WE were pleased that Rev Hellier (Readers’ Times, March 12) supports the formation of a Hereford Humanist Group because, as he says, “they attract thoughtful, caring people, which can only be a good thing”.

That has been our experience too and we find that most Humanists we meet have seriously studied, read widely, debated and reflected hard before coming to the conclusion that there is no cogent reason for holding supernatural beliefs, that this life is the only one we will have and that religious belief is unnecessary in order to live a good, ethical life.

Although Humanists respect the rights of others to hold whatever religious belief suits them, we are becoming increasingly disturbed at the degree to which religion continues to be given unfair privilege and influence on public life in this country, quite out of proportion to its representation in the population. A survey for the Christian thinktank, Theos (April 2008), indicated that nonbelievers and doubters now represent the largest group in the UK, almost half the population.

As active members of the British Humanist Association, we have been considering assessing the level of local interest in a Hereford Humanist Group, which we would be happy to help start. If any readers are of a like mind and interested in this, please contact us by email to humanist@ banquo.co.uk.

We have found that many people who discover the British Humanist Association find that they have been humanists for years, without realising it. Your readers can learn more about the Humanist belief in an ethical life without religion at humanism.org.uk.

DOROTHY & IAN QUAYLE, Fownhope, Hereford