Sir – I’ve felt increasingly frustrated reading recent letters concerning atheism/belief etc.

I find these terms overly constrained by traditional belief systems such that theism represents belief in a divine being(s) demanding of reverence and obedience; agnosticism uncertainty as to the existence of said being(s) and atheism the belief that no such being exists.

How then would you categorise those who believe in the existence of supernatural forces which do not demand reverence and obedience in the manner of any organised religion, or are agnostic as to the existence of supernatural beings other than those of any organised religion, but adamant no Christian god exists say?

Much of the confusion in recent debates may be attributed to confusion of terms, I feel.

Helen Watkins, Oxford