Interpreting Scripture

SIR – The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-ali and others (Letters, July 25) erroneously assume that those of us who disagree with their interpretation of Scripture do not read and study the Bible. We have not “capitulated to secular values”, but seek as best we can to demonstrate biblically informed Christian love to everyone we meet.

I do not wish to sidestep Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 6, but to interpret them through a biblical rather than legalistic lens. Paul repeatedly teaches that Christians are free from the (Old Testament) law, and Peter in Acts 15 asks: “Why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?” The conclusion is that the Church should not make life difficult for future Christians.

We also read that God made man and woman in his image. Through medical science, we now know that gender is not binary male or female. Some people are born – created by God – intersex. Did God make part of His creation with a Catch-22 situation of having in part a forbidden sexuality?

My conclusion is that if I am to love my neighbour as myself (one of just two laws on which “hang all the law”), then I would not wish to deny my neighbour the blessings I have received through my marriage.

Stephen Marriott Guildford, Surrey

SIR – Bishop Nazir-ali’s praying in aid of the Tudor divine Richard Hooker (Letters, July 29) is outrageous.

He attributes to Hooker the view that reason is “the instrument by which we understand and apply the teaching of the Bible”. In fact the Judicious Hooker, as he was known, upheld the importance of reason as a gift from God. He did believe that the Bible contained all information needed for salvation, but recognised that in many other matters, especially of government, the Bible was unclear and reason should be our guide.

He was especially scornful of strained biblical interpretations. “When they and their Bibles were alone together, what strange phantasticall opinion soever… entered their heads, their use was to thinke the Spirit taught it them”.

Hooker is widely regarded as the intellectual father of the more moderate, rational tendencies of the Church of England. He was one of our greatest political philosophers. Of course his ideas were rooted in his time. Nevertheless, especially through his influence on John Locke, he made an important contribution to the development of liberal democracy.

Neil Hirst London SW9