But - and at the risk of getting involved in a theological battle into which I come somehat unarmed - I am a bit surprised by Bob's assertion "Only one sin is unforgivable, Rob. The sin of unbelief in Christ".

The only references I recall from the New Testament about an unforgivable sin both refer - not to an unbelief in Christ, or even in God - but to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

In fact, Jesus stated that people not believing in him, or even those who spoke against him, would be forgiven.

Mark:

"Assuredly, I [Jesus] say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation"

Matthew:

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come"

On a personal level, I would be disappointed if Christ had actually said that anybody who did not believe in him could never be forgiven - such a remark would hardly square with the rest of his life.

Bob also says in his reply;

"Unlike Muslims who severely repress (or much worse) a person for believing in Christ as opposed to 'Allah'"

At the risk of disagreeing (mildly!) with one of the best DJs I have ever heard, it is worth pointing out that in fact, the Koran mentions Jesus frequently, and Muslims regard Christ as a prophet.

They simply do not recognise Christ as "God" or if you prefer the arabic word, "Allah". (However, they also do not recognise Muhammed as God either).

Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus.

But as anybody familiar with the Muslim world will know, when any Muslim refers to Jesus, he always adds the prayer "peace be upon him".

But as the Koran says:

"God is Unique! God, the Source [of everything]. He has not fathered anyone nor was He fathered, and there is nothing comparable to Him".

So while Muslims do not believe in the Trinity of God, which means they do not believe that Jesus for example, was also God, they do of course recognise Jesus as a prophet.

Bob says: "If you think I'm being too harsh on Islam, just research the countries around the world that are Islamic and see what they do to people who express faiths other than Islam, especially Jews & Christians".

I feel it is often a mistake to confuse what people like Jesus or Muhammed (or indeed any other great spiritual leader) said and did, with what their followers subsequently did in their names.

Thus, Christians might feel aggrieved at their treatment nowadays in non-Christian countries, but Jews were once persecuted in Christian territories, as indeed Protestants were by Catholics, and Catholics were by Protestants.

Or as Tom Lehrer put it in his song "National Brotherhood Week"

Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics,
And the Catholics hate the Protestants,
And the Hindus hate the Moslems,
And everybody hates the Jews.

No one faith seems to have a monopoly on either love or hate - at some stage or other, all have managed to spread both - but hopefully, in the end, we will muddle through anyway.

I just happen to live in Ireland, where we know of these problems only too well I am sad to say, but I still like Bob's little prayer at the end of each show - because I know it is kindly meant, and is I hope, kindly taken by all.

Perhaps John said it best of all.

"Even if the dinosaurs return, I hope one's a DJ that'll play Ruffin, Johnson, and Harner!".

Which reminds me, has anybody ever heard Tommy Steele's 1956 UK hit - "Rock With The Caveman"?

Now that was some record.

(I am just waiting for somebody to say - it was 1955. Trouble is - they could be right. The old memory is not what it used to be).

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