In your editorial "A good-faith attempt to help" (Jan. 8), you only printed the latter part of Brit Hume's comment concerning Tiger Woods. Mr. Hume also stated that Mr. Woods should renounce his Buddhist religion and embrace Christianity, which Mr. Hume felt was the superior faith.

This sanctimoniousness was why Keith Olbermann and other commentators compared Mr. Hume's beliefs to those of a jihadist. It was a comparison of the nature of the beliefs, not the actions. It was not an attack on Christianity as you chose to present it.

Mr. Hume stated that Woods' conversion would be "a great example." Here Hume erred again. Tiger Woods already is a great example in two ways. First, he is an example of what practice and dedication to one's profession or art can accomplish. Next, Woods is a great example of what unchecked hubris and libido can do.

Regarding the moral superiority of Christianity, study the history of that religion. It's a very checkered one. From a religion of being the persecuted, it became a religion of the persecutors, including crusades, inquisitions and sectarian wars. Millions have been murdered in the name of Christ!

I also wonder how many of the Christians reading this have ever considered the depth of the story of Christ's healing the centurion's servant? That centurion was an enemy invader, a believer in an alien religion. Christ did not refuse the centurion, nor ask him to renounce his Pagan faith. Christ simply healed the servant.

The only universal command we need to follow is to treat each other with compassion and respect, regardless of our races, genders or personal spiritual paths.

Joseph A. Zuchowski

Augusta