Guess Who Has Just Said This?

[Khandro]

'If anyone merits a good biography, it’s Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Her autobiography, Infidel, chronicles her extraordinary life, from childhood in the Islamic hell (for women) of Somalia, her escape to the Netherlands where she swiftly learned Dutch and became an MP; then the all-too-credible threat from the jihadist murderer of her colleague Theo van Gogh, in a note pinned with a dagger to his corpse. After moving to America, this valiant, charming intellectual warrior became a stalwart of the atheist movement, on a par with Christopher Hitchens, Dan Dennett and Sam Harris. But now, in an astonishing volte-face, she has announced her conversion to Christianity. Imagine the Pope suddenly becoming an atheist – or, worse, an Orangeman – and you’ll get an idea of the fluttering in atheistic dovecotes caused by Ayaan’s tergiversation.

I asked her whether she really believes in fundamental Christian tenets such as the afterlife, Jesus’s resurrection and his parthenogenetic provenance. She doesn’t. I got the strong impression her Christianity is a matter of politics more than belief. Christianity is our best bulwark against Islam. Well, if rooting for benevolent Christianity in preference to malign Islam is all it takes to be a Christian, I’m a Christian too.'

 

Non other than Richard Dawkins !    [well, it's a start.]

[naomi24]

'Rooting for' doesn't equate to 'believing in'.  I would 'root' for Christianity too.

[Old_Geezer]

They both sound like infidels to me.

[Khandro]

^^ Halleluiah, another one!

[naomi24]

Khandro, I think you'll find there are millions of them - but they won't be going to church.

[Ellipsis]

> Well, if rooting for benevolent Christianity in preference to malign Islam

The key words are not "Christianity" and "Islam", they're "benevolent" and "malign".

[Khandro]

Accepting that you are at least what might be called a 'Culture Christian' is certainly better than being an atheist.

I saw Ayaan Hirsi Ali in a recent interview & she said the book which had changed her mind was this:

 Amazon.co.uk User Recommendationref=sr_1_1?crid=25751SZ4MDVIC&keywords=dominion+book+tom+holland&qid=1706348595&s=books&sprefix=Dominion%2Cstripbooks%2C133&sr=1-1

I bought it as a Christmas present for Mrs Khandro, now she has finished it (with great praise) I have started it - it's a terrific book. If you're interested at all about history & culture - don't hesitate. 

 

[davebro3]

Christianity can never be a bulwark against Islam while it has "turning the other cheek" as a tenet.

The main bulwarks against Islam are the totalitarian regimes of China/Russia/N. Korea. And to some extent the large non-Muslim populations in India & the Americas..

[naomi24]

//Accepting that you are at least what might be called a 'Culture Christian' is certainly better than being an atheist.//

 

That makes no sense.   I am an atheist.  Being born and raised in a Christian country doesn't change that one iota.

[Radagast]

Culture Christian and atheist are not mutually exclusive. You can be both.

[douglas9401]

More of the same. Led by the nose by a charismatic.

[Khandro]

//Culture Christian and atheist are not mutually exclusive. You can be both.//

This gets better & better. 🙂

[naomi24]

Khandro, what on earth are you talking about?

[davebro3]

Western Europe & Africa are the happy hunting grounds for Islam expansionists.

[andy-hughes]

I embrace the ethos of Christianity, because they are good people (fervents excepted). 

I attend Mass most Sundays, but I remain an atheist. 

9but I remain an atheist.

[douglas9401]

Even the national lottery doesn't allow hedging your bets on a Sunday. 🙄

[mibn2cweus]

Some atheists are better Christians than some Christians. That doesn't necessarily make either of them right.