PM from Liverpool - your views on the teachings of Jesus (from the Gospel of John) are completely skewed. You're taking passages out of context and giving people a wrong impression. Jesus came to give us freedom, not condemn us.

I pray that you recieve the wisdom to truly understand Jesus' teachings. Its all about love.

Callum, Hull,

He seems to have a problem with children being taught the truth. This is typical of religious types, as they depend on the indoctrination of children with myths and superstition to keep their religion going. The game is up for them in this country now. If only the same could be said of the islamic countries!

Michael, Maidstone, UK

"For example, I guess not many people are aware that it is against the law for state schools to teach the Christian faith as true"

"One might put this epigrammatically: what was once a mortal sin is now only a lifestyle choice"

"This deprivation of the spiritual is a form of child abuse."

What I find disturbing is that people with such backwards and prejudiced views are still in positions of influence. If anything, the indoctrination of children into a set of bronze age myths and prejudices while claiming that they give a reasonable basis for a system of morality is what should be described as child abuse. Discrimination can never be eliminated whilst people are taught than an omnipotent being hates people based on their genetics.

Jason, Sheffield,

Ok, So children are now taught about more than one religion in school. What is so bad about that? It encourages tollerance of other people's beliefs rather than hatred. It is not a form of child abuse, indoctrinating children from a young age is. Before they are old enough to think for themselves.
What's wrong with being homosexual?Nothing. It's natural. Just because your holy book from times where they did not understand that it had nothing do do with choice says its wrong, doesnt mean it is. Oh, and abortion, maybe too many people use it for unnecessary reasons, but its stops children from growing up unwanted and unloved.
And excuse me, but 'broken' families are not all in the sterotype you so nicely put accross. I'm educated, I'm well behaved, I'm not a teen mum, I don't abuse substances and I'm happier than I would have been if my parents would have stayed together. And maybe there is more poverty, but that's because there is only ONE income. Not exactly rocket science is it?

Louise, London,

The current legislation is designed to eventually stop vulnerable little boys and girls from being called 'faggots' and 'dykes' at school and later, in the workplace. It is to stop kids killing themselves and people from being injured and killed.

'I disagree with your sexuality on scriptural grounds' is just 'faggot' in its Sunday best.

Charlie, Dublin, Ireland

"I would like anyone to please enlighten me where exactly the teachings of hatred by Jesus are chronicled." Richard, you really should read the Gospels - we are talking about the same guy? The one who came to bring the sword and fire to the world, set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother?? Even just read John. Jesus said people who didn’t believe in him should be cast into a fire and burned (15:6) – a suggestion his followers later took up with some alacrity. It was Jesus who introduced perpetual torture and eternal damnation, especially for infidels (3:18, 36; 15:6). He exhorted people to hate their lives (12:25), saw disability as a divine punishment for sin (5:14), "would not walk in Jewry” (7:1) as Jews were the sons of the devil (8:44) and collectively tried to kill him (11:8), and thought his feet were more important than the poor (12:3-8) – who of course are ‘always with us’ (12:8).

PM, Liverpool,

I agree completely Peter, but you do not go far enough!
Children should be also be forcibly told that Islam, hinduism and scientology are ALL true.
And while were at it, lets tell them that offering blood to make the sun come up is also true as well as worshipping John Frum to make the holy cargo wash up on our beaches. Damn the secular authorities teaching children that these so-called "myths" are nothing short of scientific fact.

I shall be offering several goats to Loki just to make sure that these people get whats coming! RAmen brothers!

DJC, St Andrews,

i do believe that most of the youths nowadays grow up without any moral compass.
They should be at least raised in their parents belief system, through daily practice and example, from an early age on.
But if the parents don,t have any themselves. At the impressionable and identity- searching teenage age they are left to the mercy of bad friends, radical groups, consumerism, me, myself and I, drinking, partying, sex and violence, you name it.
That,s why a lot are also turning to religion even if their parents are atheists. It gives them some much needed guidance.

angelface, Barcelona , Spain

In response I suggest a good read of the following:

http://reasonaboveall.livejournal.com/777.html

Paul Williams, Towcester, UK

"For example, I guess not many people are aware that it is against the law for state schools to teach the Christian faith as true. Teachers are allowed only to teach about religions. This is atheism by decree, for the only perspective from which one can teach about all religions is the secular perspective."

What a gross and abusive pomposity. Who does this religious proselytiser think he is? Perhaps he should be re-educated in the real world, rather than be allowed to broadcast from the fantasy religious bubble in which he lives. Atheism by decree - what utter nonsense!

Joseph White, Louhgborough, UK

T o suggest, even for a moment , that Hitler and Stalin's monsterous acts of mass murder had anything to do with either of them being Christian, lapsed or otherwise, is to show a leval of historical ignorance beyond almost all imagination. Both their actions were based entirely on hatred, and both men used their fustrations and anger that both had against the world that they believed had treated them so badly that once in positions of power they vented hatred of the world thorugh unfortunate scape goats. I would like anyone to please enlighten me where exacltly the teachings of hatred by Jesus are chronicled. I am so far unawre of them, maybe its because I am a lapsed Christian myself.

Richard, Fareham , UK

The moment you can demonstrate that your zombiegod hypothesis is Da Troof will be the same moment I allow you to brainwash my children into hating those who do things you disapprove of with their genitalia

LG, London,

With his first sentence Peter Mullen (dis)misses entirely the reason for the current upsurge of secularism. I agree international terrorism is not in of itself the world's most dangerous current fashion, instead it is symptomatic of the most dangerous: an upsurge in fundamentalist religiosity. I hear echoes of that fundamentalism in Mr Mullen's words. The views he expresses are as much an anachronism as his position as Chaplain of the Stock Exhange!

P Briscall, Kings Langley, Herts. UK

What an offensive article. The Sexual Orientation Regulations are there for a good reason, in part to prevent the damage that such 'moral' teachings cause to the self-esteem of LGBT youth. And what evidence does Rev Mullen have for the view that experiencing same-sex attractions equals a lifestyle choice? What right does he have, furthermore, to mock the gay rights movement?
Likewise, how typical for a religionist such as Mullen to criticise Gordon Brown for his sensible approach regarding the taxing of unmarried couples and single parents (who would be hit the hardest by the introduction of tax incentives for marriage).
With opinions like these, is it any wonder that so many churches are faced with dwindling congregations?

A.D. , Oxford, UK

This is an extreme form of spin and is just not true that we have Atheism by decree. Many people have some belief in a Supreme Being, a personal God, even though it cannot be proved but the Non Religious have equal, not less, rights than the religious. Belief in a God is not sanction for Religious Doctrine or Religions which in my view have poor standards of morality and ethics, historically and now, with a hierarchy that appears more interested in politics, power and self aggrandisement than morality. In my view the Govt. have acted with extreme discrimination, in connivance with Religious leaders, against the Non Religious and those who believe in a Divinity but are not attached to any Religion perhaps because of the low standards and the invented Doctrine. This seems particularly so in the area of education and in my opinion this has reached the level of a hate crime against personal believers, but why should children be forced to accept second best Religious Doctrine.

Keith Budden, Rayleigh, England,

What a load of hogwash. The elites are trembling because they counted on the children of those 'crazy Christian fundamentalists' to be the footsoldiers against their enemies du jour - in this case, Muslims with their oil-rich territories. Well, I AM one of those kids and unlike those in the church leadership who are joining up with these ratbags - we've actually read our Bibles. There's nothing about a 'warrior Jesus', he told his disciples to love your enemies and bless those who persecute you. They didn't fund public education for decades, they screwed our parents generation over and over again with job losses,war, raiding pension funds, not really trying to stop the drug dealers etc etc. They hoped that poverty and hopelessness would turn us into neo-Nazis but we're not blaming Muslims for our problems. They're good people and they look after each other. We know that if we go off to fight this war, we will come back to nothing, as always. We've given up.

M.S, Sydney, Australia

"So our children are not brought to a sense of holiness and awe, but are merely taught the meanings of religious terms as sociological descriptions. This deprivation of the spiritual is a form of child abuse"

In my opinion, the teaching of any bronze age myths as "facts"; the instilling of fear of a supernatural being into children from an early age and other such abominations should be considered child abuse.

Robin Laundon, Cambridge, UK

Thank 'goodness' for Richard Dawkins

Dane Clouston, Oxford, UK

This is a spoof, right?

Liz ReaD, Bristol,

Your 'dark side' of our modern world seems mostly down to the inability of heterosexuals to commit to long-term relationships, practice effective birth control and then bring up their offspring effectively.

What has gay liberation and atheism to do with this?

Peter Rivendell, Manchester, UK

Intellectual atheism is rare. Usually the motive is to have liberty from Christian moral teachings. However humans cannot live for long in the belief that they are bound by no moral rules whatsoever, and usually the alternative morality is far more stringent. Veganism rather than fish on Fridays, for example.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

Well if you think our country is better off morally now than it was when children were brought up to go to Sunday school, and Church with their parents on a Sunday, no one could argue that it is.
In the town where I grew up, thirty five years before I was born there was a revival of true Christianity. Every church and chapel was crowded, pubs were closed, not through a lack of beer, but because nobody wanted to drink, they had found something better. The courts had no cases brought before them, magistrates put on white gloves as a sign of no criminality to be tried. No swearing, doors could be left open.
Today of course, people have Richard Dawkins and the like to turn their minds from what true faith and christian living is, God is out of the question these days. But history only a century ago, in spite of many false claims of religion, God is the only answer, faith in Jesus Christ alone can turn our lives and our nation around again.

M.Elward, Bridgend, Glam

So, secular teaching on various religions is a form of child abuse but enforced indoctrination of school children into the Christian faith isn't?

Alex , Lewes, UK

An excellent article - Peter Mullen is absolutely correct in everything he says. As a culture we have turned our backs on God, denied his existence and gone our own way. And one hell of a mess we are making of it. No doubt the usual quota of christian - haters will direct at least a modicum of bile in his direction; it's part of the deal if a christian is getting it right, though. God bless all atheists; He has a book out and it's worth a read.

michael, harrogate, uk

"Chaplain to the Stock Exchange"????!!!!

The mind boggles. Why on earth should the Stock Exchange need a chaplain? Thats a non-job if ever there was one.

Jack Harrison, Cambridge

Jack Harrison, Cambridge, UK

Mr Mullen argues from a traditional Christian perspective, and I agree with much of what he says. But the majority of his fellow-citizens don't share his and my perspective, which is why he and his church might do better to concentrate on the business of trying to commend their faith as a whole, rather than pursuing the tempting but illegitimate short-cut of arguing for the imposition, by one means or another, of both Christian ethical standards and a form of compulsory Christian religious instruction upon a society which, on the whole, doesn't accept either the standards or the faith which underlies them. This is of a piece with the desire to cling to the anachronistic establishment of the Anglican Church in England. Personally, I wouldn't want state school teachers who may well have neither the faith nor the knowledge to explain the faith of the Church to be teaching it to any child of mine, though I would expect them to teach about religion as an aspect of human experience.

John Ellis, Hazel Grove, Stockport, UK

The simple truth why children are taught about religion and not that any particular religion is true is because none of them are. There you go . really simple.

Paul Knowles, Flitwick, Bedfordshire

Steve, calling Stalin and Hitler 'lapsed Christians' is a statement of utter retardation and stupidity. They were the brave new men of the new philosophies that believed, with Nietzsche, that their must be victims for mankind to move forward to a glorious future. This is the opposite of Christianity which, for its many flaws in practice, places the innocence of the scapegoat at the centre of its philosophy. This is why Nietzsche detested Christianity - he perceived this as a weakness. Stalin and Hitler did think for themselves: they utterly shattered Christian philosophy and came up with their own instead. Unlike most of the sheep who leave the usual comments they read somewhere else and parrot like they are their own...

David van der Hugo, Newark, Delaware, USA

I have enormous respect for the Judeo-Christian heritage that so strongly defines the character of British society. While not uniquely responsible, it has played a significant role in creating an environment of tolerance that is simply absent in countries marked primarily by muslim heritage. Yet, I would absolutely resist allowing someone in authority - a teacher - to teach my children that Christianity is "the true faith." I want them to know of Christianity, I want them to know of its role and place in our history,. I want them to know that it is perfectly coherent to believe all this and also be an atheist, like me. [And Mike, of Norwich - yes, most terrorism is due to religion: one religion in particular - islam.]

Nick, Rotherham, UK

Presumably, Muslim children (and adults) are brought up with a sense of holiness and awe bur think nothing of cutting the throat of a living animal. Some of them are not averse to blowing up their fellows if wrong (religious) views are held. Here in Sri Lanka the Catholics of the coastal belt are renowned for the richness of their religious life. They are also famous for robbery and the distillation of illicit liquor. The proof of the pudding (they say) is in the eating.

Chandrasoma Rajapakse, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Commitment to their family, is what parents need to create the best environment for their children to grow up. A SIGN of this commitment is they (often) get married.

Where Rev Mullen goes wrong, is to think that marriages gives that commitment, it does not.

John, Blackpool, uk

I was going to comment, but ...
Mike, Steve, Gordon, Henry, David, Norman, Paul and Rebecca have said all I intended to say for me.
Thank you all.

alan, germany,

Thank god for Richard Dawkins

Geoff Cornford , bexhill-on-sea, uk

Sadly this is so typical of the religionists who deliberately confuse secularism with consumerism, hoping to tarnish the former with the latter. All they really want is Christian totalitariansim imposed with the same vigour as Islamic fundamentalism. Left to religious superstition we'll all be back in the darkest of ages in no time.

Rebecca Bell, Lymington, Hamsphire

Before spouting any more nonsense, I suggest that Rev Mullen learns the difference between atheism and secularism. He seems to use them interchangably. Many religious people support a secular society

"This deprivation of the spiritual is a form of child abuse." Best to leave child abuse in the church where it belongs eh?.

Paul, Reading, UK

We are not subscribing to Peter Mullen's chosen faith and values, so we must be mistaken. Is that a fair summary of this article?

Norman, Anstruther, UK

Well done Rev Dr Peter Mullen for standing up for traditional values. No surprises as to the secular responses trotting out the ever familiar reactive arguments against anyone who has faith in God and not in themselves, but then Jesus was attacked too. Ask whether they come from a basis of love as Jesus does, or hate because they do not understand or have a part in His love.

Phil Anslow, Brentwood,

I do not want my children to be indoctrinated into your, or any other, religion at school. They, at 8 and 10, will believe as fact practically anything they are told by a person in authority. Indoctrinating them into any religion is abuse.

When they are older they can examine your religion, and others if they so choose, and make their own decisions to believe, or not, on the basis of arguments and evidence.

You clearly believe in your faith, that is your choice. Please be so kind as to not try to indoctrinate my children.

David, Camberley, Surrey

"I guess not many people are aware that it is against the law for state schools to teach the Christian faith as true."

Really? Well I for one did not know that. But it's certainly a step in the right direction. The next move should be to legally prevent ALL schools from presenting any religious faith whatsoever as true. This systematic brainwashing of our children with archaic dogmatic drivel, must stop.

Henry J. Kerr, Edinburgh,

Strange how those who claim some higher form of moral guidance show no evidence of following it in defence of their chosen - or imposed - belief. Secularism is aggressive and frenzied is it? Christian belief is true? True in what sense exactly? Teaching children the facts, such as they are, about religions is child abuse, but brainwashing them with ideas about one of the 2500 odd sky-fairies, and threatening them with hell and damnation if they don't follow your particular 'god' isn't, ? And how many foetuses does your god 'rip, untimely from the womb' ? Rather more than are aborted medically, I suggest. Before talking about 'pig philosophy', Reverend Doctor, I suggest that you get together with your fellow believers of all persuasions, agree on a set of beliefs and values that you can all sign up to without killing each other and trying to do the same to the rest of us, and then argue your case on the basis of evidence and reason, rather than - unchristian - rant and accusation

gordon woolley, didcot ,

It has always amazed me how the clergy attack others for trying to impose their beliefs upon the religious whilst the religious seek to use the legal system to impose their own beliefs upon those who hold different philosophical beliefs. Yet again the usual baseless assertions are made linking lack of faith with having no values beyond the purely egocentric and selfish. It is usually conveniently forgotten that both Hitler (whose Main Kampf is peppered with Biblical quotations to justify his anti-Semitic ideology) and Stalin were morally educated as Christians, despite both becoming lapsed Christians. Interestingly both shared a hatred of Jews and a determination to eradicate homosexuals. Both, in their different ways, accused both groups of proselytising, spreading disease, undermining society's norms and being a danger to children. Had Hitler and Stalin been morally educated to think for themselves rather than learn religious dogma, the Holocaust and Purges might never have arisen.

Steve, London, UK

Part 2
Many times I fear for the fate of the world when looking at some of the comments made by people in positions of power due to their need to have everybody follow THEIR belief system. After all, isnt most of the terrorism that occurs in the world today due to religion?

Mike, Norwich,