John Polkinghorne castigates Richard Dawkins for his meaningless view of the universe (Books, 30 October). I wonder what he makes of the disaster in Nicaragua? One of the poorest countries in the world is struck by Hurricane Mitch causing flooding, homelessness and devastation of crops. The rich are OK, they are insured and have strong houses, but the poor in their shanty towns, who were already hanging on by their fingertips, are now hungry and destitute - a scenario repeated in every natural disaster, such as this year's flooding in Indonesia and Bangladesh. It is always the poor who suffer most in these so-called "acts of God".
Will the Revd Polkinghorne find some meaning for us in this?
Derek Smith
London E7
