runner wrote: “Instead of humbling themselves and admitting they were wrong they pass their lack of values to their children.”

Dear runner,

When are you going to humble yourself, admit you are wrong and follow the religion of Jesus? I wrote a song to illustrate that point sung to the tune of the old jazz standard. Get your banjo and join me.

The Imitation of Christ

Six feet two,
Eyes of blue,
Jesus Christ,
He was a Jew.
Has anybody seen my Lord?

Big hooked nose,
There he goes.
Preaching so
That everyone knows.
Has anybody seen my Lord?

Speared in the abdomen
By a Roman
Blood gushing out

Rose from the dead
So it is said
People believe without a doubt

Jesus died
Still a Jew
Still a Jew
So why aren’t you?
Has anybody seen my Lord?

I’m sure you will feel better if you repent, reject the Christian heresy and follow the religion of Jesus.

Squeers,

Thanks for your honesty but State schools are no more ideology free than universities. Children are going to adopt an ideology whether we like it or not. Every time they watch a cartoon they are receiving a message of some sort. You might not tutor your kids but be sure many others are including their friends are.

"It seems that all of the other subjects taught in our schools require expertise but when it comes to religion all we require is enthusiasm."

That's because nobody can agree on what the 'facts' of religion actually are. Come up with a credible story that everyone sticks to, Peter, and we'll consider it.

Dear Sells,
"It is extraordinary that the one tradition that has shaped our whole culture, Christianity, is so poorly served"
Whose "whole culture" are you talking about? Are you assuming your audience on this site is drawn solely from Christian culture? Because they very likely are not.

There is an inherent conflict between Christians and non Christians, including atheists, and that is the small matter of the concept of god.

You might well baptise any silly religious notion, or know people who do. I don't baptise any religious notion because I don't automatically respect any religion simply because it is a religion, including the Christian.

Until Christians can become humble enough to accept that your world view is only A world view and not THE world view, I can't see why anybody would bother to attempt to reason with you.

And I would really love to see a discussion between rationalists and Christians in which there is no disagreement. Given how irrational Christianity is.

Dear David F,
you could write revival music for Hillsong! No one listens to the words anyway, or can't hear them over the clapping. One of the most amusing stories I heard once was on late night live, when a Christian musician told Phillip that most of the Christian pop scene didn't believe in their own lyrics, they were just plugging in to a lucrative market. Phillip could hardly stop laughing.

While I have no problems with children being taught the principles of Christianity (I don't know why so many are terrified of being told of these principles) it is wrong for Chaplains to consider themselves as 'counsellors' for the mentally ill or for children with psychological or social problems. Spiritual problems maybe, psychological problems no.

The quality of some of the clergy from other than from the main religions is pretty poor. The proliferation of fringe religious groups and self appointed 'Christian' groups is stunning and opens the way for some vulnerable children to be abused by the unqualified