Nick Cohen wonders how we talk about human values when traditional religious language loses significance (“In losing religion we lose touch with each other”, last week). In the 20th century, theologian Daphne Hampson argued that after Christianity, we must find ways of talking about God in the language of our day, as Jesus of Nazareth and others did in theirs. She isn’t the only feminist thinker to be undervalued.
If all language about God is figurative, this surely includes the word God. Nowadays, “God” seems like a proper noun, a personal name. The word can be an obstacle to recognising what is sacred to human beings.
Cohen is correct to write about such things, though I don’t agree that all gods, including God, are inventions from humanity’s childhood. I’m not more grown-up than Homer, Abraham or their advocates; and I think there are more dubious gods around these days than we commonly recognise.
Janet Dubé
Peebles
I do wonder if there is a connection between decline in the British religious impulse, and the decline in the creative work-ethic of British people to invest for manufacturing exports. These exports are needed to pay for needed imports, and to curtail the financial debt-spiral that is taking resources from the NHS, education and social services.
The study of the economics of religion does suggest a relationship between religious participation and positive socio-economic outcomes. Secularisation removes this benefit. It may be that many British people face a harsh future because of personal character changes partly brought about by secularisation since the 1960s. Surely it is through the very being, hearts, souls and minds of people that a future needs to be forged.
A good religious impulse can be very beneficial in this regard. Without it the future looks bleak – particularly for the vulnerable in our society.
Barry E Jones
Malvern
I very much enjoyed Nick Cohen’s piece about the loss of religious imagery in Christmas cards and the glut of Advent calendars, promising nothing but sweets or make–up. I agree with his central premise, but take issue with his claim that we still understand the idea of the prodigal son. In more than 30 years of teaching religious studies in many schools I have seldom met a pupil, however able, who was familiar with the lovely word “prodigal”. So much more meaningful than the modern substitute “lost”.
Jane Kearey
Bristol
Nick Cohen cogently argues that in losing religion we lose touch with one another, and writes of the importance of language associated with religion. No longer a believer, I retain huge gratitude for early exposure to Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer and the King James Bible, which so greatly influence our spoken language and literature and facilitate communication. However, it is possible that as we no longer use familiar idioms in their religious context we forget their significance. A kindly friend explained how she alone had sought to support a woman in distress on a train because she had lost her luggage. “Everybody else just turned the other cheek.”
Andrew Bunbury
London SW12
