None of us likes to be disrespected if we are completely honest with ourselves, so why would we disrespect God, our creator, or His son, Jesus Christ who took upon Himself our sins? Many people nowadays trying to keep up with what seems to be increasingly acceptable in society either say "they don't do God" or try to mess Him up in one way or the other. This is not right! Be advised that "God is not mocked & whatsoever a person sows, that he shall reap". "Don't take the kindness of God for granted [e.g his longsuffering in the face of insults from his creation] Can't you see how kind he has been in giving us time to turn from our sin?". Don't let us be deceived in thinking that we can insult God and there will be no repercussion, just because for the above reason He is slow to act. If we human beings had even a minute portion of the insults & disrespect God has had, and we had the power He has, there wouldn't be any humans left on earth! RESPECT GOD - A word is enough for the wise!!!

F Balogun, Kent, UK

"When the next terrorist attack takes place in UK, dont say where is God, why did He let this happen. He wont be there to protect you. He will not stay where He is not welcome."

I love this argument... (clap, clap, clap) Very good, Ms Purcell.

I'm an Agnostic, but it is so galling to see Christians holding their OWN faith hostage to try to make a point.

Tell me something... if your child says they 'hate you' - even intentionally - do you abandon that child in times of mortal danger because you think you're not wanted or needed?

No?

Then why do you think your GOD will?

Is this a failing of your GOD... or of your belief in him?

Jim, Omaha,

I am a Christian and actually do not see why Christians are bothering about the blasphamey laws when Jesus HImself said that He would forgive all blasphamies apart from the blasphamy against the Holy Spirit.!{Mat. 12:31} .

Elizabeth Obisanya, London, England

No doubt the artist involved in creating the above statue will be more than pleased at the reaction s/he has achieved. However, is getting such a reaction worth the revelation of the artist's poor taste and poverty of spirit? May God forgive him or her, and show them something more inspirational to work on.

Eric Mival, Walcot, Lincolnshire

Common decency and respect today in this world system sadly is a thing of the past. The word of God tells us that in these last days men shall be lovers of themselves, adulterous, blasphemers and idolators, following false religions, etc..so it is expected....but so sad for those who think it smart and intelegent to take God out of the picture, blaspheme God and the things of God. When the next terrorist attack takes place in UK, dont say where is God, why did He let this happen. He wont be there to protect you. He will not stay where He is not welcome.

Ms Pursell, Tulsa , OK Usa

Mr Taylor of Boston UK seeks to reduce the matter to a question of 'hurt feelings' when of course it concerns truth.

Take the religious perspective of Christ away for a moment and consider even so how offensive such 'works of art' are to the dignity of humanity! No serious and informed person denies the wonder and character of Christ the man of history - is it right that such a man is portrayed as sensuous and unrestrained?

Daniel Morriss, Northampton, UK

Evidently some commentators are not too bothered about a statue sporting a stiffy..SInce that is the case let us be consistent and ensure that this style of visual form is available everywhere, live on the streets and well represented in local and national papers. After all ,it's Art ! Or is it ?

Adam Hodge, Witney, Oxon, UK

Dear Mr Phillps
Many thanks for your letter I entirely agree with the sentiments you express.
What was the 'scuptor's agenda / motive raison d'etre?

Andrew E Bloxham, Emsworth, Hants

When some in our generation want to live without God and promote lifestyles that are without God and advocate behaviour or 'art' that demeans God, they just need to consider that one day they will meet God and they will spend eternity without God.

Hugh Martin, Belfast, N.Ireland

The law of blasphemy is an outdated piece of legislation that shoukld have been abolished years ago. I wold question the strength of faith of any religious person who feels they need special laws to protect them from "hurt feelings" .

Freedom of speech means giving the right to say things others may not wish to hear and as the old saying goes "blasphemy is a victimless crime".

As for those who would argue that no artists would dare depict a picture of Mohammed, are they saying that they would like to see the head of the Church of England issuing a few fatwah's then?

Simon Taylor, Boston, UK

Any statue of a man with an erection is crude. That is gutter thinking.

Nova Lawrie, Bayswater, United Kingdom

Thank you for publishing this letter in your newspaper. There are many of us who agree wholeheartedly with Stephen Green's solicitor, but unfortunately our letters and protests are rarely acknowledged which may reflect that there are not many of us who agree. The opposite is true.

eileen wojciechowska, Bampton, Oxfordshire

Can you imagine what would happen if an arts centre portrayed a figure of Mohammed in keeping with what was displayed in Gateshead?

Rob James, Torbay, Devon

While I am one of the 'minority' that Mr James refers to, and as such, I suspect that I don't entirely agree with his belief system, I do side with him on this issue. Jesus was FULLY man when he walked the earth. He laid aside his divinity. The Bible is very clear about that.
To suggest that he submitted to temptation and fell into sexual sin would certainly be blasphemous, but to suggest that he was never tempted would be to contradict the Bible, and would therefore be blasphemous in itself.

Mark Hardy, Toronto, Canada

The letter from Michael Phillips is eminently reasonable and convincing, and would surely appear so to great swathes of the British Public who do not generally post their views on Internet websites. I believe that the two comments so far show no understanding of the moral and spiritual teaching of Jesus Christ. Please read the Bible with an open heart and an unprejudiced mind!

Alexander Frame, Bromsgrove, UK

Throughout history, blasphemy and other religious conformity laws have been a means of suppression of free thought and expression and to maintain the power of ruling classes and institutions. As a Unitarian minister in Islington, I look back to times not so many centuries ago when my religious ancestors who questioned the doctrine of the trinity were burnt at the stake in this country!

There are other ways to deal with offensive displays of all kinds. If - as is obviously implicit in this letter - the author believes that Christians are superior to those 'others' who would react violently to religious depictions they find defensive, the best course of action is to hold up that tolerance and non-violence as a shining example, rather than use implicit threats of destruction of property as an excuse to get special protection for the majority.

Andrew Pakula, London, UK

If you are one of the minority who believe that jesus christ was god then you also must, according to your religion, believe he was also a man.
You may be astonished to be informed that adult males have sexual feelings often resulting in erect penises. If you find it offensive to see christ portrayed showing his human form rather than his godly form maybe you should take a reality check to see if even you believe in your own religion.

richard james, london, uk