Sir, - Dr Paddy Leahy's article in "Rite and Reason" was excellent and has exposed the superstitions used by religious people in their opposition to humanism, which is a philosophy of caring and compassion now sadly lacking in Irish society. In another era we were conditioned by Catholic doctrine and dogma which is now outdated and lacking in reason. The enlightenment that existed before the French Revolution has returned and in his new book On the Eve of the Millennium Conor Cruise O'Brien warns of the danger to democracy, which humanism advocates, by religious forces. We are now in an age of reason and we can think for ourselves without any restrictions from Catholic philosophy which in the past has been the cause of a lot of neurosis and mental illness. A life without religion does not mean that we are losing our respectability or on the wrong road.
The outdated dogmas of purgatory and hell are no longer logical in this age of reason, just mere threats to our happiness on earth to which each individual has a right. The remote idea of a heaven seems a myth and preoccupation with an afterlife only adds to human misery. Ireland must move away from the dark ages and humanism is an alternative, offering a relief to suffering caused by false and nonsensical religious ideas. - Yours, etc.,
Marian Place, Cahirciveen,
Co Kerry.