Sir, - Much of the article by Fintan Tallon (Opinion, July 27th) supports the softly, softly approach of the modern-day Catholic Church. This soft talk replaces the fire and brimstone language of bygone times which was designed to instil fear into a credulous and largely unscientific population. However, it can become extreme. Consider the following from Mr Tallon's article. "Faith is what provides man with the arithmetic of the cosmos, a means to harmonise himself with the mysterious universe in which he finds himself. Without that arithmetic we are idiots living in a bedlam."
This has no logical meaning whatsoever. It is pure gobbledegook. Is Mr. Tallon hoping that, by mixing scientific words like cosmos, universe and arithmetic with religious words like faith and mysterious, the gullible will be impressed - that they will believe that is a scientific basis for the existence of God or the truth of religion?
The universe is mysterious only in the same way that the sun was mysterious to ancient peoples. The sun remained mysterious, religious, a god - until science discovered that it is merely an average-sized nuclear furnace. As for idiots living in a bedlam, we are fortunate to be living in an age where science has immeasurably enriched our lives while at the same time destroying many of the myths and superstitions which have done so much damage to humanity. - Yours, etc.,
Anthony Sheridan, Carraig Eoin, Cobh, Co Cork.