I admire John Guillaumier’s audacity, uncommon (God-given) intelligence and stupendous, knowledgeable pen but I want him and readers to know that he is not playing on a level playing field. He’s got an open space cheque while others, including me, have a locked down obstacle.

While three letters of mine were not carried, Guillaumier had four letters in a row published, with the fourth one from me published on October 18, two days later.

He had another two letters published on October 20 and November 6 while two letters from me did not see the light of day after more than two months.

Clearly there is an imbalance.

In short, to reply to his latest letter, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc. are flaws of a wonderful but imperfect creation.

Only God is perfect.

It is easy to say that night follows day as surely as we have been dying since birth and that the present is already the past but it was impossible for Abraham to count the stars above.

It is also impossible for Guillaumier to guarantee that there is no afterlife.

And what if he finds himself in a place where there is a fixed great gulf, as they who wish to pass over from that side cannot cross to the other side? I choose to quote the mildest of scenarios and not the most frightening, terrifying words from the Bible.

I, for one, would not risk wasting an unchanging way of life with eternal existence. In view of these horrific conditions, it is more sensible to play it safe.