Many believers are offended

Another response in the Leicester Mercury Mailbox to Leicester Secular Society's poster campaign about the Census. This makes an interesting companion piece to Allan Hayes's "First Person" column on the same subject (and on the same page of the paper).

Many believers are offended


Dr Emma Chung, of the Leicester Secular Society, says (Mercury, March 5) that there has been no complaints about their census campaign.


This is probably because God-fearing persons have, through their beliefs, learnt to be tolerant, forbearing and uncomplaining. It does not follow that there is no offence to many persons who hold to the commandments of God, one of the prime ones being "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain".


The poster makes a mockery of an Eternal Being, known, revered and adored by millions of persons. The statement on the campaign is self conflicting as it invokes the name of a Being whose existence they deny.


It is also a pointless exercise as we understand there is provision on the census form for non-religious persons to indicate they have no religion.


It seems to me that the fact that persons feel the need for this campaign is because deep, deep down they are uncomfortable about their denial of the existence of God. May I suggest they seek the inner peace and blessing of coming to know that God.


Ian Benson
Leicester