If This Not A Full U-Turn...

[Khandro]

... is it at least a 90° one?   😃

 

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2024/04/01/athiest-richard-dawkins-says-he-would-choose-christianity-over-islam-every-single-time/

[naomi24]

Well of course he would.  So would I.  But that doesn't mean either of us believe it so don't get too excited.  That's no u-turn.  He's always felt the same way.

[Khandro]

^^ Really? well that's news to me. When has he ever said such a thing - or you for that matter ?

[Untitled]

calls himself a "cultural christian" now. what a hypocrite.

[naomi24]

I've certainly said it, but him?  I've no idea but he's a common sense, down to earth sort of bloke so forced to make a choice he'd obviously reject Islam.  Wouldn't we all?

[naomi24]

Untitled, why a hypocrite?  I would say I'm cultural Christian too.  

[jno]

man decides he prefers the culture he grew up in to a different one. At a very rough guess about 90% of people would say the same. None of them have necessarily tried out the alternatives.

[Khandro]

n. // I would say I'm cultural Christian too.  //

Yes, maybe, but you've never said it on here to my knowledge.

In fact I'd never heard the term at all until about a year ago when Peter Whittle used it of himself on The Culture Forum

[jno]

it's often called Judaeo-Christian; I've been hearing that since the 70s at the latest.

[Khandro]

jno, He's not saying that only, of course he is part of the British culture,  he's saying a culture Christian.

[Canary42]

Why a hypocrite. Well, for one aspect he lauds the Christian architecture, but fails to mention Islamic.  Anyone who has visited Moslem religious buildings such as exist in Istanbul for example (as I have) might think them superior (I certainly do, but that's not decrying the Christian ones which I also admire)

[ToraToraTora]

That's like saying what STD you'd prefer.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //you've never said it on here to my knowledge.//

 

I've certainly said that given the choice I would reject Islam.

[Untitled]

"Untitled, why a hypocrite? "

his book The God Delusion is pretty damning about the idea of religion having any kind of social purpose... he effectively calls it a mind virus. you can believe that or you can call yourself a "cultural christian" but it doesn't make any sense to believe in both!

[Atheist]

Dawkins reportedly said, “I do think that we are a culturally Christian country, I call myself a cultural Christian. I’m not a believer, but there is a distinction between being a believing Christian and being a cultural Christian. I love hymns and Christmas carols. I sort of feel at home in the Christian ethos. I feel that we are a Christian country."

He's written such views in his books; it's no surprise for me, at least. Maybe, Khandro, you should try reading one of his books all the way through; you seem a bit unaware of what Dawkins thinks.

[Mozz71]

I also consider myself an atheist (or agnostic, depending on my mood), but enjoy looking at old churches or acient places of worship. If that is what Dawkins means by a "cultural Christian" then I guess I'm one too.

 

When it comes to the principles of Christianity over Islam, then you can't disagree with him. The relative freedom of Christianity wins every time. I'd rather live by the principles of atheism though.

[jno]

British culture is Christian culture, or Judaeo-Christian culture. It has been since (very approximately) 700AD. †

[naomi24]

Canary, //Well, for one aspect he lauds the Christian architecture, but fails to mention Islamic.  Anyone who has visited Moslem religious buildings such as exist in Istanbul for example (as I have) might think them superior (I certainly do, but that's not decrying the Christian ones which I also admire)//

 

You pick out Islamic architecture in Turkey - and I've seen it too - but perhaps he's doing the same as you.  Mentioning one whilst not decrying the other.

[naomi24]

Untitled, //he effectively calls it [religion] a mind virus. you can believe that or you can call yourself a "cultural christian" but it doesn't make any sense to believe in both!//

 

He doesn't believe in both.

[jno]

depends, Mozz, I couldn't call myself anything but a Christian-culture person, but mosques are among the most beautiful buildings I know.

There's an excellent book, Stealing from the Saracens, tracing how much Christian architecture owes to Islam.

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Stealing_from_the_Saracens/5-MJEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&;gbpv=1&pg=PR3&printsec=frontcover

[davebro3]

If I HAD to choose to follow any particular religion it would probably be Buddhism. Thankfully I don't have to.