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/

[Mozz71]

All religious architectures have their own beauty jno. The same can be said of Hindu temples or Buddhist shrines. Nobody has to believe in another's God to appreciate the aesthetic value of their buildings.

[andy-hughes]

I understand the concept of being a 'cultural Christian', I see no hypocrisy there.

[ToraToraTora]

mozz: "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." - Snap. many Christian things are ingrained in our society many we don't even realise are from a religion. Like Mozz, AH and RD I also thing that probably makes me a "cultural christian" - I don't like that term though we need a better one Ladies and gentlemen......

[naomi24]

Some people see no middle ground.

[Khandro]

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

Then it sounds like a book for half-wits, written by a Muslim no doubt.                                                                                 The great Gothic cathedrals of Europe were being built when Islam was only a few centuries old & had no architecture at all (most Muslims were still living in tents!).

Also, when they started to build the Mosques you admire so much, they took their inspiration from India, it wasn't at all original in conception. 

[jno]

cultural Christianity is on the decline, along with actual Christianity. My guess is in 20 years nobody under 30 will know who the three kings of Orient are, any more than they know what Tobias and the angel is all about.

The nativity and the crucifixion will be the last to go, and a few catchphrases with non-religious connotations (prodigal sons, for instance) will stick around; but the country will have lost touch with a huge part of its past. Then you can find another descriptive phrase for your culture.

[jno]

it sounds like a book for half-wits

always good to read the book before drawing ignorant conclusions.

[Mozz71]

Does it matter who inspired what Khandro? We're talking about the aesthetic appeal of the building, separated from which fantasy book they worship in it.

[naomi24]

As an aside, well done for dusting the cobwebs from R&S khandro.  

[naomi24]

With all this talk of architecture, we seem to be losing sight of the OP.

[jno]

architecture of whatever sort is a significant element of culture.

[naomi24]

Yes, but it's not significant to the OP and Professor Dawkins alleged u-turn.

[jno]

said that he would lament the loss of cathedrals

[naomi24]

Ohhhh ..... that'll be it then.  Let's forget the alleged u-turn and talk about architecture.

[jno]

it's no good claiming it's irrelevant to the OP when it's something Dawkins specifically said he considered.

[naomi24]

As mosques versus churches go, I've never been in a mosque (and I've been in many) that offers the air of peace that pervades churches.  The same goes for Buddhist/Hundu temples.  The rest seem a noisy bunch.

[Atheist]

Naomi, maybe christian churches have an air of peace because they are usually empty?

[Khandro]

Atheist //Naomi, maybe christian churches have an air of peace because they are usually empty?//

How would you know ?

[sandyRoe]

Imagine a hypothetical question.  If you were forced to make a choice would you opt to live in a country ruled by Ayatollahs exercising Sharia Law or in a liberal, nominally Christian democracy?

Even the most convinced atheist would put up with the trappings of Christianity.

[naomi24]

Your experience must be limited, atheist.