When his best selling non - fiction book 'The God Delusion' was causing multiple sensationalist responses in print and broadcast mediaalmost 20 years ago Richard Dawkins was for a time the star of the New Atheism movement. Now, his having spoken of being a cultural Christian is is causing consternation amongst militant atheists, progressives and The Church of Scientism cult.
Dawkins latest position should surprise nobody, he has spoken of his “cultural Christianity” before, without defining how he, as an individual, defines this Cultural Christianity. I can give you my take on the question because like many people who have passed their seventieth year, I was baptized in the Christian religion (though even if anybody had asked if it was what I wanted, at around six weeks old I was not capable of giving informed consent,) began my education at the age of five in a Church of England school, the only school available in a small Shropshire village. So no matter whTat direction any of my generation took when able to make our own choices we are all Cultural Christians in an allegedly Christian nation and the formation of our mopral compass was influence by what are wrongly called Judeo - Christian values. Throughout our lives, people of my genertation have witnessed the decline of Christianity as societies became more open and liberal and the questioning of Christian dogma became socially accepatable. Thus when I referred above to England (Britain if you like, though Scotland and Wales are culturally different from we English,) it was because even as late as the early 1960s there was a social stigma attached to openly rejecting Christianity, so it could never be known how many people truly believed in the Christian faith and how many simply paid lip service to the beliefs of their inherited religion. New Atheism, a fashionable ideology in the fin - de - siecle madness of the 1990s was wrong in crucial respects, but was a predictable reaction to the nonsensical religious philosophy of Christian churches, a mish mash of myths and parables from a variety of belief systems and cults from the middle east and scross Europe. Where New Atheism was mistaken was that it failed to understand the role and importance of some kind of common belief system in human communities. In predicting that following religion's decline the developed world would transform into some kind of enlightened utopia in which, as one boy scientist on a site I was involved in phrased his vision, "Humanity would abandon superstition and magical thinking and we would all live scientifically." And though people who thought like that, science has taken on many aspects of a religious cult, particularly in its approach to vaccination and climate change. New Atheism assumed that, as people abandoned Christianity they would embrace a secular position and line up behind the kind of philosophical position described by Dawkins in "The God Delusion." It is not surprising then that many are shocked to read or hear of Dawkins himself saying that maybe the Christian belief system (as opposed to the many Christian religions,) had something going for it, but when we see the zel with which many people have embraced 'net zero', BLM, The Green New Deal, Globalism and Transgenderism, it is easy to see why the professor might have changed his punlic position on secular (Cultural) Christianity.
I understand what Richard Dawkins is saying but his self description as a cultural Christian has no more meaning than my describing myself as a 'paganistic humanist - and no, you can't join because I haven't worked out what, if anything, it means.
Christianity might have a chance of survival if it could get rid of the Jesus fairy tales (or at least did not require grown ups to profess belief in them,) and admit it's 'Judeo - Christian' values are just borrowings from the Greeks, North - European pagans, Zoroasdtrians, and Hinduism / Buddhism.The purpose of tribal religions to our neolithic and Bronze Age ancestors was to hold the tribes or clans together through common values and a shared moral compass. Unfortunately the Abrahamic religions killed that aspect of religion because the sole aim was to focus power and wealth in the hands of the priesthood.
Many people will disagree with that statement, some saying that the purpose of the Abrahamic relions is to reconcile humanity to the ways of God the Creator while others will reminds me that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and the puropse of whorship is to redemm our souls. To any of them, and others I say just take a look at the lavish splendour of the medieval cathedrals in Europe, built at enormous cost while ordinary people were living in squalour and starving. Christianity cannot wipe out its brutal and amoral past with pious platitudes.
Then there are the Creationists. I enjoy a good debate and would always be willing to consider a well argued case for Intellihent Design, but if one tries to engage on the topic the opposing premise will be, "But surely you must see that all thw wonders of our world and the Universe xould not have come about by accident, they could only have been created.
Time is a human construct, the universe has always been here doing what it does. Big Bang theory was created by theoretical physicists who believed the secrets of the universe could be found in mathematics explanations when they discovered their mathematical explanations needed a point from which to start calculating. That is speculation of course, with no more had evidence to support it than any creation myth. Where creationists fall down is in floating the idea that an imaginary god could have created anything real.
I have long been aware of the pointlessness of trying to discuss the supernatural claims of the religious as logic tends to go out the window. Even the simple question: ‘Why are you a Christian? ‘ poses a major problem because like myself the vast majority did not become Christians having evaluated all other religions. Needless to say, this applies to the other Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Islam, because the vast majority of their followers were born into them and stay in the faith for reasons which though valid, family, community etc.) are nothing to do with a literal belief in the god or the scriptures. Hinduism is somwhat different, although Hindus are born into the system their concept of the divine does not require them to have absolute faith in imaginaty spirits.
Another point to reflect on is that the belief systems of these religions can be poles apart though the priestly caste claim they worship the same god. For example in Christianity Jesus is seen as the son of God and only through him can you enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In contrast Judaism and Islam just see him as just another human prophet. Even within Christianity itself, opposite and incompatible ideas exist. While Roman Cathloics and European Protestants belive Jesus is the actual son of God, the Eastern ortodoc churches take a different view, while Coptic, Ethiopian and Sycriac Christians have a different belief again. As Christian belief has to be absolute, they can't all be right. But they can all be wrong.
Moreover, all the sacred scriptures of major religions were based on oral traditions passed down over centuries and are highly questionable, for example the Christian gospels were written years after the death of Jesus death, and not by the Aramaic speaking disciples of Jesus as many believe, but by Greek speaking educated scribes.
While highlighting these points I still understand why a religious belief is important to many as it serves as ‘something to hold onto’ or provides a comforting feeling that there is some stabilising force, in a tough and troubled world and so I respect peoples' right to their faith. But if it is the faith rather than the name of the god or the content of the creed that is important surely then we have to respect paganism, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism and Shamanistic Animism as equals and drop claims to be 'The one true Church'.
LIBRARY OF POSTS ON RELIGION, FAITH and SCIENCE[ Philo and Sophia ] ... [ Religion, faith, belef ] ... [ Humanitas ] ... [ science and religion at war? ]
The Source of Wisdom
“The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence.”- Nikola Tesla
Is Human Consciousness More than 3,000 Years Old?
Biologists are archaeologists have argued for decades about when humans first became true humans, creatures that we would recognise as our direct ancestors. The point at which men first stood erect (oops, pardon) was when we ceased to be hairless apes (or hairy -arsed knuckle draggers) but it still took a while for the self awareness and development of complex languages which enable us to communicate ideas and language are still not clear ... MORE>
Have You Committed Your Three Thought Crimes Today?
You're a criminal. So am I. We all are, according to some legal experts there are now so many crimes, a lot of them loosely defined, it is impossible to get through the day without committing at least three crimes. In fac it is often the case that by obeying one law you are breaking another.
The Charge Of The Anti-enlightenment Brigade
I don’t know if many of you remember London's Atheist Bus a few years ago. It toured the city bearing adverts that read: ‘There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.’ and was a great success[ ... ] this demonstrates the Sheeple - like tendencies of those who claim they have reason on their side: the religious propagandist with the sandwich board saying ‘repent, the end is nigh' was always the subject of jokes. Why do the opposing side now feel the need to parade high tech sandwich boards saying, "no need to repent, the end isn't nigh'?
Social Science Degrees Make Great Leaders? More Junk Science.
We've had junk science on climate change, genetically modified seeds, many types of medicines and social engineering. The junkiest of junk science however is always commissioned by public service organisations and is aimed at convincing the public that our public servants are doing a good job. Fortunately the public are not as gullible as our leaders suppose.
Reasons Why This Pagan Will Not Vote Labour, Conservative Or Liberal Democrat.
As we prepare to vote in a General Election that we are told will change British Politics forever, Ian looks at a choice of three main parties that basically offer the same set of globalist, multiculturalist policies and consideres which way a pagan should vote.
Cultural Marxism Curriculum: The Frankfurt School
Western civilization at the present day is in a crisis different from anything that has been previously experienced. Other societies have changed their social or cultural values under the influence of external forces or by gradual development. But none, like our own, has ever consciously faced the prospect of a fundamental alteration of the beliefs and institutions on which the whole fabric of social life rests being imposed ...
TThe Idea Of An Infinite Universe Is Fashionable Again
The now little discussed (due to the witch hunt tactics employed by the scientific consensus gangsters) idea of an infinite, eternal, self renewing universe makes a lot more sense than a point at which everything suddenly materialises out of nothing.
To Infinity And Beyond - Big Bang Theory Trashed?
One 'scientific fact' Little Nicky has challenged in the past is Big Bang Theory. I have lost count of the times that having offered proof that Big Bang is not a fact, the universe is in reality infinite I have become involved in thousand - comment threads in which the arguments of the Big Bang sceptics were contradicted by science tits screeching, "It is a fact because we say it is."
The Source of Wisdom
“The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence.”- Nikola Tesla
Is Human Consciousness More than 3,000 Years Old?
Biologists are archaeologists have argued for decades about when humans first became true humans, creatures that we would recognise as our direct ancestors. The point at which men first stood erect (oops, pardon) was when we ceased to be hairless apes (or hairy -arsed knuckle draggers) but it still took a while for the self awareness and development of complex languages which enable us to communicate ideas and language are still not clear ... MORE>
Have You Committed Your Three Thought Crimes Today?
You're a criminal. So am I. We all are, according to some legal experts there are now so many crimes, a lot of them loosely defined, it is impossible to get through the day without committing at least three crimes. In fac it is often the case that by obeying one law you are breaking another.
The Charge Of The Anti-enlightenment Brigade
I don’t know if many of you remember London's Atheist Bus a few years ago. It toured the city bearing adverts that read: ‘There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.’ and was a great success[ ... ] this demonstrates the Sheeple - like tendencies of those who claim they have reason on their side: the religious propagandist with the sandwich board saying ‘repent, the end is nigh' was always the subject of jokes. Why do the opposing side now feel the need to parade high tech sandwich boards saying, "no need to repent, the end isn't nigh'?
Social Science Degrees Make Great Leaders? More Junk Science.
We've had junk science on climate change, genetically modified seeds, many types of medicines and social engineering. The junkiest of junk science however is always commissioned by public service organisations and is aimed at convincing the public that our public servants are doing a good job. Fortunately the public are not as gullible as our leaders suppose.
Electoral Reform in Britain - Is It Time for True Proportional Representation?
After every British election, when around a quarter of voters find the party they voted for is hardly represented in the House Of Commons (In 2015, 8 per cent of the votes equals just 8 of the 650 members, while a party with 13% has just one), people who believe in democracy try to start a debate about reforming the voting system. And as ever, supporters of the two main parties, which benefit most from the current undemocratic system, try to stifle debate.
Reasons Why This Pagan Will Not Vote Labour, Conservative Or Liberal Democrat.
As we prepare to vote in a General Election that we are told will change British Politics forever, Ian looks at a choice of three main parties that basically offer the same set of globalist, multiculturalist policies and consideres which way a pagan should vote.
Elderly face NHS discrimination as new United Nations plan defines death targets for nations
Leaders of the western powers, anxious it seems to divest themselves of responsibility while extending and tightening their grip on power, are happy to promote the United Nations as a de facto World Government. The problem is the United Nations employs as advisers and bureaucrats many people whose authoritarian and racist political position makes Herr Hitler look positively liberal.
Cultural Marxism Curriculum: The Frankfurt School
Western civilization at the present day is in a crisis different from anything that has been previously experienced. Other societies have changed their social or cultural values under the influence of external forces or by gradual development. But none, like our own, has ever consciously faced the prospect of a fundamental alteration of the beliefs and institutions on which the whole fabric of social life rests being imposed ...
TThe Idea Of An Infinite Universe Is Fashionable Again
The now little discussed (due to the witch hunt tactics employed by the scientific consensus gangsters) idea of an infinite, eternal, self renewing universe makes a lot more sense than a point at which everything suddenly materialises out of nothing.
To Infinity And Beyond - Big Bang Theory Trashed?
One 'scientific fact' Little Nicky has challenged in the past is Big Bang Theory. I have lost count of the times that having offered proof that Big Bang is not a fact, the universe is in reality infinite I have become involved in thousand - comment threads in which the arguments of the Big Bang sceptics were contradicted by science tits screeching, "It is a fact because we say it is."
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