SIR, Across the British Isles people are increasingly asking: "What has gone wrong with our country?" Prisons are bursting, people are frightened to walk the streets, and hardly a week goes by without a stabbing. Again, schools are in crisis because teachers can't discipline pupils properly in order to teach them. Normal family life is virtually a thing of the past with more than one in three marriages ending in divorce. Then again, over a million children now suffer mental health problems, a doubling of the number in only a generation and depression in adults has reached epidemic proportions. Meanwhile, thousands of churches across Britain and Ireland, once adored by previous generations lie empty or turned into places of entertainment. In our politically correct society, has no one the courage to ask the question: "If the rejection of Christian values by our nation was such a positive move, then why is everything going wrong?" If liberalism and secularism is so good than why is everything so bad? Having rejected the teachings of the church and the reality of God, most people in this Country today are brought up to believe that they are just an accident of nature, without any meaning or purpose to their existence. They are taught that they appear for a brief moment of time before endless extinction, that there is no accountability for their behaviour on the day of Judgement and no God who loves and cares for them personally. With this kind of personal belief it is little wonder that law and order has broken down in Britain, with many suffering depression or living just for themselves with no matter who they harm. "I'm only here for a short time, why shouldn't I behave as I want?" is the prevailing attitude. Deny the existence of God and reject the ten commandments and this is what happens; lack of self discipline, moral meltdown, confusion and despair. Society really does reap what it sows. And what of the future? Many people are profoundly worried about the kind of society we are passing on to future generations. Indeed, this concern is now so great that a free booklet has actually been issued to thousands of congregations nationwide outlining techniques on how to help restore faith and avert total moral collapse. (Individuals can download it free from http://www.churchsurvey.co.uk">www.churchsurvey.co.uk). Humanists and liberals will no doubt rush to defend their viewpoint but the reality is that many fairminded individuals will regard the views in this letter as a breath of fresh air and wish that many more would be bold enough to stay it. The aim of this letter is to encourage healthy debate. People can write to me directly at The Vicarage, Clayhill Rd, Leigh, Surrey, RH2 8PD.
The Rev J Willians BD Dip. Theol. (Surrey)