Sir, – George McMillan (February 11) says that Christians have given more attention to the life and teachings of Jesus than to the Old Testament.
He does not seem to acknowledge that the Bible is a unity of Old and New Testaments.
It has been said that the new is in the old concealed; the old is in the new revealed.
Christ repeatedly quoted from the Old Testament and said that he came to fulfil the law and that not one jot or tittle would fail.
To the writers of the Gospels, the events of Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection were the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies.
Luke records the genealogy of Jesus as going back to Adam, the first man. Christ referred to the creation of male and female at the beginning, Noah, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Jonah and the whale and much more. He instructed the pharisees to search the scriptures.
Jesus taught that the greatest commandment was to love God with all one’s mind and the second, to love one’s neighbour as oneself. These summarised the 10 Commandments in the Old Testament.
The New Testament writers accepted the Old Testament as a true historical record inspired by the spirit of God Evolution is not compatible with the Bible.
The New Testament teaches that the whole of creation is in pain caused by the disobedience of the first man and the subsequent curse.
This explains why we are subject to disease and death.
In evolutionary terms, death is an essential agent of change. In biblical terms, it is the last enemy that will eventually be destroyed.
Restoration and a new creation are promised, made possible by the death and resurrection of Christ.
Atheists are aware that the creation account is crucial to the doctrine of salvation.
Richard Bozarth in American Atheist stated: “Destroy Adam and Eve and the original sin, and in the rubble you will find the sorry remains of the Son of God”.
Our creator is not remote from his creation: he sees the sparrow fall.
God so desires a relationship with us that he sent his son to die for us so that the communion that Adam lost could be restored to those who believe in him.
Let us value the whole Bible as the word of God to us.
Paul Read. Clevitch, Wester Lumbennie, Newburgh.
Mystery of the immortal
Sir, – I have never read a more bizarre letter, at least for some time, than that of Andrew Lothian (February 13) aptly entitled, Problem of defining God.
In among the various obscure beliefs, he tries to describe, he stated: “Christian traditionalists may picture a wise bearded father figure”.
Those with a vivid imagination may picture such a character, but belief in God is based on faith, not imagination, unless one wants an imaginary God.
In beautiful and accurate language an old hymn helps us to approach God, who is unseen, in worship.
The words are: immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes, most blessed, most glorious, the ancient of days, almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise. (Walter Smith)
Stuart Wishart. 12 Walnut Grove, Blairgowrie.
Tolerance required
Sir, – Is it not time we drew a line under this constant sniping between Christians and secularists?
Please let us Christians just get on with worshiping in our own way and allow secularists their beliefs or non-beliefs as the case may be.
Let’s leave it at that and don’t try to interfere with each other any more.
Mr WG Watson. 20 Spoutwells Drive, Scone.
New health model needed
Sir, – The Euro Health Consumer Indexfound Holland the best European nation for health care followed by Switzerland and Scandinavia with England placed 14 and Scotland 16.
This index was based on patient rights; accessibility and waiting times for treatment; outcomes; the range of services offered; illness prevention and access to pharmaceuticals.
Holland’s primary care centres were open 24 hours a day and seven days a week, while its politicians and bureaucrats were further removed from health care decisions than in other European nation.
The Beveridge system with financing and provision handled by one organisation worked well in small nations (except Scotland) but not in large ones like England, Spain and Italy.
In fact, the Bismarck system operating in Holland, Switzerland and Germany, based on insurers organisationally independent of care givers and health providers, is a better option.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Improve our failing schools
Sir, – Schools across the UK are finding that fewer and fewer pupils are taking maths, sciences and languages.
They are also struggling to recruit teachers in these subjects.
A recent study in England found that 28% of physics teachers did not have a physics degree.
I wonder how many teachers in Scotland are not qualified to university standards in the subjects they are teaching?
The deterioration in standards in numeracy and literacy are indisputable and I fear we can hold out little hope that the situation is any better in other subjects.
It is not sufficient for ministers to constantly repeat the same old nonsense in response to failure by claiming they are committed to providing excellence and praising the hard-working staff in schools.
After nine years in office and failures on all fronts, it is time to stop banging the gong and put the dinner on the table.
Donald Lewis. Beech Hill, Gifford.
A defeatist argument
Sir, – Clark Cross, Charity should steer clear of windfarm debate (February 11) asks whether WWF Scotland has “stopped looking after wildlife in favour of supporting wind turbines and protesting about climate change.”
Perhaps Mr Cross is unaware that a recent study stated that there are now only half of the numbers of animals and birds living on planet Earth that there were in 1972.
We are gradually killing the planet and its eco-systems due to our unwillingness to move away from our addiction to fossil fuels.
Mr Cross questions the value of onshore wind, given its intermittency.
However, no single energy source is fully reliable: Torness was shut down recently and Hunterston has had its problems also.
Major gas stations such as Didcot have had lengthy periods of non production also. National Grid knows this and is adept at balancing supply and demand.
Wind power, along with other renewables, surely must have a strong role to play in our future energy production.
As for wind being “much more expensive”, this is increasingly untrue.
Nuclear is demonstrably much more expensive than wind.
In fact, the price of electricity from new gas stations and onshore wind is now neck and neck. Finally, Mr Cross’ argument about Scotland only contributing 0.13% of global emissions is an argument for doing nothing.
Other countries are now rejecting this defeatism as evidenced by the recent Paris Agreement on countering climate change.
Nick Mackay. 17 Millar Place, Stirling.
Give Scotland a real choice
Sir, – The SNP are making a lot of assumptions ahead of the EU referendum.
It is their firm position that a no vote in England, Wales and Northern Ireland would be justification for a second independence referendum in Scotland.
They are assuming that Scotland will vote to stay in Europe.
Why don’t the SNP give Scotland a real choice of true independence. Give us the option of an independent Scotland outside the EU.
But it seems they would just rather be ruled by Berlin than be a powerful devolved part of the UK.
It just shows what their driving force is: a grudge against England.
Why has an independent Scotland outside Europe never even been considered by the SNP?
We would regain the vast wealth in our fishing grounds which was sacrificed when we joined the old Common Market. This would boost the fish-processing and boat-building sectors.
Add our under-used fresh water resources, oil, gas and renewables and Scotland could make a good fist of standing alone.
Scotland is not too wee and too poor, regardless of what the SNP might indicate.
Bob Stark. Mill Street, Tillicoultry.