Seems that some atheists even Dawkins are using the term "cultural christians", "cultural Jewish", "cultural Muslim", etc. So take the faith out of it, God, and Allah out of the equation and an atheists can be come a christian....no a "cultural christian".
Are there certain aspects about faith that can be a "creature of habit" type of thing? Yes. Yet, a person who walks with God, will know the difference between the ordinary and what faith in God can do for them in their lives.
So atheists can attempt to make faith and God a secular concept, whatever you do have to do swallow the pill. There is more to being a christian, jew, and muslim, adding "cultural" in the front of it, isn't it.
2007-12-14 14:16:37 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Edit:
The question is "Does calling yourself a cultural christia (or whatever) makes the concept of faith and God, easier to accept?
Yeah I could be ranting; ignore the rant if you like. This cultural religion thing is just dumb. That like saying that you are a cultural hispanic because you like Latino food. There is more to being a hispanic then just doing the the run of the mill things that hispanics do. This goes for every other race.
Anyway, here's a link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7136682.stm
2007-12-14 14:33:04 · update #1
Stephen:
That is only a portion of the faithful population. Plenty of people were raised in a faith, but plenty of people weren't, so where does this cultural faith thing apply?
2007-12-14 22:25:42 · update #2
To me, that's just confusing.
Also to me, I don't see how there's a religion without a "God."
2007-12-14 14:19:42 · answer #1 · answered by Oddly, Fate. 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I suspect that the addition of the term cultural is intended to mean that they are members of their respective faiths because it is the faith they were raised in. I was raised Methodist in south central Iowa and did not question it until I went to a Northern Baptist college in a Southern Baptist town. If I had been born in Syria I would have become a follower of Islam on the same terms.
2007-12-14 14:30:02 · answer #2 · answered by Stephen Y 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly I don't see a question in this, just a mini-rant. Yes I know the title is a question, but it seems alot more rhetorical than an honest plea for an answer.
*edit
Thank you for rephrasing the question. Now to answer it. No, calling myself (or anyone) a cultural christian would not make anything easier. I can call it whatever I or you like, but it is just a name and will not change my beliefs.
2007-12-14 14:20:19 · answer #3 · answered by c i 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think the idea of "cultural Christians" is supposed to make atheism easier to accept, not vice versa. It's the simple idea that, if you leave religion behind, you don't need to wipe your cultural slate clean.
I don't think "God" really comes into the equation at all. If you only identify with a religion culturally then you don't believe in the mythological elements.
2007-12-14 14:31:18 · answer #4 · answered by Logan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people just go to worship services because it's seen as a social or moral thing to do, not because of deep religious feelings. Those are the 'cultural' ones. Some people never attend formal organized religious services and still have a deep spirituality. You can;t lump everyone together.
Most atheiosts probably wouldn't acept any form of religious belief, cultural or not, because they don't believe it.
2007-12-14 14:22:58 · answer #5 · answered by Squirrley Temple 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No it doesn't make the kool aid any more attractive.
It depends on what you define as being a christian, a jew or a muslim. If the basis is a belief in some god, putting the word cultural in front of it does not dilute that.
Does a cultural atheist have any beliefs in any gods?
2007-12-14 14:21:22 · answer #6 · answered by CC 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think the term refers to people that are doing it because everyone around them is in the religion. While the person in question doesn't really believe. I for one considering going to church on occasion. I think it would be good for networking.
2007-12-14 14:20:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I do not accept any religion. There is insufficient empirical evidence to support the hypothesis of a god or gods. I am an atheist. God is nothing but a figment of imagination.
2007-12-14 14:22:18 · answer #8 · answered by What? Me Worry? 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Why do you think most Latin America is 90% catholic? Cause it's a cultural thing...
2007-12-14 14:29:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We already know that a lot of people who accept the labels aren't really religious at all.
2007-12-14 14:21:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I see that you are in a culture of rhetoric. LOL You could be right though.
2007-12-14 14:21:07 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋