Reactions to Why I Am Not a Christian [1957]

ALL FIVE OF these letters to the editor were responses to the critical reception of Russell’s latest collection of essays, Why I Am Not a Christian (1957). The book’s appraisal by Philip Toynbee (1916-1981), the novelist, critic and Observer editorial staff member, was broadly sympathetic. With Paper 21a-The Observer, 13 Oct. 1957, p. 8 (B&R C57.24)—Russell wished merely to correct an impression left by the review that he actually favoured state-sponsored child rearing (see A114:5). As for the alleged shortcomings of his ethical theory, he felt reluctantly compelled to agree with Toynbee. However, after Russell’s letter was published alongside one from the logical positivist philosopher A.J.Ayer, he decided to clarify a related matter which his previous submission had ignored. The result was Paper 21b-The Observer, 20 Oct. 1957, p. 15 (B&R C57.26)—in which Russell expressed his whole-hearted support for Ayer’s rebuttal of Toynbee’s tentatively argued moral case for the existence of God (see A115:10-12).