9 AUGUST 2008, Page 23

Russell was agnostic

Sir: Matthew Parris refers to ‘the atheist Bertrand Russell’ (Another voice, 2 August). I clearly remember hearing Russell, on the radio, describe himself as an agnostic. Moreover, he refused to accept that ‘cruelty is wrong’ only means ‘I personally find cruelty repugnant’ — a stance surely incompatible with dogmatic atheism.

David Watkins

Cardiff