Sir – Helen Robertson (Letters, June 6) says of describing Professor Grayling as a thinker: “This seems to imply that most people do not think.”

It clearly doesn’t, any more than it would if it were said of a Christian thinker.
As for seeking and finding God, it would be as valid to say that, although you may feel you experience God’s activity in your life, it might be a reflection of the hopes you have that God exists. The experience is subjective.
It is not possible to achieve perfect objectivity, but it’s more likely to be the successful strategy.


Standing aside and trying to assess arguments dispassionately is perhaps more difficult in the case of God because it entails entertaining the idea that there is no such thing as eternal life, but it’s just as rewarding if you arrive at a conclusion you feel to be valid in the light of available evidence, even if that does involve being mortal.
I rather think it is Mr Graham (Letters, June 6) feeling threatened by someone expressing a different point of view, not the non-believers. For the reasons I have suggested, belief of one kind or another is bound to have adherents. Eternal life is a popular notion, but not a reasoned argument for the existence of a god.


Paul Surman, Horspath