Church is no guide to stopping violence

DEAR Editor, Speaking in the House of Commons about the tragic death of Dea-John Reid in Kingstanding, Khalid Mahmood, MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said he was “working with the churches to ensure unity”.

I do not doubt the sincerity of Khalid Mahmood, but during its 2,000-year existence, when has Christianity been able to prevent violence? Was there ever a time in history when the Church’s influence put a stop to crime? Of course not.

The truth is this, for the first 1,700 of its existence, the Church spent much of its time happily burning heretics and witches alive.

Anyone who believes that Christianity offers the best guidance we have on preventing violence needs to study the history of the Church.

Eddie Sanders, Great Barr,

Birmingham