Justify attacks on faith or lay off
Re: Rachel Stewart’s opinion piece ( Standard, December 24). The particular part of Rachel’s opinion I take issue with is, ‘‘ One of the multitude of areas where religion fails is the belief that there is a better life after this one, that this is just the beginning not the end. It does large parts of humanity a huge disservice. It divorces people from the reality that this is actually it . . . This is all we have’’.
This philosophical belief is one that is shared by many but because it is common does not make it right. A belief system, to have validity, must not be in conflict with scientific knowledge.
To show why Rachel’s beliefs are erroneous I will quote Dr Wernher Von Braun:
‘‘ Science, for instance, tells us that nothing in nature – not even the tiniest particle – can disappear without a trace. Nature does not know extinction. All it knows is transformation. Now, if God applies this fundamental principle to the most minute and insignificant parts of His universe doesn’t it make sense to assume that He applies it also to the human soul? I think it does. And everything science has taught me strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death. Nothing disappears without a trace.’’
Rachel Stewart’s private beliefs are nobody else’s business but when she publicly attacks the beliefs of a wide section of the New Zealand public then she needs to justify these attacks or keep them to herself. BILL HUZZIFF Foxton
Thanks to you all
On Behalf of Christmas in The Square, thanks to the several thousand people who attended the event. We hope you had a great time.
We would like to thank the many people who made this event possible, including all our volunteers, our crew and our many and generous sponsors. Also a huge thanks to the awesome performers on the night; Maia Gilbert, The Dedicators, The PNC Gospel Choir, The Manawatu Community Choir, Manawatu African Drummers and The Manawatu Ukulele Orchestra, Haydn from Titanium, Kiwi Bop, The Combined Choirs of the Palmerston North Choral Society and Renaissance Singers, accompanists Jenny Boyack and Robert Cleaver, musical director Guy Donaldson and the immensely talented Anna Leese.
Thank you for being part of Christmas in The Square and we hope you all have a safe and happy 2014. DUNCAN McCANN and AMANDA LINSLEY Palmerston North
Lost for words
Having caught my share of abuse from members of the public for using mobility parking spaces without a permit, I sympathise with the hapless police officer caught short while on the prowl for desperados ( Standard, December 27).
Recently, while visiting a popular Palmerston North supermarket, circumstances demanded I park the Cadillac in a space reserved for the elderly. Coming back to the car with my bag of goodies, I was set upon by a plucky woman of mature years who berated me for stealing her park.
I explained as nice as I could, that while was only a year away from the pension, I felt 10 years older. Unmoved by my plight, the woman used some choice language to explain that cripples like me had their own parks around the corner and I
Iwas cheating the system by claiming the best of both worlds, while she was just old.
It’s not often I’m lost MARK WAHLBERG Pahiatua
for words.