Tony Waring, of Mill Lane, Frogmore, writes:

It's always a challenge to reply to rants because by definition they are intemperate and often nonsensical.

Frequently, as in Damian Corbett's letter last week, they fail completely to address the original subject matter.

I was writing in support of the Ofsted statement that the teaching of religious education in schools has fallen below the required standard.

If he reads my letter closely, he will observe that I did not insult women.

I firmly believe that abortion is fundamentally wrong but I don't believe that women who find themselves in this difficult position should be judged.

Counselling and practical help are required, both readily available from pro-life organisations, as he will discover if he takes the trouble to look into the matter. I would be happy to supply further information on request.

No country can afford abortion either on demographic or moral grounds. Several countries, such as Russia and Italy, will find themselves in a perilous situation before the end of the century.

I do not recall claiming a Christian monopoly on good works.

However, it's worth pointing out that Western civilisation was founded on Christian principles which have served mankind well for two millenia.

The fact that those principles are frequently ignored in no way invalidates their value and truth.

That is why they need to be imparted to schoolchildren, the more so considering the state of the society in which we now find ourselves; a society where anything goes and the name of the game is self-satisfaction to the exclusion of others – though, of course, there are many exceptions.

Re-reading his letter something else strikes me – why is it that self-confessed atheists can't stop talking about God?