Madam, - I enjoyed reading Thinking Anew by MC, on the failings of the philosophy of the hammer and sickle (December 1st).
The writer quotes, with obvious approval, excerpts from the Bible. Just as good a case can be made for the Communist Manifesto. Both are based on grand ideals but take no account of human nature, which is driven by greedy self-interest. I have no doubt that any unbiased analysis would show religion has done more harm than good and continues to do so.
The writer reminds us that "most of us in the Western world have been blessed with an unprecedented period of peace" - which is certainly true, but no credit to religion. The two greatest slaughtering matches in history were perpetrated in the past century by Christian nations. Fortunately, after 1945, men of vision and compassion vowed that this should never be repeated and set in train what has become the European Union. - Yours, etc,
JAMES MORAN, Bunclody, Co Wexford.