WOW! Of all the answers I expected to get from my letter For every answer there is a question James Matthews' letter Whoever heard of an animal with morals? wasn't one of them.

Perhaps I should start by quoting from the Bible: "I said in my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals. For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same.

"As one dies so dies the other. They all have the same breath and humans have no advantage over the animals for all is vanity. All go to one place, all are from dust and turn to dust again. Who knows whether the human spirit goes upwards and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?" (Ecclesiastes Ch 3 V 18-22).

These words were written by King Solomon, Son of David, many years before the Persian occupation of Israel and before a whole raft of myths found their way into Jewish scriptures.

Solomon had never read the book of Genesis. Many of his views are in keeping with a modern conception of creation.

I for one have heard of animals with morals. What animal flattens whole cities, tried to wipe out an entire race, slaughters 7,500 men and boys or for that matter tears down the ancient city of Jericho killing everybody with the exception of one immoral woman?

As a Christian (after a fashion) I'm sure God finds more favour with the other animals than with homo sapiens. I bet he's wishing we had stayed up the trees.

G R Holwill

Stoke Hill Crescent, Exeter