful and deeply charged religious works, whose sometimes‑to-me-untenable assertions are softened by the medium of Latin, can add something glorious to the mix.
Diana Francis
Bath
• I much appreciated the article by John Harris for its honesty and thoughtfulness. I, too, am an agnostic, but became a Quaker in my 50s, then, in my 70s, also a Buddhist. I remain a Quaker by religion and a Buddhist by philosophy. So now I am a member of two communities, where agnosticism is accepted.
Initially, I found myself searching for meaning. Then for a system of values that I could respect and aspire to. Recently, I have found many people, like John, searching “for meaning”. Some have come to Quakerism or other traditions that are not necessarily theistic. We don’t have to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Kate Allen
Guisborough, North Yorkshire
• Having listened recently to the four horsemen of evangelical atheism – Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett and Sam Harris – I found John Harris’s article fascinating and compelling. Sceptical questioning or rejection of church doctrine need not involve a denial of the transcendent and the numinous in pursuit of ruthless rationalism. Philip Larkin, that devout agnostic, puts the case superbly in Church Going.
Ian Barge
Ludlow, Shropshire
• John Harris should look no further than the Unitarian movement in his search for meaning and a spiritual path. Aptly described by a friend as “pick and mix”, I’m sure Mr Harris will be assisted in any quest he has by exploration of this open, rational and welcoming movement.
Roslyn Connolly
St Helens, Merseyside
• John Harris states “I’m a devout agnostic. But, like Nick Cave, I hunger for meaning in our chaotic world”. As an intelligent, cognisant species, human beings seek certainty in the uncertain world in which we find ourselves. Religious belief gives dogmatic certainty to those fundamental uncertainties. The scientific method is essentially a philosophy of empirically verifiable knowing, where conclusions are based on degrees of probability. I personally am content to live with the meaning of scientific uncertainty, rather than with the questionable comfort of unscientific certainty.
John Stone
Thames Ditton, Surrey
• As a footnote to John Harris’s sincere article, may I simply add that the proposals of the founder of Christianity differ in many cases from their formal interpretations by would-be practitioners, yet these would be of considerable use in the world today, undiluted. He proposed that we should love one another, love our neighbours and – why not give it a try? – love our enemies.
Similar suggestions are to be found in most other religions. Today, however, what we must love most of all is, of course, money – however this may be obtained, hoarded, fought for, and denied to others in need.
Dr Ian Flintoff
Oxford
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