ATHEISTS do not require Kavanagh's sympathy (Daily Echo, December 30). The existence of God is disproved increasingly as science progresses.

The time spent in disproving his existence is only a fraction of the 2,000 years Christians have spent in trying to prove his existence, with church attendances falling year by year.

I fail to see how they can claim success.

Kavanagh advocates we should ignore the statistics regarding the possible demise of methodism given on the same page as his article, thereby neatly illustrating the difference between atheism and Christians.

Atheists do not accept any given concept without proof, which increasingly disprove the fantasies of religious day by day.

On the other hand the Christian prefers for anything we can't understand to attribute to the mythical God, it's easier that way.

Most major religions are based on myth, there is no proven fact of the existence of any of their gods, anymore than there is in the stories and fables of the Brothers Grimm, Hans C Anderson, or JRR Tolkien.

The sheer waste of money and resources in building churches, monuments, statues (I thought Christians weren't supposed to have craven images) and the time wasted on all sorts of religious services etc is enormous, and could be better spent elsewhere.

On top of all that it cannot be said that this so-called God is merciful.

In the Bible, he can be found advocating, rape, murder, ethnic cleansing, all sorts of unspeakable crimes including sacrifice, burning, stoning etc.

He is also a very jealous God, we will not accept anyone who does not believe in his brand of religion they will be eternally damned. Which strikes me as more than unfair to all the poor people living in obscure parts of the world, carrying on in a decent honest, kindly way who have never even heard of him.

He hasn't bothered to let them know he exists, but sorry it's eternal damnations for them.

I can only reflect, especially when one looks at the world today how much more tolerable, and peaceful the world would be without the curse of religion.

Contrary to Kavanagh's views, it was recently opined by some theologians (about a month ago) that most major religions will have disappeared within 50 years. I can only say, what a wonderful day that will be.

In as much as Kavanagh vilifies professor Richard Dawkins, just to balance the scales I would like to be allowed to recommend his book to readers, if it doesn't change your mind, it will certainly open your eyes.

In the words of Sean O'Casey, "Politics has slain its thousands, but religion has slain its tens of thousands''.

D R SMITH, Bitterne, Southampton,