Hi Gonners,
A response to your post 8055:
What ways and do they still affect you.
Fair point. I'll try to answer it. I was brought up in a non Christian household, so the only influence Christianity had on me would probably have been through my early schooling, although to be honest, apart from appearing in a Nativity play, I cannot think of one instance where Christianity played any part in my life. Later I became a member of a Methodist Youth fellowship and Club. Apart from the useful ability to meet other people, especially girls, the interminable sermons on Sundays only had the predictable(in my case) outcome of boring me. I cannot remember today even one single sermon. None of the people I met, apart from my obvious interest in people of my own age, had any discernible affect upon me.
However, when I went to university, I met all sorts of different people with different religious views,including local Jewish people, Catholics, Cof E, Methodists, a Sikh, several Indians and a Jew who had started his own version of religion called Rational Theism. Having no set beliefs, myself, I came to the naive conclusion that if only people were confronted with people who were just as steadfast in their own beliefs as they themselves were, then people would respect the religious persuasions of others as being of equal worth to their own. Consequentially I started a series of meetings between some of these people, which lasted some time. Unfortunately I have to say that the 'true for me, true for you' attitude pervaded and I became quite disillusioned that my grand design had resulted in epic failure. Ah, the enthusiasm of youth.
However, what my university years did do, and, I suppose one might say that people's varying views on religion(Christianity being but one) had an effect on, was help sow the seeds of the position which I now hold.
As far as the Gospels are concerned. I see much that is enlightening and useful in them, but I see much that is enlightening in other books too.(E.G., for me, Shakespeare).
When it comes to the Christian rituals which are still part of our culture in the UK I was not christened, neither were our two sons, my wife and I were not married in a church, and my wife will be having a humanist funeral. I'm not sure what exactly will be happening to me, as my remains will hopefully be used by a medical teaching hospital in York.
However I do find churches, cathedrals etc. fascinating places, not least because they can to some extent mirror the attitudes to worship in days gone by.
As far as my own moral attitudes are concerned I would not say that they have been formed particularly by the distinctive culture of Christianity, although I accept that this is not an easy question to answer. Far easier is to see the influences of Christianity (in all its forms) on some of the people I meet and are close to, and not always, in my view, for the better.
Perhaps it might be fair to say that Christian culture has influenced me, almost by proxy, helping to formulate my present views, for good or ill.
Here's a true story, and it can all be verified if you search the old Beeb forum, we had a poster called Dyslexic ( could have been Dypslexic ) who was/is an atheist, but he once was a Christian, his knowledge of the Four Gospels was astounding, he could explain the hidden depth, the true message of the Gospels, you could tell that the Gospels had affected him in a very profound way, hell! the man was a better Christian than I am.
Now the above example is a tad OTT, but the poster was very relaxed in his atheism, and very relaxed regarding how the Gospels, his time as a Christian had affected him, what stuck with him and what he discarded as nonsense, and as you can see he had a big influence on me.
I remember Dyslexic on the old BBC Board. From what I remember, he did have some interesting views as regards the Gospels.
Just looking for atheists to open up a bit, relax your guard slightly, a bit more open on how Christianity has affected you.
I have no problem in opening up as you call it, but only when people seem genuinely interested, otherwise I would be simply boring the pants(skirts?) off them.
Me to, I can be quite boring when it comes to Einstein, and not afraid to admit I would rather read Kipling than the Gospels.
Great. I can be just as easily fascinated by a book on bird migration, the latest ideas in quantum biology or a book I'm ploughing through at the moment.('Miracles' by C.S.Lewis)
Well it was Outrider who used the word mechanism, just thought a atheist, any atheist had a definitive mechanism, mine is Christianity but I will search out other philosophies and religions which inspire me.
I can only suggest that in my case any moral feelings that I may have are evolutionary in nature, tempered by my nurture, culture and a rational approach.
Well I don't see many posts on here from atheists shouting from the roof tops about all the great work done by religious organisations.
Or indeed from theists shouting from the roof tops about all the great work done by Oxfam or Amnesty International.
And that is very telling, if you had to choose which organisation got the pound in your pocket, does your atheism affect this, actually I think you have answered that question.
Thanks for answering the question for me. Actually, where the money goes is pretty important to me, as well as considering if the charity is well managed. The only way being an atheist affects any money I may give is if the aim of the charity/organization is to further their religious message(which includes Christianity, of course). Yes, if their aim is one which I do not agree with, then why should I support it, and, instead, then why should I not choose a charity whose aim is to help people in need? (which was part of my original response which you quite accidentally of course, missed out)
So, guilty as charged.
Can't really argue against this but the great work that the Church of Scotland, Church of England, Sally Ann, Barnados etc etc do, day in day out I think deserves some kind of privilege.
Well I disagree totally. If I was asked to grant special rights to any charity then it would be for their 'great work' and not on the basis of their particular religious bent.
