WHAT nonsense from Kevin Eady (Letters, 4 February), that statistics show that 'all the trends are towards secularisation'.  Spiritual confusion: yes. Secularisation: no.  In contemporary secularisation literature, theorists worldwide are having to come to terms with the fact that the modern world is increasingly, not decreasingly, religious.

Councillors do not 'have' to pray publicly: they are invited to join in with prayers to which they freely may or may not assent, and which do not presume any 'unanimity of belief'.

And shame on Jam Gibson for suggesting that prayers and 'using brains' are mutually exclusive: a number of councillors pray precisely because they 'use their brains'.

For more extensive comment on this issue, I hope you won't mind my directing your readers to the parish church website http://www.tavistockparishchurch.org.uk">www.tavistockparishchurch.org.uk

The Rev Michael Brierley

Priest-in-charge of Tavistock and Gulworthy

ON the subject of prayers before civic meetings and bearing in mind the effect which the acquisition of power is well known to have upon those upon whom it is conferred, might it not be thought at the very least salutary that they would be reminded of at the least the possibility that they might one day be answerable to a tribunal beyond the Audit Commission or the next election.

The Rev John Ancrum

Sometime Chaplain HMP Dartmoor

WHY should it be that prayers in the council chamber should cause so much heat? 'Intolerable' was the word I believe used by the National Secular Society in regards to West Devon Borough Council meetings opening in prayer.

If, as the humanists believe, there is no God, why worry about it? However, if God does exist and has revealed himself through Jesus Christ according to the faith, which Her Majesty defends, surely divine wisdom in council deliberations would be something we should seek after.

As a community we must be on our guard against the power of small pressure groups to exert undue influence, but this is also a reminder to all who hold either public or private faith in God to watch and pray for our leaders.

Remember, this same Jesus some want to marginalise today is the one who has promised to return as the Holy One before whom all nations shall come and worship.

David Palmer

Chair of Tavistock Area Christians Together

THERE was a colony of ants living in an anthill in a ten acre field. They spent many happy hours debating who owned it, if it belonged to them and arguing who should be the boss. Then one day a great 4x4 tractor came by with a five furrow plough. Their anthill was no more.

It has been fascinating reading our letter page about the prayers before council meetings. Maybe the Almighty smiles upon His tiny humans as they debate His existence, the rights and wrongs of ruling our town and if it is good to ask His guidance before we deliberate. His Ambassador, speaking on His behalf, said, 'Heaven and earth will pass away but My Words will not pass away.' Then we shall know!

Colin Bond

King's, Tavistock

WITH reference to the recent letters about prayers at council meetings

in a democracy such as ours there are two freedoms —freedom from and freedom to.

Often these freedoms are in conflict, but one way to solve the conflict is compromise. Surely the way for 'freedom from' is for the councillors opposed to the prayers not to be present during the seven times a year when prayers are said at the beginning of full council meetings; and for those who wish to be 'free to' to hear the prayers to be present.

Incidentally, it would be interesting to know how many West Devon councillors are for and against. From the figures given by Kevin Eady (Letters, February 4) from the British Social Attitudes Survey I suspect it would be over 50% in favour of prayers, ie, 50 % who are Christian and some of the 7%, apparently, who are religious in other ways.

Ian Silcox

Chaucer Road, Tavistock