I WOULD like to reply to Brian Derbyshire's letter dated March 29 -- 'My prayer for the future'.

In his letter he says that he was asked to do some homework. He then goes on to talk about Boltonians of whatever creed or colour living side by side in relative harmony. I would totally agree with Brian Derbyshire, apart from where he uses the words "whatever creed". He then talks about the Rev Michael Williams, Vicar of Bolton Parish Church, and of a civic service which C of E, Catholics, Hindus, Muslims and others attend, and of comments Rev Williams made.

After reading all of Brian Derbyshire's letter, I thought I would do some homework of my own to see God's viewpoint, so I went to what Christians regard as the fundamental knowledge of Christian belief -- the Bible (The Holy Scriptures) -- and this is what I found. Refs: Matthew 7: 15-21; Mark 7: 6-7; John 13: 35,15: 19; Romans 10: 2-3; 1 Corinthians: 10, 5: 11, 6: 9-10; 2 Corinthians 6: 14-17; Ephesians 4: 4-6; 1 John 3: 14-16 -- there are more. Why these references? Because of what Brian Derbyshire says, Reverend Williams has said, and I quote -- "In order to work together, people of different religions do not have to agree on what they believe, but we can respect one another, and allow one another to honour God in our own way." Well the Bible references do not seem to bare out what Reverend Williams has to say in his comments. I have no doubt that the good Reverend Williams and Brian Derbyshire and others have the best of intentions when they say what they do, but the Bible references do not agree with them. "Love they neighbour as thyself" by all means, but not if the way you do it offends God. According to Bible references -- "There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God." No compromise. It would seem God wants all mankind singing from the same 'hymn sheet'. And, if my homework needs correcting, I hope Brian Derbyshire or Reverend Williams or others will point out any errors.

Grenville Moore

Iris Avenue

Farnworth

Bolton