FIGHT THE BAD FIGHT
SIR,—As an 'agnostic champion,' it would ill become me to dispute Mrs. Furlong's 'description of us as 'puny, old-fashioned and wizened up by bigotry.' But I can at least assure her that our failure to engage Christians in intellectual discussion on the air is not due to our being 'too ignorant, dull- witted or respectful to answer hack.' We arc bursting to answer back—if only the BBC will let us. But so far it has been reluctant to do so.
Recently, however, as a result of pressure from humanist organisations, the Corporation has agreed to co-operate with, and to consider suggestions from, a committee of leading humanists known as the Humanist Broadcasting Council. This body, unlike the Religious Broadcasting Council, has no official status at the BBC. But it is getting to work; and one result of its activities may be to provide re- ligious broadcasters With more opportunities of the kind Dr. Bonhoefl'er and Mrs. Furlong desire— opportunities to 'move out into the air of intellectual discussion and risk shocking people.'
Meanwhile, if it is any comfort to Mrs. Furlong, I can assure her that intellectual discussion of the Humanist-Christian issue is going strong at the universities.--Yours faithfully,
MARGARET I: NI0111
Hope House, Bucksbnrn, Aberdeen
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