Sir, - Eddie Holt, in the course of his attack on Cardinal Connell (Weekend, November 10th) also promotes the secular humanist proposition that it is not possible to prove the existence of God.
Most physicists today believe in the existence of unseen quarks, convinced by the scientific evidence which indicates their existence. Not all scientists, however, draw the same conclusions from the available evidence.
Similarly, there are many clues pointing to the handiwork of the Creator. These proofs, in their own way, are as valid as the evidence on which many of today's great scientific discoveries are built.
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is generally sufficient to lead most people to reach conviction on such issues. With prayer, these proofs also help many people to strengthen their understanding of and faith in God.
This is not to say that we can expect to discover the full picture from this side of the Jordan. Now we just see through a glass darkly. It would be presumptuous of us to expect otherwise.
Different people are convinced by different proofs. Convinced sceptics will not be persuaded by any of them. This is quite different to saying, as does Mr Holt, that proofs for the existence of God do not themselves exist. - Yours, etc.,
Dick Humphrey, Sycamore Road, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin.