Letter: Believers' duty to the young

Sir: Mr Stopes-Roe (Letters, 3 September) makes a common error. He assumes that the start positions of "God" and "no God" can be treated as having the same value.

I think an analogy can be drawn with the belief that there is traffic moving along a road which children may wish to cross. If there really is no traffic, then it makes no difference whether children are taught to look both ways, or that they can stumble across the road looking at their boots. If in reality there is traffic they must be taught only the first option.

Those who believe in God cannot allow themselves the luxury of teaching the young that it makes no difference whether they believe or stumble on regardless.

J RICHARD PATER

Kendal, Cumbria