Down the ages, there have been many wars and killings by different religious factions.

They continue today in Northern Ireland and the Middle East. All these and the September 11 attacks were carried out by religious fanatics.

None were carried out in the name of atheism.

I know of no wars fought over atheism or between atheists. Atheists fought in territorial or political conflicts but not over atheism.

At the same time, there have been, and still are, religious people who have no problem in breaking their god's commandment "Thou shalt not kill". Does this not apply during a war?

There may be some who claim the Communists (as atheists) killed thousands of people in the name of atheism but I believe the killings were done more for political reasons than atheistic ones - after all, they could have destroyed all the churches in the Communist bloc if they had wanted but they did not.

Not all Russians were Communists, therefore not all were atheists.

Everybody should have the freedom to follow whatever belief they want but not to kill for that belief.

-Mr C Wadey, Ridgeway Close, Southwick