Madam, - Pope Benedict XVI blames science for the risk of a clash between cultures and religions. He warns "If [ science] remains closed to questions relating to God, this will end up leading to a clash of cultures" (The Irish Times, December 23rd).
The Pope fails to understand that science in not closed to such questions. Rather, it is that science finds no convincing evidence for accepting the existence of a God. If there is blame to be assigned, it can be based on the fact that religion itself remains closed to questions relating to God, for it will not even accept the possibility that no God exists.- Yours, etc.
NICOLAS JOHNSON, Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 12.