Faithandreligion

Doug Clark's claim (Letters, 3 December) that “the idea that morality flows from religion has received a major set-back in the public perception in recent years with the well-documented incidence of paedophilia among the clergy” conflates the notions of faith and religion and draws a questionable conclusion about religious institutions on the basis of the criminal activities of some of their members.

It is faith through the operations of our moral sense that provides the basis of the moral judgement of religious people. The operation of our moral sense provides the principle on which David Hume built his theory of morality. Hume went on to analyse the role of religion as a social cohesive force which was reinforced by the operations of our moral sense. Hume was notoriously ambiguous about his own approach to religion; with some commentators claiming he was an atheist. What he was not ambiguous about was the role religion played in society.

It is this role that has been recognised in religious educational establishments. We can all agree that, as that role diminishes, the status of such establishments should be reviewed. The review should, however, take into account the difference between faith and religion and separate the criminal behaviour of those claiming to be religious from the institutions which these criminals have joined.

DR FRANCIS ROBERTS

Edinburgh