The problem with evangelical clergymen is they usually generate more heat than light and display a startling disregard of the facts.

The Reverend John Webster (Letters, December 19) is no exception. There are two important points he might like to consider.

Firstly, the personification of evil in scriptural writings by designating it as the Devil was simply a convenient means by which the concept and consequences of wrong-doing were made more vivid and immediate to a largely ignorant and illiterate populace, enabling the early Church to secure a firmer grip on the mind of the public within its influence.

Also, as well as being described as Satan, Adversary and Destroyer, as referred to by Mr Webster, we should bear in mind the Devil was much more frequently alluded to as Lucifer, which should give us pause for thought.

Why? Because the word Lucifer means "bringer of light".

Interesting, don't you think, especially when one considers that the rise of the Dark Ages coincided with the rise of Christianity.

Secondly, I do wish Church zealots would stop referring to the Bible as if it was the word of God - it is nothing of the kind.

It is the word of man and, in particular, the word of scribes who were living through dark and difficult times and who all had their own reasons and political agenda for writing what they did.

It is always a serious mistake to forget this.

-John Samson, Gander Hill, Haywards Heath