Faith’s not enough I read R H Triffitt’s letter about having a belief in God and, while I totally agree that this can enrich one’s life and possibly make one a better person, I cannot agree that such a belief automatically makes for the kind of person who can hold an important post in our Government.

My own belief gives me a sense of inner peace and something to hold onto when things go wrong.

The people I know who believe in God are the people I trust and respect the most – there is an inner strength in them that makes me feel happier in their presence.

That said, I know many good people who are non-believers and while I can respect and even admire their egotism, because I think people without a belief share that characteristic, I feel they are missing out on something very important – a sense of belonging to a very long-standing and well-loved way of life. However, a belief in a God does not necessarily ensure tolerance, compassion and selflessness, three important qualities for the best kind of leadership. When one remembers the terrible things done to humanity in the name of religion, like the Crusades, and the way that fanatics of all creeds have knocked hell’s bells out of one another for centuries, and are still doing so today, including totally indiscriminate slaughter of innocents, how can these so-called God-fearing people be considered good examples to follow?

Heather Causnett, Escrick Park Gardens, Escrick, York.