MANY barbaric and sexist practices have been perpetrated in the name of religion.

However, to describe Islam as sexist on the basis of "stoning to death for adultery", (Letters, August 6, 2005), seems an odd example.

There is no mention of stoning in the Koran. "Strike the adulteress and the adulterer one hundred times" (24:2) may seem harsh but it is certainly not sexist.

As for "forgiveness and getting a second chance", what could be clearer than "In the Torah We prescribed for them a life for a life, an eye for an eye...: if anyone forgoes this out of charity, it will serve as atonement for his bad deeds." (5:45).

Is it not the case that all religions are coloured by the culture of their adherents, and that selective reading of any holy book can be used to justify almost anything?

Angus Wilkinson,

Cross Hills Lane, Selby.

Updated: 10:28 Monday, August 15, 2005