God in the pension plan

Where is this surge of "post-secularist" commentary coming from ("Spirit levels", 28 July)? It is unlikely to be the British populace, so many of whom consider gods redundant and identify themselves as non-religious (51 per cent and rising according to the British Social Attitudes Survey 2009, the most recent version published).

Perhaps enlightenment in this case will come from the principle "follow the money".

Redundant gods are no problem: they simply go "phut". However, redundant priests are far more troublesome. They have a lifetime of faith and pension plans to defend and, naturally, that is just what they are doing.

Most "post-religious" nations have powerful religious establishments, but the non-religious present no target other than individuals' rationality.

That leaves such establishments with nothing better to do than promote this defensive propaganda, but this too will pass.

Chris Davies, via www.timeshighereducation.co.uk