Editor,
'Homelessness and asylum' made me examine my own prejudices and accept the challenge to change. The simple question, 'what would Jesus do?' produces such a simple answer. Yet how many of us have demonstrated Christ-like compassion when walking past the cold and hungry man sitting on the footpath?

I remember making dinner for members of the Belfast homeless community at a local hostel with my Christian Union small group. These are regular people, who somehow ended up on the streets. Most of them, like us, had families and went to school, enjoying life. Until something happened - too frequently involving alcohol, drugs, or broken-down relationships.

Author Peter Campion challenges our attitudes to these outcast members of society who enter our healthcare institutions. Is it right for our negativity and narrow-mindedness to jeopardise their healthcare? The article clearly states that both the homeless UK citizen and the asylum seeker (whose case is under consideration) are entitled to NHS healthcare at the point of need. As tomorrow's doctors, we should engrave this important fact into our minds.

The Bible tells us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves and to help the needy. Our Father remembers what is done in secret and will reward us with the abundant riches of his eternal kingdom.

Gillian Blayney
Queen's University Belfast

Editor,
I was talking to a 'spiritually neutral' friend last year. Our 'religious' debate ended with me exclaiming: 'studying medicine shows me that there is a mighty God behind human design.' '...Oh really? The more I learn, the more I think education is the answer to all human problems', he responded. In retrospect, that was a great opportunity to speak about Jesus, and to address my friend's misconceptions about God.

I often wonder whether reading books from an atheistic perspective (like The God Delusion) is a waste of time, when we have so many medical textbooks to cover! But I thank Nucleus for its beautifully summarised report ('has science buried God?') of the debate between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox. I was totally engrossed by the free online video of their first encounter, recommended in the article.

If I had been better equipped prior to the conversation with my friend, we could have drawn more out of the dialogue, although it is not too late to follow up. But I want to encourage all Christian medical students to use such articles and online resources, so we can always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks us about the reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15).

Vongai Madanire
St George's, University of London