READING Michael Burke's reply to my last letter regarding Dr Carey's recent comments about attendance at church and falling moral values, I had to wonder whether Mr Burke had actually read my letter reproduced in Postbag the previous week, or whether the word humanist had merely prompted some sort of automatic Christian defence mechanism.

It is true that the arguments over whether God exists or not have gone on for a long time and, in any event, it is probably more true that we are all agnostic rather than atheist, since there can be no proof either way, unless Mr Burke has some substantial evidence of which nobody else is aware.

My previous letter made my feelings clear that Dr Carey was wrong to suggest that the citizens of the United Kingdom were becoming more and more atheist, which has generally been seen to mean 'against' God - a position not taken by humanists who simply live their lives 'without' God. I did not imply that Dr Carey was any kind of bigot but that he was certainly wrong to associate falling attendances at church with declining moral standards.

In a recent discussion with Bishop of Worcester, he made it clear that he understood that the moral standards of humanists were no different to those of Christians and not something that we could discuss to any advantage. After two hours we were all agreed that morality throughout the planet was in need of some redirection rather than raising the spectre of pointless arguments about the existence of one man's interpretation of God.

After 41 years of marriage with a partner who is a believer, I can safely say that our opposing views on the existence of God have not affected our idea of good morals and our three children are testament to that. It might be more appropriate that the church now seeks to adopt a more enlightened view of the truth of our existence and tried to find a way for us all to work together in establishing a modern set of morals which will benefit us all.

And finally, Mr Burke should remember that the charge of irrationality is generally considered the last defence of those who know that they have lost the argument.

BRIAN REGIMBEAU, Albion Road, Malvern.