AS A socialist and a Christian, I have followed the recent debate concerning the history of Jesus's existence with interest.

However, since 'faith is the substance of things not seen,' surely arguing about this with believers is futile and irrelevant.

Indeed, some Christians see no conflict between objective science and religion, and there have been groups like the English Deists who sought to found a faith based only on rational thinking.

Nevertheless, on either side of the ideological divide, surely one fact can be agreed upon: that misguided adherents of both philosophies have been responsible for some of the worst atrocities in the history of humankind.

Despite this, altruistic followers of each tradition have augmented countless positive developments that have enriched the lives of us all.

Led by his faith, the English socialist reformer William Wilberforce spearheaded the abolitionist cause that resulted in the annulment of the slave trade; likewise, Elizabeth Fry succeeded in reforming a dehumanising and brutal penal system; similarly, the Christian Socialist Movement of the 19th century sought to eradicate child labour by actively lobbying for the Factory Acts and fought to improve education, health and housing prospects for the working-class, acting as a countercheck to powerful industrial capitalists and advocate for the exploited workers who were then without voice.

To this day, Quakers are at the vanguard of opposition to the international arms trade, and Christians of all denominations have led the way in seeking to cancel third world debt and break the immoral monopoly of multinational drug companies which denies vital treatment for AIDS sufferers in Africa who are amongst the world's poorest.

In fact, Jesus was above all a revolutionary with a powerful political message that brought him into conflict with the authorities of his day.

The kind of spirituality he advocated was not 'pie in the sky' asceticism but liberation theology which calls us to struggle for social reform and fight for the poor, oppressed and marginalised; to protest against all the injustices which are as widespread today as 2,000 years ago.

A more accurate translation of the Lord's Prayer includes a petition for the forgiveness of debts and debtors, a highly relevant concept for a heavily taxed first century Palestine under Roman occupation as well as a grossly indebted third world today.

Interpreted this way, Jesus' reply to a question about the legitimacy of paying taxes to Rome, 'Give to Ceasar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's,' can be understood as a skilfully worded condemnation of Roman fiscal policy, since Caesar was owed nothing.

We have examples of the direct action Jesus took, such as his casting out of the money lenders and traders from the temple.

Jesus got angry and was certainly not as pacifist; indeed, he can be seen as the prototypical socialist.

In light of this, I am appalled by Geraldine Smith MP's comments supporting the withdrawal of funding to those groups which seek to help the marginalised and socially-excluded within our community.

Her remarks that 'we have no cardboard cities in Lancaster and Morecambe' may prove to be precipitate: if she, together with the MBIs have their way, we may very well be seeing them on the streets soon.

I only hope and pray Christians and socialists alike will campaign for the continuing funding of Homeless Action and other such voluntary bodies.

Howard Downes

Heaton House

Greaves Lancaster