Hi Gerald,

I certainly don't mean to suggest that anyone writing must be free of all beliefs before they start - that would be desirable but obviously impossible. The problem is when those beliefs affect one's critical faculties and judgment, which is what I perceived to be the case with Wright, who seems predisposed to confirming the truth of Christianity.

One has to start from a reasonable basis of fact and observation. In the case of Christianity this is impossible; as far as I can tell, there is no way of proving whether Jesus was God incarnate or not, whether his dead body was literally brought back to life or not. So one's attitudes to these questions is purely a matter of faith.

As far as possible we have to set our beliefs and any faith to one side when arguing or writing. I am happy to have my presuppositions challenged, and do read books by alternative thinkers, but usually find their arguments poor, especially in the case of Dawkins and his like.