Sir, The distinguished signatories to the letter on student union tactics (Nov 24) are right to condemn intolerance of the Christian union. But they are wrong, and I would think dishonest, in pretending that this represents an intolerance of Christians in general.

The Christian union is a non-denominational body representing the more extreme wing of evangelicalism, and is dogmatic and anti-intellectual in its approach. Its enthusiasm for the Bible does not extend to scholarly or critical study of it, and it is intolerant of Christians with differing views.

Fortunately, most of the young people affected come to a more mature and reasoned faith, or reject it, in later years, but in schools and colleges they can be a very worrying presence. Their methods of recruitment are dubious, and the control they seek to exercise over their more vulnerable or insecure members can be oppressive.

Many of us who have been teachers or chaplains in educational establishments have spent time counselling their casualties. This kind of noisy, irrational and intolerant Christianity gives fuel to our secularist contemporaries.

THE REV ALAN ROBSON
Trimingham, Norfolk

Sir, There was a time when admission to university life was conditional upon the student’s set of beliefs. I thought that we were past this.

The NUS Rights Charter enshrines two key principles for students: “the right to representation” and “the right to study free from discrimination, prejudice or fear”. This is the correct purpose of a union. Since when have unions taken upon themselves the function of discriminating between their members rather than giving them a voice?

D. KING
Department of Religious and Theological Studies,
Cardiff University

Sir, I remember with boiling blood the infamous “no platform for racists and fascists” policy used in my student days to shout down Sir Ronald Bell and to stop Indian George Ward speaking at Essex University. Now we seem to have no platform for sexists, homophobes, Muslims, Christians, Islamophobes or anyone else who won’t toe the establishment’s PC line.

A university should be a temple dedicated to free speech, regardless of which arrogant pests find it offensive.

MARK TAHA
London SE26

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