Sir - Research by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the British Humanist Association, really does call into question the Christian mores of Messrs Robertson and Stevens in your November 10 edition - at least in the minds of the majority of the UK population.
During 975 face-to-face interviews - with a nationally representative sample of people aged over 15 - 62 per cent agreed that "Human nature by itself gives us an understanding of what is right and wrong" compared to just 27 per cent who felt that "People need religious teachings" to gain such understanding.
Similarly, just 13 per cent agreed that "What is right and wrong is unchanging and should never be challenged" whilst 65 per cent selected "What is right and wrong depends on the effects on people and the consequences for society and the world" . . . although a worrying 15 per cent felt that "What is right and wrong is basically just a matter of personal preference".
To a sceptic like me, the full research in www.humanism.org.uk makes pleasantly reassuring reading - and I would commend it to the over 40 per cent of typical readers who feel the present Government "pays too much attention to religious groups and leaders" compared to a similar percentage who identified "Leaders of other countries" as unduly influential.
David Jaques, Oxford
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