Letter to The Editor - insistence on erroneous theology (‘the deposit of faith’) and superstitious bibliolatry have profoundly weakened the impact on Western societies of the Christian sacred tradition

to THE AUSTRALIAN
     The old-world magnanimity of Graham Richardson is admirable (‘Religious freedom is sacrosanct’, 24/11) but not his commendation of ‘happy-clapper churches’. Large numbers in the congregations, ‘funky’ music and ‘charismatic’ service leaders do not hide the truth that this sort of religion is superficial and worldly, rather than numinous and able to help mankind to perceive and respect the mysterious beyond.
     Societies wither and become corrupt if they are not guided by brahmins, sages and saints, and it is ‘old-style religion’ that can provide the environment needed to nurture such figures. Unfortunately, insistence on erroneous theology (‘the deposit of faith’) and superstitious bibliolatry have profoundly weakened the impact on Western societies of the Christian sacred tradition. Mindless revivalism won’t right the situation.
     NJ, Belgrave, Vic