THE EDITOR, Sir:

In his article entitled 'Religious threat to freedom' published in the Sunday Gleaner of October 15, Mr. Ian Boyne ascribes the disposal of the concept of "divine right" to secularism. While secularism no doubt played a role, Mr. Boyne has neglected to mention the important work of Samuel Rutherford, a 17th Century clergyman who wrote Lex Rex (The Law, The King).

This work was a direct challenge to the concept of divine right. It was published in Scotland in 1644 and so upset King Charles II that it was burnt in 1661 by the hangman. Further, as a consequence of this work, Rutherford was sentenced to death. According to Frank E. Gaebelein in his book The letters of Samuel Rutherford, in commenting on Lex Rex "reasonable as its principles are in defence of the liberty of subjects, its spirit of freedom was intolerable to rulers who step by step were advancing to acts of cruelty and death."

Biblical principles

I have no desire to see a theocratic state, but I do believe that there are certain biblical principles which we would do well to pay attention to. One such very relevant principle, expounded by Dr. Os Guinness in his book Time for Truth, is the principle of living for the audience of "One". That "One" being the Living God who is all seeing and to whom we must all one day give account. Therefore, whether in private or in public, we ought to live a seamless life of integrity. Adherence to this principle would go a far way in dealing with our national problem of corruption!

For those atrocities which were carried out in the name of Christianity, I can offer no excuse. I am, however, glad for the few individuals - like Bartholomew de Las Casas - who stood up in their day but I am also glad that as a faith, we have moved on.

I am, etc.,

S. Richards

Kingston 10