Staunch atheist Richard Dawkins recently denied wanting to stop Christian traditions as he labeled himself a “cultural Christian.”
"This is historically a Christian country. I'm a cultural Christian in the same way many of my friends call themselves cultural Jews or cultural Muslims,” Oxford biologist Dawkins said on BBC’s recent “Have Your Say” program.
Dawkins, who has expressed hopes of converting religious believers to atheism through his international bestseller The God Delusion, made the comments while fielding open questions on religion and debating with conservative MP Mark Pritchard.
Pritchard had called a parliamentary debate on "Christianophobia" last week at Westminster Hall. The debate was on “the relentless assault, mostly by stealth, on this nation's much-loved Christian heritage and traditions,” Pritchard said.
“It is about how anti-Christian sentiment is increasing, not decreasing; why many Christians feel they are not getting a fair hearing when it comes to Christianity in the public square.”
He also contended that many of Britain’s Christian traditions, including Christmas, were being undermined by secular officials and public figures.
Debating Dawkins on the BBC program, Pritchard stated that there was an “increasing feeling of people from the Christian tradition that many of the main Christian festivals are being sidelined and marginalized, sometimes by stealth, sometimes openly.”
He attributed such trends to the “politically-correct brigade, fundamentalists, atheists, and militant secularists.”
Political correctness is particularly apparent during the Advent season when shoppers find it “increasingly difficult to buy greeting cards with references to Christ.”
"Christ always has been and always will be at the very heart of Christmas. Taking Christ out of Christmas is like serving the Christmas turkey without the stuffing,” Pritchard said.
Dawkins denied wanting to stop Christian traditions.
“I like singing carols along with everybody else. I'm not one of those who wants to purge our society of our Christian history,” he said.
"If there's any threat these sorts of things, I think you will find it comes from rival religions and not from atheists," said Dawkins.
Dawkins has credited his exposure to Darwinism as the turning point from his Anglican upbringing to atheism. He is part of a new breed of outspoken atheists who are publicly rejecting the existence of God. Dawkins is also urging other atheists to come out of the closet and declare themselves publicly through his Out Campaign.
Christian Post reporter Nathan Black in Washington contributed to this report.
Comments
Dawkins is not so smart. The fool has said in his heart there is no good - so that's what he must be!! As if he knows everything about everything!!!
token wrote, "He wants people to stop believing in God, fine no ones contesting this, what hes saying is that he doesnt want to end Christmas or stop charity and what ever else Christian culture has imposed upon us."
How utterly ridiculous. Dawkins wants people to stop believing in God, yes. But then he suddenly decides he doesn't want to give up Christmas? He just wants to have his cake and eat it, too. I find it both incredibly interesting and sad that you think Christmas and charity were "imposed" on the world by Christians. There is nothing bad about either one. If you want to be a Scrooge, fine, be one. Just don't pretend there's something wrong with charity.
Here's a table which explains "cultural Christianity" and contrasts it with the real thing.
Dawkins' statements are ludicrous in that he doesn't even go this far.
http://www.crossroad.to/charts/cultural-Christianity.html
Methinks Dawkins is fast becoming a split personality. First he blames all of the world's ills on those on believe in God, now he says he is a "cultural Christian"??? Give me a break. I wonder if he thinks he's really fooling anybody.
ifeelfine72, Sorry, but you evidently don’t know much about William Wilberforce, he was not a progressive Christian by any stretch of the imagination. He only went into politics rather than ministry, after being persuaded that he could be of greater influence in politics. He wrote in his diary, "God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners" (having been concerned with the rise of immorality and vice he helped the passage of Proclamation for the Discouragement of Vice in 1787). He was not a liberal or a progressive Christian. He was an Evangelical Christian who allowed his faith to inform his politic. He also worked with William Carey to introduce Christ to India and was also a founding member of the Church Missionary Society.
Ok I personally had no interest in this conversation, but I am now curious as to why you guys sort of bash the concept of a cultural christian as if it were some ploy. I find it not to be a ploy, any atheist who indulges himself or herself in celebrating Christmas is in fact celebrating a Christian holiday, whats more the phrases we uses Oh my God, Dear God, the countless utterances including God are merely examples of how the culture of christianity has an influence upon us. He wants people to stop believing in God, fine no ones contesting this, what hes saying is that he doesnt want to end Christmas or stop charity and what ever else Christian culture has imposed upon us. Im not saying hes for keeping the phrases =P, but I wouldnt be surprised if he occasionally uttered them, which only further proves that he is culturaly Christian. Its a simple fact we are influenced by our peers and relatives, and their traditions rub off on us. To deny this is madness. Of course he is not a Christian, and if a hell and heaven exists he is most certainly going to hell, as I know I am too, but its as ifeel puts it, its going through the motions, its tradition. We tell people who sneeze 'bless you' what for? Im not thumping religion here, im just saying whats the purpose of it? My folklore on the phrase was that they said it in order to stop the soul from 'escaping.' We all know thats foolish now, but we still say it anyways. I cant pick out all the little things that characterize Christian tradition, but I can honestly say that I definetly have some of the culture in me whether I want it or not ^^.
seedplanter - Thanks for the response. I have to say that I stand by my statements though (I don't appreciate my statements being twisted though). You're right, it was progressive Christians that helped end slavery and helped give women the vote. It is also Christians that have been trying to end abortion. However, the religious right has demonstrated that they are hungry for power. That is why it is so important for other people of faith to balance that talk out and unfortunately there aren't a lot of Christian folks who are.
ifeelfine72, “I'm not worried about my faith influencing my politics (because it does) but I am worried about politics in general influencing our faith.”
Very well said!
However you need to fine tune your politics.
1. Iraq is not Bush’s war. Democrats and Republicans voted for the invasion. This has nothing to do with religion or the religious right.
2. Tax cuts for the rich? I do not consider myself rich. We have three children. My wife and I earn somewhere around 50K. If it wasn’t for Bush’s tax cuts we would not have been able to afford our vacation last year.
3. Bush’s religious beliefs caused people to drown in New Orleans? Come on now. Next you’ll be signing up for Louis Farrakhan’s mailing list.
4. The religious right hungry for political power? To be fair many people are power obsessed, including those who profess faith, but… To make such a comment, albeit well meaning (giving you the benefit of a doubt), is completely uninformed. Maybe you are new to this sight. Does the recent film “Amazing Grace” ring a bell? It is the story of William Wilberforce, the champion of freedom in England for the abolition of slavery. It was Christians who allowed their faith to inform their politic that lead to the abolition of slavery. It is Christians who allow their faith to inform their politic that is driving the abolition of abortion in America today. Incidentally because people are so obsessed with their own problems they have no idea that Christians are fighting against slavery around the world even today.
The American framers recognized their dependence upon God, pity today they are afraid to even recognize that there is a God.
Karenmspence: You make a few good points (some Christians depicting themselves as martyrs, the greeting card conspiracy) but to suggest that Richard Dawkins doesn't have an anti-Christian agenda is laughable. Just look at the title of his book(s), listen to any interview he's ever given. The guy has described religion as being the worst plague in the history of the world.
miss_poppy: Christmas is a time for friends and family but lets not forget why we celebrate it. BTW, I checked out your website. Some of the items were cute, some struck me as slightly blasphemous. Just curious, are you a Christian?
seedplanter: There are lots of Christians (myself included) who would prefer to keep church and state completely separated. The politics of one GW Bush illustrates my point nicely. Not all Christians feel the same way. I hope that when I tell people I'm a Christian they don't think of GWB and his policies (pre-emptive war, tax cuts for the rich while the poor folks in New Orleans drown, etc). Plus, we get things like the religious right that seem more interested in political power than what Christ called people to do. I'm not worried about my faith influencing my politics (because it does) but I am worried about politics in general influencing our faith.
It's sad, ifeelfine72, that people think of friends and family at Christmas? My goodness, what is this world coming to?
Miss Poppy
http://www.misspoppy.com
"What a Trend We Have in Jesus!" (TM)
WE ARE NOW WITNESSING THE EXTINCTION OF ATHEISM.
http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com
karenmspence,
It is not a matter of being misunderstood or mistreated. The attention that has been given to the literal war against Christmas is not due to a phobia that Christmas will be taken away. The concern is over the political correctness that is once again attempting to eradicate America's Christian heritage, which is what has made this country great.
Furthermore, Dawkins has made it plain in his debates and interviews that he desires a secular state. To say that he does not intend to exterminate faith in general is naive.
Also, Christmas may be the same time period of the Winter Solstice, but it is not the same celebration.
Are there gullible Christians that believe erroneous things including crazy conspiracies? Of course, but no more than the fringe secularist who is shaking in fear from the thought of a Christian president who actually allows his faith to inform his politic. America’s founding fathers knew the necessity of Christian faith in a free democracy. That is why they allowed their faith to define their government and laws.
Amen, annie. Well said!
To karenmspence: I am one hundred percent a follower of Jesus Christ, and I am not ashamed of the fact that I believe in God; I know Him personally and I thank God every day for HIS intervention in my life. I praise Him that man is NOT in control of things, as we can see how well man has done in this world so far.
God is not a man, HE is Spirit and HE is The Creator and nothing Mr. Dawkins or any other Atheist will ever change my mind, as it's not my mind that has changed, it is my heart. The LORD GOD took my own dead heart and gave me HIS heart of love and compassion and gave me a new life. At the hands of humans I experienced horrors and pain, and God took all of that and worked it for my good and HIS glory!
I stand in fear of no man's religion; what is man that I should fear him, when I walk with The Almighty Creator!! Man denies God as man wants to be in control and not recognize God for who HE is. God requires repentence and obedience and man doesn't want to do this; it's humbling.
Well, you are all free to believe what you wish, it is not threat to me dear one; Jesus Christ, personally knowing Him, there is nothing greater, nothing more satisfying, and HE fills my life like nothing and noone I have ever known. So, hmm, I can go back to this cold, and dying world, or I can continue on, in The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, where I know that I am loved, wanted, and accepted just as I am, and God loves me so much, HE is helping me to be all HE created me to be!
I think, I'll stay with Jesus Christ and my prayer is that others will look to Jesus Christ and want to follow Him too!
Hey TW,
"As a Christian, one of the fundamentalist, Bible-believing unintellectuals that are held in such disdain by those of superior knowledge and learning..."
You're not to 'unintellectual' to spell "persecution complex".
Really, sort yourself out.