Sir — Roger Moreton’s criticism of carols being played in supermarkets (Letters, December 5), borders on a Scrooge-like attitude. He must surely be aware that music of some sort is ‘belted out’ at all times of the year, so why not carols in the Christmas season?

They may possibly offend a small minority of people, atheists among them but most — including those of other faiths — find their messages of peace and goodwill uplifting. No Muslim I’ve spoken to has ever criticised Christians’ observance of Christmas; in fact, Isa (Jesus) is revered as an important prophet in Islam. We have Jewish friends who celebrate Christmas alongside Hanukkah and a Sikh acquaintance told me he celebrates all faiths’ major festivals. As for the ‘unacceptable doctrines’ of the carols, their lyrics may not always be the inspired word of God (Jesus probably wasn’t born ‘in the bleak midwinter’) but their essential message that God’s love for a messed-up world showed itself in a rescue plan beginning with the birth of the Saviour holds true.

The French poet, Baudelaire, said the devil’s greatest trick was to convince people that he doesn’t exist, but there is abundant evidence of ‘Satan’s power’ in the world today, from which we may want to be saved. Whether you are of any faith or none, celebrating or not, I wish you every joy and blessing of the season and if you’re not too sure what it’s really about, you might do well to visit a church near you this Christmas.

Rick Taylor, Eynsham