Literally true?

I should like to respond to Dr Boggia’s letter (“Believing the Bible”) in your columns of April 12, if I may?

As a biblical scholar, Dr Boggia surprises a reader like me with his literalism of the creation story, believing as he apparently does, that questions of sin and redemption depend on its literalism.

In this century, such an interpretation is justifiably challenged by most scientists.

It might be more profitable to ponder on Jesus’s own words when he was on trial for his life: “For this reason I was born, for this I came into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Whoever is of the truth hears my voice.” (John, ch 18, v 36, 37). And Paul writes to the Philippians (ch 2, v 5): “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

So to be compassionate and good, and to stand up against corruption and oppression, are surely important lessons for us to learn, leaving such matters as sin and redemption for theologians to worry about, and the mysteries of creation to the scientists.

Verity Miriam Brown

Lennox Avenue

Sidmouth