They think that "if (councillors) felt the need for bibles to assist them in their council work, they could work out how to acquire them." The symbolism is well understood, for example, by those humanists who, at the inaugural opening of the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2007, handed out copies of Richard Dawkins' book to a number of assembly representatives. So why replace one worldwide bestseller with another bestseller? Presumably, it was readily available in Northern Ireland.

Gale Chrisman asks, "in what way would bibles be helpful to councillors in dealing with council business?" One might turn the question round: "In what way would 'The God Delusion' be helpful to councillors in dealing with council business?"

Richard Dawkins quotes with approval the sentiments of psychologist Nicholas Humphrey: "Parents have no God-given licence to enculturate their children in whatever way they personally choose."

In short, children have a right not to have their minds addled by nonsense and we as a society have a duty to protect them from it. So we should no more allow parents to teach their children to believe, for example, in the literal truth of the Bible or that the planets rule their lives, than we should allow parents to knock their children's teeth out or lock them in a dungeon." (The God Delusion, pp.366-7).

Highland councillors, especially those responsible for education and the welfare of children, may wish to reflect upon these sentiments. Gale Chrisman speaks of "the stranglehold of Christian practice on public life".

The public should be concerned at the possibility of a humanist stranglehold upon the private lives of families. In atheistic China, parents are not allowed to teach their religion to their own children. Does the Scottish Humanist Society want the same in Scotland?

The Scottish Christian Party encourages all Christians to raise a canopy of prayer over Highland Council and other institutions to seek God's blessing upon their deliberations on behalf of the welfare of our schools and society.

Christians in all political parties will need to work in their respective spheres to safeguard the hard-fought Christian liberties and democratic structures of our country.

Dr Donald Boyd, Scottish Christian Party, Rosedene Business Centre, 2 Drummond Crescent, Inverness.

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