Only a few days after hundreds of Christians were murdered in Sri Lanka (with many other innocent bi-standers) and a few weeks after innocent Muslims were killed in New Zealand, in my opinion, Mr Thiel's timing was insensitive and contained multiple logical fallacies and inaccuracies.

Firstly, the 'genetic fallacy' that religion is a byproduct of upbringing is false. Millions have come to Christ under the atheistic regimes such Communist China, North Korea and extreme Islamic nations such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Even if a person's faith is influenced by their parents, this does not invalidate their choice of faith.

Secondly, comparing Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny with God is fallacious. Christians have never embraced the commercial constructs of Santa or the Bunny as real, living and active entities. This comparison is actually offensive to the billions of humans who have been impacted by God.

Thirdly, neuroscience has not proven that religion is a physical bi-product of the brain. Rather, only neuroscientific literature from those who practice 'physicalism' and deny the dualism of mind from brain, suggest that neural activity in the brain is a 'hardwiring for religion'.

Mr Thiel wishes society to 'progress' away from 'religious fervour and cultism'. Quite so. Jesus himself spoke and acted against such behaviours and was executed by these same people. However, I think we shouldn't progress towards atheistic fervour and cultism as the horrors of atheistic regimes like the USSR, Communist China or North Korea seem to testify.

Surely Mr Thiel would agree that Christianity's 'fervour' for feeding the poor, sick and downtrodden, showing compassion and forgiveness and placing others before one's self should not be progressed from?

What humanity needs Mr Thiel isn't more 'reason','atheism' or 'left-wing neo liberalism', but the 'fruits' of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness and self-control that we find in the person of Jesus Christ.

Also read: Letters to the Editor, April 25

I thank Geoff Walker (Letters, Examiner, April 18) for pointing to the Margaret Henry Oral History, University of Newcastle, on Bruce Mackenzie and of the period of his life from 1940 to 1987.

It would have been hard growing up during WWII. Yet he later worked from plucking ducks for a living to Shire President (Mayor) of Port Stephens.

MacKa, a term of endearment, was shown to be a self-made man. He was successful in raising money from developers and businesses to build community infrastructure for ratepayers. As far as I could tell from the Oral History, no SRV was imposed. His many achievements included sporting complexes, golf courses, community halls, and those pioneering pensioners units in Tanilba Bay.

Should you consider running for council again, MacKa, don't let age stop you. In a presidential debate, Ronald Reagan told a much younger Jimmy Carter: "If you don't talk about my age, I won't talk about your inexperience." Later, Reagan won the Presidency of the United States of America. In January 1981 he was the oldest President to take office, and later the second President to serve two full terms, a total of eight years.

Also read: Letters to the Editor, April 18

Letters on election issues must bear the name and full address of the writer. Responsibility for election comment in this issue is accepted by The Port Stephens Examiner and its Editor Anna Wolf.

Writers should disclose any alliance with political or community organisations and include their phone number for verification. Election candidates should declare themselves as such when submitting letters.

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