Ireland and the decline of religion

A chara, – At some point, one would hope the claim that “atheism is as doctrinaire an idea as any traditional faith” will be recognised for the fallacious old trope that it is (Finn McRedmond, “Ireland, of all countries, shouldn’t be too quick to celebrate the decline of religion”, Opinion & Analysis, June 1st).

It is, of course, accurate to say that humans have always sought “an organisational force outside of themselves” and even fair to argue that it would be “arrogant” to think otherwise.

However, the implication that such an arrogant stance is typical of secularists or atheists is so easily debunked as to seem disingenuous.

Of the 14 per cent of the population who selected “no religion” in the 2022 census, presumably a significant share participate in volunteering, charity work or community activities, or simply support sports teams. Nothing about humans’ need for participation in an outside organisational force necessitates that force being a religious entity.

‘For a few weeks, the reliable machinery of suburban life shut down. There was no milk, no petrol, often no electricity’

---

Elon Musk: Brave truth-teller or weird pontificator about the IRA?

---

Barbara Kingsolver: ‘The first time I set foot in Ireland I felt so at home. Something about the language, the culture’

---

‘You’d kind of just presume you’d know if you had a heart condition’: How raising the awareness of cardiac screening can save athletes’ lives

---

The reality is that atheism is just as much a religion as not watching hurling is a sport. – Is mise,

JOHN HOGAN,

Ballyneety,

Co Limerick.

Sir, – Finn McRedmond searches for an alternative to the authoritarian, reactionary colossus that dominated Ireland for so long, from the influence of which we are only now, and tentatively, extricating ourselves.

But the alternative is already here. It is called republican democracy.

This relies on adherence to, and respect for, the rule of law, the understanding that minorities have rights, and transparency in governance. Instead of inculcating a belief in an imaginary deity with supernatural powers, these are the things we should be presenting to our children in our schools. We should be letting them know that adherence to these values can be demonstrated, in practical ways, to be to their own benefit.

There is no need to rely on mysteries, or blind faith, or arcane ceremonials in order to further progress the trend that has already begun towards a responsible, healthy and caring society. – Yours, etc,

SEAMUS McKENNA,

Dublin 14.

Sir, – Finn McRedmond writes that “civil religion – a communal religious value not tied to any particular denomination – is as relevant and necessary as ever”.

The late world-renowned theologian Hans Küng also studied such an approach but from a different perspective. He examined major world religions to find whether they shared a “Global Ethic”.

He identified that they shared four moral commitments that he termed directives.

He described them as irrevocable because they are unchanging and unconditional because they apply to everyone without exception. Still, their role was not to serve as “bonds and chains” but to provide moral orientation.

The four directives are a commitment to a culture of non-violence and respect for life; a commitment to a culture of solidarity and a just economic order; a commitment to a culture of tolerance and a life of truthfulness; and a commitment to a culture of equal rights and partnership between men and women.

In 1993, the Parliament of World Religions, meeting in Chicago, enthusiastically approved his proposal for a “Global Ethic”.

Up to his death, he wrote and argued for its adoption which he believed would be capable of fostering global and national co-existence. – Yours, etc,

BRENDAN BUTLER,

Drumcondra,

Dublin 9.