What we can talk about here is everything

I suspect that we have Sydney to thank, Neil. As I am ultra-liberal, in any case, I would probably let almost anything go! I should, I suppose, state my position on the Catholic Church and gay marriage, although I should perhaps clarify that I am not a member of the Roman Catholic Church, nor am I gay!

I suppose that if gays really want to get married, I do not ultimately have any objection, although there may be occasions on which other forms of partnership may be more appropriate. Much the same may be said for a heterosexual relationship, although if a single woman is going to have a baby, I am not desperately keen on the old shotgun wedding, so to speak.

As a member of the Church of England, kleines c looks upon all Christians, whether Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox or other, as my brothers and sisters. I would go further, however. I look upon all Jews as my older brothers and sisters and all Muslims as my younger brothers and sisters, for we all worship the same God.

As for atheists and agnostics, I do actually see things from these points of view, too, on occasion. 'God' is, in a profound sense, a reflection of ourselves, Neil. In 'The Varieties of Religious Experience', William James gives the example of the mountaineer who must leap across a chasm if he is to save himself; the belief that he can do it adds to his chance of success; disbelief probably means failure. So it is with kleines c. The world continually presents options of this type, in which the confident outstrip the hesitant. So we should, Neil.