Belfast Telegraph

Dear Sir/Madam,

Alf McCreary seems to think that loss of faith is a simple matter of choice, like smoking or not smoking (Perspectives, Jan. 5). Therefore he has little sympathy for those clerics and theologians who have tried to renounce the supernatural aspects of traditional Christianity.

But loss of faith is not a simple matter of choice. As a Humanist, I do not believe in life after death. I have come to that conclusion because it seems to me that all the evidence points in that direction. For example, I have seen how people deteriorate, both mentally and physically, in extreme old age. I have known people affected by brain injury and seen how their personalities were changed as a result. I have been anaesthetised for an operation myself and in effect I ceased to exist mentally for that time. That is the kind of evidence which has let me to my loss of faith in life after death.

That was not a matter of choice. If I had the choice, I would prefer to live for millions of years and never die at all. I enjoy life and would certainly choose a more generous helping if I could. Unfortunately, the facts as I perceive them get in the way and I am forced unwillingly to accept that life is finite and short, not just for me, but for the whole human species and all the other species which inhabit this planet.

The same applies to other central beliefs of Christianity, for example, the existence of an all-powerful, kind and caring spirit which takes a special interest in human beings. I used to believe that such a spirit existed and I joined in when the congregation sang songs to it and asked it for help and protection. But the more I saw of suffering and distress in people’s lives, much of it through no fault of their own, the more I was persuaded that there is no such spirit. I lost that belief and once again the loss was not a matter of choice. The evidence was plain to see and I could not deny it.

So I have every sympathy for those clerics and theologians who can no longer give their support to all the various beliefs which traditional Christianity has embraced at one time or another. Some of them may even emerge like me, a Humanist, completely outside the Christian church, and I know that their struggle will have been painful and gruelling because they have cut themselves off from the sects to which they belonged.

However, I would like to assure them that the good things in life are just as good without outdated beliefs as they were with them. The sun is still warm, birdsong is still sweet and love still makes the world go round. Losing such beliefs is not so much a "loss" as a release.

L. Reid

Secretary

Belfast Humanist Group