LETTER: People can work for the common good

Chad Columnist Roy Bainton hit the nail on the head in his article of December 9. Resolution of many conflicts throughout the world, including in the Middle East and subsequent massacres in Paris lies in the hands of human beings, not religious prayers.

From where I am sitting it looks like most religions, the major ones at least, have more things in common than they have differences.

But it always seems to be the differences that count and, as Roy says, it ends up with people being at each other’s throats.

It’s as though reason and rational thinking fly out of the window.

But I think that’s the problem with organised religion. Over time they seem to become intolerant, inflexible institutions where it’s almost an article of faith, if I dare use that word, to argue and fight with each other.

I feel sure that ordinary people of any country don’t want this, they just want to get on with their lives regardless of what religious or political views they may have.

As the Americans like to say about some leaders they don’t agree with, ‘at least they’re someone you can do business with’.

That means there is room for exploring common ground, compromise, and perhaps eventual agreement.

I think that’s what normal human beings want to do; co-operate and work together for the common good, help each other when needed, and ‘do business’ with each other.

We have been working together since men and women first walked on the earth because we learned that this is the way human beings survive and make progress.  We don’t need any organisation, religious or not, to tell us how to do that.... we know it already.

I don’t think praying for peace will make it happen, only our commitment and our leaders’ determination will do that.

John Barsby

Berry Hill Lane,  Mansfield