GEORGE Cowley says that Christianity is about compassion, rather than punishment for wrongdoing (Tuesday, September 20).

However, in orthodox Christian belief, God shows His compassion for the world by sending His Son to be punished for the sins of the world, so that those who believe in Jesus Christ can be forgiven.

To deny God's utter hatred of sin and wrongdoing and His justice in punishing sin is to make the crucifixion of Christ meaningless.

MATTHEW A CLARKE,

Worcester.