Richard Dawkins’s reference to Northern Ireland is both misguided and absurd. Any child who does express extremist sectarian views will have had them drummed in by their parents. If there’s anything that Irish religious schools try to get across to pupils, it is “love thy neighbour” and “respect the beliefs of others”.
His closing comment beggars belief. A reliious person might just as well say “why should my taxpayer’s money be spent on secular schools”.
I think it is very sad that one of our greatest scientists continues to drag out the 140-year-old science versus religion debate. Most sane people in the modern world promote reconciliation, not division.
Michael Roone
Lady Margaret Hall Oxford
