MORE TO FAITH THAN THE CENSUS FORM

Two letters in the Mercury Mailbox today about the religion question in the Census and the very public position taken on this issue by Leicester Secular Society. Fret not, faithful reader, a couple of days and it will all be over.

More to faith than the census form

As a Christian I am writing to endorse Dr Chung's plea (Mailbox, March 16) that "for God's sake" we need to say if we are not religious.

I'm not actually pressing for this for the census but for self honesty and so as not to hide behind a name that means nothing to us. If we really do this "for God's sake" there's hope that God will help us find out what's at stake for us in life – and in death for that matter. It's a far deeper issue than filling in a census form!

Then I also second what Dr Chung says regarding the need of freedom of belief for everyone. This she directly connects to the big issue of the influence of religious organisations on Government policies. Of course as a Christian I've been very thankful for the historic influence of Christians in the sphere of public life – in our laws founded on the Ten Commandments; in health projects; in the educational sphere; in the abolition of slavery and the like.

Now, though, I'm not pleased when other organisations press to get laws passed that directly contravene the biblical principles that have been an integral part of British life and, in addition of course, often deny me freedom of speech to voice what these are in particular.

Could it be that the Secular Society would like more influence in Government and would that be any more acceptable to other groups?

Maybe it is a minor point when it comes to the keeping of Christian feasts. Many Christians themselves have let them get out of proportion, but Dr Chung cannot claim that they are merely pagan feasts while the dictionary still states that they are celebrations of the birth and death of Jesus Christ.

Having earlier involved the name of God, I want to also thank God for all my friends and acquaintances – and relations – from other beliefs, secular or religious. As with Dr Chung I feel it right to voice what I believe in, or in my case in whom I believe.

Believing Jesus Christ is the right way, I cannot help but try to influence others, but thank God as yet they have the freedom to choose for themselves. May our freedom long last, Dr Chung. Allow me to share with you a promise made by Jesus in the Gospel of John, chapter 8, verse 36: "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Mrs Marion Sutton, Oadby

Read this letter on the Mercury website, along with reader comments.

In the printed edition of the paper, the letter reprinted above is followed by the one reprinted below. I would remind everyone reading this blog that the views expressed in these letters are those of the writer alone. I reproduce this material here insofar as it exemplifies the collective conversation that goes on in Leicester and to bring to the attention of my readers the diversity of views that are noised abroad in our city. Personally, I am all in favour of courtesy and kindly words, rather than the ad hominem approach.

No respect for belief of others

How sad that the Mercury reprinted the photo of happy, smiling, Emma Chung, of the Secular Society with her awful banner (some might call it "blasphemous") urging non-believers to tick the "No Religion" box on the 2011 Census form (Mailbox, March 16).

She says that she is "genuinely surprised" that some people have been offended by it.

All this indicates is that, despite her protestations, she has no respect for or appreciation of the deeply-held beliefs of committed Christians. Such an insult to some other religions would be met with a very angry response.

Her smug, self-satisfied claim that the two great Christian festivals (Easter and Christmas) were "purloined" from the pagans is so silly.

Of course we don't know where the dates of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem or of his death some 33 years later in Jerusalem fit into our modern calendar but the tradition was established centuries ago in the Christian world.

Since then, those festivals have served to focus the minds of Christians all over the world on the wonder of God's intervention in the lives of mankind.

In one of his letters to the early Churches the Apostle Paul states that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen". Those of us who have accepted God's word and the fact that he sent Christ into the world so that we may be reconciled to Him are happy in the certain knowledge that, come what may, He will work out His purposes and that we are secure for eternity.

Michael Parker, Great Glen

Read this letter on the Mercury website, along with reader comments.