I have read with increasing concern the recent comments on Paganism and on Harry Potter by my neighbouring minister, the Rev Andy Kelso.

I have no wish to enter into public discussion but feel I must put a different Christian point of view.

But first I would like to pay tribute to Andy's commitment to the community of Matchborough and the whole of Redditch, which is outstanding, albeit forthright at times.

Now I would like to speak for a different brand of Christianity, which I suspect Andy would say is not true Christianity.

Jesus is recorded in Matthew 7.21 as saying, "It is not those who say to me 'Lord, Lord', who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven".

Now I know very well that for every verse one person quotes someone will quote another, and each verse can be interpreted in different ways.

But I think that behind those words of Jesus is a whole strand of his teaching that any person or idea which seeks to do good rather than evil is on God's side. Anyone who is trying to love is a friend of God. All people who seek the light share a common journey.

This does not mean that we all agree about everything. But I do not believe that Jesus taught that any philosophy that was not based on him must be based on the devil.

I do not believe Andy's assertions that the Harry Potter books are 'Satan's ploy to make evil look innocent', or that there is an evil power behind modern Paganism.

If any parents are worried about the Harry Potter stories for their children, I would encourage them to read the recent Grove Book by the Rev Philip Plyming, who writes: 'The texts are not the occult propaganda some Christians assume them to be, and the threat to older children's minds is not great because they can actually realise that they are reading a story not a documentary.'

Modern Paganism is no more based on Devil-worship than any other faith. Here we come back to different interpretations of Jesus' teaching.

Some Christians would claim that unless you are a Christian in the way they define it, you are damned to hellfire. But other Christians would say that God judges the heart not the label, and however you understand judgment it is not something people should get into doing.

If there is evil in the world it surely comes from extremism. Acts like the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the massacre of Taliban prisoners can be called evil, though the people who carried them out cannot be judged as wholly evil by other people. That is for God to judge.

I have tried to put another Christian point of view, which looks for goodness wherever it may be found. If the only picture of Christianity people see is that which condemns other spiritual paths as evil, then it will be no surprise if they look elsewhere for a gentler and kinder picture of God.

I just wanted to put the other view, that Jesus would not lash out against anything which tries to make this often painful world a better place. God responds in love to love.

My strong conviction is that if people can meet each other and sit down together, then trust and common understanding can grow.

I would like to offer through your newspaper an invitation to Andrew Marshall of the Pagan Federation and the Rev Kelso to meet me for the sake of mutual understanding.

I also invite anyone else who is sincerely interested in goodness and in God to come to such a meeting.

Please contact me on 852830 or studley.vic@virgin.net

Rev Richard Deimel

Vicarage

Manor Mews

Studley