RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION Slit,—Your contributor "Janus," in his paragraph in your
issue of June t6th on discussion and controversy in B.B.C. programmes, said he hoped that religious contention would not be favoured. May I ask why a frank discussion of religious problems should necessarily be contentious? No doubt a debate on points of doctrine between Anglicans and Non- conformists would be futile and interest only a few, but the popularity of the "Brains Trust" seems to indicate that a Philosophical Forum, in which theologians, philosophers, historians, scientists, and men of affairs could discuss freely the most fundamental problems of life, should meet with wide approval.
Up to the present, B.B.C. talks on religious topics have only skirted the subject, presumably lest they offend the orthodox, but if the primary duty of the B.B.C. is to entertain and enlighten its subscribers, sectional opinion cannot be allowed to prevail. It is certainly difficult to find speakers of equal ability to put opposing views, but if the Forum became a regular event there would be ample opportunity in time for every shade of opinion to be expressed.
In these critical times a general sorting out and re-stating of basic values becomes essential, and a National Radio Forum would provide a focus through which the thoughts of the people might be directed.— Yours faithfully, G. A. ALLAN. I Highbury Grange, London, N 5.
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