Steven, because of other things going on in my life, I haven't got time to unpack and respond to this, what I consider, an insulting post. But, briefly:1. I do not believe in a God. I respect others who do, you have to respect my right not to; there is no god, ok? If you can't just say so and there's no point in further discussions on that point. Personally, I'd rather associate with other atheist such as Jim Al-Khalili, Tim Berners-Lee, Richard Dawkins, Carlos Frenk, Martin Rees, Adam Rutherford, Linus Torvalds et al. Interesting you chose G K Chesterton as Mr Google tells me he was an anti-semite, no idea if that's true, but perhaps he isn't a good choice?2. I do not believe in original sin. Some people are "good", or try to be, others are bad, some are psychopaths. That's life.3. Secularism isn't bad. I'm not, but many are humanists; I just try to be fair and help others when I reasonably can. I won't care whether they're athiests, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, etc.4. Colonialism was bad but, from a European perspective, it's stopped but we have to recognise the damage it's done and the benefits to the colonial powers. Over time it's effect should diminish but that may mean we in the West don't always like changes dictated by a majority elsewhere in the world. 5. That doesn't mean we need to accept unlimited immigration. We just need to look at ways that makes it more desirable to stay in the countries where they were born and their families are. Doesn't that make sense? And those that do come to the UK who seem willing to work then, given some industries and services are short of staff, doesn't that fill a need and help our economy?6. On a similar point; yes, I may be going back one or two, perhaps three or four, decades talking about the damage of colonisation; some on this forum seem to be going back to biblical references BCE to justify Israeli and it's actions in the middle east. If my references are invalid then those must ge evenmore so. 7. Slight aside, don't you think it's appalling that Windrush compensation end the Stephen Lawrence investigation reviews keep getting delayed? That might just be government incompetence as so have the blood and post office compensation scandals. But it all suggests a bad government culture - perhaps wven cocer ups?Just an overview. I need a few days to unpack your arguments when I've sorted other things out.E&OE
Michael Ixer ● 408d