Traipsing in the ‘cultural Christianity’ of Richard Dawkins
By Marlon De Blasio, Christian Post:
What is “Cultural Christianity”? It seems difficult to define without paradox. Can it be defined by the trends of a particular culture? How is “Christian” understood? A culture’s thinking may provide answers but what makes them offer anything special to humankind? That seems to be the paradox: it offers a sense of ‘Christian’ without it being Christian. “Cultural Christianity” can freely reinterpret the Christian faith to accommodate cultural trends, one today, another tomorrow, and yet another next week. So, what was the point of the world’s most famous atheist when he recently complained about the decline of “cultural Christianity” in the UK?
During Easter, Richard Dawkins said in an interview, “I call myself a cultural Christian … I’m not a believer, but there’s a distinction between being a believing Christian and a cultural Christian. And so, I love hymns and Christmas carols, and I sort of feel at home in the Christian ethos.” The sobriety of Dawkins is commendable, and we certainly witness a tone far removed from the iconoclasm of The God Delusion. There definitely seems to be an experience of something about Christianity, and it’s intriguing to witness a staunch atheist speak of feelings towards “the Christian ethos.”
Dawkins seemed to embrace something about Christianity while declining belief in its actual faith. He mentioned that he “loves hymns and Christmas carols.” What does he love about them? Most lyrics are theological, Christological, and doxological. Does he have an inner feeling that desires Christian faith but is suppressed by empirical demands? The feeling to “love hymns and Christmas carols” is not uncommon for a human being. Is the sentiment compelled by “believing Christianity” and substituted by artificial exercises?
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