PROFESSOR Richard Dawkins, like other atheists, is continually attacking archaic, fundamentalist ideas of God which many liberal Christians themselves reject.

This is the image of God as a supreme potentate and judge, who is above and wholly separate from the universe but sometimes intervenes.

Such a concept is an unreal abstraction invented by theologians.

It is probable that Jesus never believed in such a deity either. The Gospels reveal that Christ regarded God not as an external entity but as an immanent reality.

Atheism is obsolete. The real issue is how to interpret the great religions in the light of modern knowledge.

Let us at least agree that the word ‘God’ denotes the oneness of life and therefore reverence all its wonderful manifestations.

For our dreadfully divided and destructive world needs this cosmic vision of humanity as one and divinely inspired.

GRAHAM BUTLER, Banbury Road, Bicester