The text of my letter published in the Irish Times today (at http://www.irishtimes.com/debate/letters/philosophy-and-science-1.1667425):

Sir, – William Reville (Science, January 16th) criticises materialism as excluding, without evidence, the possibility of the supernatural. The problem with this is that “the supernatural” taken as a phenomenon is a nonsense. If the supernatural has effects on the material world, then it matters and is subject to material observation and investigation. If it has no effect on the material world and is not subject to material observation and investigation, then it is not a phenomenon, but an idea, a figment of the imagination.

Figments of the imagination are nonetheless important. They have social, emotional, aesthetic and intellectual benefits, which Prof Reville clearly enjoys (and more power to him). If we are to properly understand the role of religion it is as shared mental imagery, that affects how we feel about the world and how we behave, and not as a description of reality. – Yours, etc,

Dr BRENDAN HALPIN,

Dept of Sociology,

University of Limerick,

Castletroy, Co Limerick.