Letter: Seasonal theology

Sir: One of the more tedious aspects of Christmas is the half- baked theology paraded by people who should know better.

Your leading article on 24 December claims that Jesus preached "all people are equal". If you read the Bible you will see he preached no such thing. And neither, until recently, did the Church.

Stranger still, you say the birth of Christ represents "the triumph of human creativity". The Son of God born of a virgin - human creativity? And have you not noticed Christianity teaches that triumph and creativity belong to God and insists humans should be humble?

You have taken the humanist values you share with your readers and then reached for some religious touches to dress them up. But Christian ideas do not fit them, which perhaps explains why churches are so empty.

DAVID BISHOP

Brussels