IT SEEMS odd that you can say anything you like about politics, and nobody gives a damn, but insult somebody's superstitions, and the knives are out in a flash, even if they are mostly blunt and rusting. I also note that if a Christian produces an historical factoid, it is 'strong evidence', whereas if I refute it, it is merely 'one small point of scholarship'. Phil McGrath (Letters: Jan 18) gives it his best shot, and produces a few scattered citations from authors like Tacitus, who were not contemporaries and were merely relaying on hearsay. He makes the same curious claim as Ken Blackwell, that there is more evidence for Jesus than for Alexander (who founded eponymous cities which still exist) or Julius Caesar (who wrote books which are still read). Ironically, if the early Christians had not been so passionate in their burning of evidence, we would know a lot more today. In the interests of historical truth, I suggest you Catholics should get your brethren to e-mail the pope en masse and demand that the super-secret Vatican archives should be opened for public inspection. We in the SPGB don't have secret files, so why do Christians? Too many skeletons perhaps?

Other points, firstly we did not propose to abolish Christmas, Phil. Actually Christmas, or the Solstice festival, predates Christianity by thousands of years, as does Easter and virtually every other feature of your religion, including the tales in the New Testament, from turning water into wine to death on a cross and resurrection. Christianity is just paganism rewritten, and taken literally, and there is nothing original about any of it. But I assure Helen Jones that the SPGB doesn't have a 'hidden agenda' (what, we're secretly druids, Helen?) and that we take the same rationalist view of all religions, including New Age beliefs, Atlantis-theorists and UFOlogists. I also agree with Ken, for what it's worth, that many good people have been religious. But so what? Are you seriously claiming, Ken, that only religious people are good people? Well, I don't accept that arrogant assertion. Humans don't need gods in order to behave well any more than a healthy man needs a crutch to be able to walk.

Finally, M Parker asks: does it matter? Well, if the majority believed that the world was being run by elves and goblins - or indeed aliens, what do you suppose our collective chances of survival would be in the future? Fantasy is no basis for a system of social organisation, and will not get us out of the trouble we're in. I won't be taking up Phil's offer to attend church. Like most, I had religion stuffed down my throat when I was too young to defend myself. However, because we don't want to bore Citizen readers with this debate indefinitely, the SPGB would like to offer all participants and interested parties the opportunity of putting your arguments at an open meeting we shall endeavour to organise in the very near future. Everybody is very welcome - look out for posters. In Phil's words, I advise religious people not to underestimate the power of rationality for I have seen it change lives!

Paddy Shannon via e-mail