RALPH Leavis continues his relentless crusade against animal welfare campaigners by quoting various passages from the Bible, including the story that God allegedly drowned all the animals in the world, except two of each kind, because of the wickedness of man (Viewpoints, March 4).

Why on earth should innocent animals be punished for man’s sins, if indeed this unlikely event ever happened in the first place?

It’s all completely illogical.

If Mr Leavis wishes to try and justify the exploitation of animals, and he is perfectly entitled to do so if he so chooses, why doesn’t he base his arguments on intelligent reasoning using his own intellect rather than simply citing dubious religious dogma?

Mr Leavis has to understand that not everybody is so naïve as to believe everything that is written in the Bible and are not easily persuaded by any religious arguments used to defend animal abuse.

So Mr Leavis, using your own intellect and without any references to religious doctrine, how exactly do you justify animal cruelty?

JIM CRAWFORD Burton Place Oxford