Sir: Any Christian would substantially agree with the tenor of
Dean Sullivan's article (September 8) about Faith: but an unbeliever could be forgiven for being confused by the assertion that Jesus condemned " only three sins outright -7 hypocrisy, calculating worldliness, and any offence against the law Of love." No chapter or verse is given to support this point of view, and, of course, the last ' sin ' is too broad to be definable.
Readers of the New Testament will, however, be aware that Jesus actually condemned a large number of practices, some of which do, some of which do not, directly offend against the
law of love " as that phrase is popularly understood, The despair of an anxious parent (Mk.9.19), and the misdirected desire of His chief apostle to save His life (Mat.16.23) are condemned outright ". So are divorce (Mat.5.32), swearing (Mat.5.34), violent resistance to violence (Mat.5.39) and blasphemy (Mat.12.31). What is perhaps more disturbing for a member of the Church of England like myself, is that there are more than adequate grounds for believing that public prayer (Mat.6.6), the accumulation of financial capital (Mat.6.19) and the misuse of religious edifices for commercial profit (Mk.11.19) are also condemned " outright " by the Highest Authority. But I am confident that the Deans and Chapters of our ancient cathedrals courageously and consistently put these sobering facts to the test.
Andrew Wilson Woodcock Cottage, Lincombe Lane, Boars Hill, Oxford
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