Atheist Richard Dawkins has been critical of Christianity for a long time. But lately, he has started to change his tune, noting that as Christianity declines in Great Britain, the gap isn't being filled by secular humanists or atheists. it is being filled by Muslims. He says he prefers Christianity to Islam because Christianity is "benign." Christians don't send suicide bombers and blow up buildings, he notes.
There have been a number of articles about him and his comments re: Christianity and Islam in the news of late. Here's one:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/richa ... mething-wo
Traditionally, Muslims have taken over countries, not just with violence, but by population growth. It has played a part in North African and Asian countries becoming Muslim. We can see it happening in a country like Sweden where the birth rate for native non-Muslim Swedes is low while Muslims have large families. Eventually, Muslims outnumber everybody else and the countries become theirs.
I'm wondering what members of this community think about that. What do you think of Dawkins' claims? Are you concerned about the "islamification" of countries built on traditional Judeao-Christian values? Would you prefer Christianity to Islam? If so, why? If not, why?
Dawkins calls Christianity "benign"
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Re: Dawkins calls Christianity "benign"
Post #2[Replying to post 1 by Overcomer]
The Atheists are falling back. The Atheists are falling back!
Advance the field, dear fellow Christians! As we provide trust, steadiness and moral character!
(Then we charge! To win over the last Non-believers and "Atheists" in the future!)
The Atheists are falling back. The Atheists are falling back!
Advance the field, dear fellow Christians! As we provide trust, steadiness and moral character!
(Then we charge! To win over the last Non-believers and "Atheists" in the future!)
I'm cool! - Stronger Religion every day! Also by "mathematical Religion", the eternal forms, God closing the door on corrupt humanity, possibly!
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Re: Dawkins calls Christianity "benign"
Post #3I think anyone should be upset/concerned about any religion, Christian, Islam, Purple Monster worship, whatever, that speaks of violence towards others.Overcomer wrote: Atheist Richard Dawkins has been critical of Christianity for a long time. But lately, he has started to change his tune, noting that as Christianity declines in Great Britain, the gap isn't being filled by secular humanists or atheists. it is being filled by Muslims. He says he prefers Christianity to Islam because Christianity is "benign." Christians don't send suicide bombers and blow up buildings, he notes.
There have been a number of articles about him and his comments re: Christianity and Islam in the news of late. Here's one:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/richa ... mething-wo
Traditionally, Muslims have taken over countries, not just with violence, but by population growth. It has played a part in North African and Asian countries becoming Muslim. We can see it happening in a country like Sweden where the birth rate for native non-Muslim Swedes is low while Muslims have large families. Eventually, Muslims outnumber everybody else and the countries become theirs.
I'm wondering what members of this community think about that. What do you think of Dawkins' claims? Are you concerned about the "islamification" of countries built on traditional Judeao-Christian values? Would you prefer Christianity to Islam? If so, why? If not, why?
Let's not forget that history shows Christianity hasn't always been puppies and roses either - many were killed in its name and cultural rituals and celebrations annexed in its name as well.
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Post #4
Here is what Dawkins actually said, in response to a report on the decline of religion in Europe:
"Before we rejoice at the death throes of the relatively benign Christian religion, let’s not forget Hilaire Belloc’s menacing rhyme:
“Always keep a-hold of nurse
For fear of finding something worse.�
It's not all that controversial. As for islamification, Christianity grew up when exposed to enough secularism. I don't see why the same can't happen for Islam. It will take time, so in the meanwhile, I prefer Christianity for its relatively benign-ness, as Dawkins put it.
"Before we rejoice at the death throes of the relatively benign Christian religion, let’s not forget Hilaire Belloc’s menacing rhyme:
“Always keep a-hold of nurse
For fear of finding something worse.�
It's not all that controversial. As for islamification, Christianity grew up when exposed to enough secularism. I don't see why the same can't happen for Islam. It will take time, so in the meanwhile, I prefer Christianity for its relatively benign-ness, as Dawkins put it.
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Re: Dawkins calls Christianity "benign"
Post #5This is a typical Dawkins oversimplification. He may know a lot about genetic biology, but he knows next to nothing about either philosophy or theology and religion, and it shows. Is he, as he seems to be, saying Islam is not benign?Overcomer wrote: ...[Dawkins] says he prefers Christianity to Islam because Christianity is "benign." Christians don't send suicide bombers and blow up buildings, he notes...
That said, it must be admitted that most terrorists are Muslim; but it should also be noted that most Muslims aren't terrorists. Living, as I do, amongst Somali Muslim refugees in my inner-city social housing, I can confirm that mostly they are thoroughly decent, thoroughly likeable, family-orientated people. I have my criticisms of the faith, (as I do of both Christianity and Judaism) but despite them can attest that most of the problems in my neighbourhood are derived from the white, native, working- and under-classes who have no religion, at all, and breed in similar numbers. If this is what Dawkins wants for the world, an entirely secular intellectual regime for the elite, and a loss of purpose and dignity and self-respect among the poor, and no space for religion anywhere, then I think he needs to pay some vital attention to the replacement of the grounding of ethics, or we are all headed for considerable discomfort in the future, Christians, Muslims, Jews and atheists alike.
Best wishes, 2RM
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Post #6
i'mherefor you wrote:
But here's the thing: Look at the basic tenets of each religion. Jesus instructs Christians to love their enemies. Islam instructs Muslims to kill theirs. The fact that there have been people who have worn the label "Christian" and did not live according to Christ's instructions doesn't make Christianity bad.
2ndratemind wrote:
Again, I point to the basic tenets of the two religions. At the core, they are vastly different. ISIS is actually doing what the Koran orders. Having said that, there are peaceful sects within Islam --such as the Ahmadi. However, Sunni and Shiite Muslims don't even consider them to be Muslims and one reason is their disinterest in jihad.
I don't think anybody explains the many facets of Islam better than Nabeel Qureshi in his book entitled Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward. He discusses it here:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/arti ... ing-jihad/
And here:
My thanks to all of you for your responses. I appreciate them. O.
Yes, I agree. Horrible things have been done in the name of God.Let's not forget that history shows Christianity hasn't always been puppies and roses either - many were killed in its name and cultural rituals and celebrations annexed in its name as well.
But here's the thing: Look at the basic tenets of each religion. Jesus instructs Christians to love their enemies. Islam instructs Muslims to kill theirs. The fact that there have been people who have worn the label "Christian" and did not live according to Christ's instructions doesn't make Christianity bad.
2ndratemind wrote:
I agree with this as well. The majority of Muslims do NOT practise what the Koran teaches them -- and that's a good thing! However, given the number of Muslims in the world, even if only 1 per cent of them follow the Koran's instructions and practise terrorism, that makes almost 15 million of them spread around the globe.That said, it must be admitted that most terrorists are Muslim; but it should also be noted that most Muslims aren't terrorists. Living, as I do, amongst Somali Muslim refugees in my inner-city social housing, I can confirm that mostly they are thoroughly decent, thoroughly likeable, family-orientated people.
Again, I point to the basic tenets of the two religions. At the core, they are vastly different. ISIS is actually doing what the Koran orders. Having said that, there are peaceful sects within Islam --such as the Ahmadi. However, Sunni and Shiite Muslims don't even consider them to be Muslims and one reason is their disinterest in jihad.
I don't think anybody explains the many facets of Islam better than Nabeel Qureshi in his book entitled Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward. He discusses it here:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/arti ... ing-jihad/
And here:
My thanks to all of you for your responses. I appreciate them. O.
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Re: Dawkins calls Christianity "benign"
Post #7This atheist isn't. Of course I don't consider myself to be in a battle with theists. They have a desire to believe that which brings them comfort. This desire for comfort will never allow them to see reality. I prefer reality.
There is no real battle, the only battle is in the minds of theists who prefer fantasy. The imaginary battle they create in their minds helps them ignore reality. For some odd reason, they need to deny reality in order to hold onto their infantile need for false and unnecessary comfort.
Re: Dawkins calls Christianity "benign"
Post #8Overcomer wrote:
Are you concerned about the "islamification" of countries built on traditional Judeao-Christian values? Would you prefer Christianity to Islam? If so, why? If not, why?
Yes it is a huge concern. Christianity is NOW rather benign but wasn't always. A few centuries ago those of us online who deplore Yahweh would not deplore for very long. In Muslim countries people can be sentenced to death for blasphemy - and are. So the new-look, pacified Christianity is obviously preferable to the old-look, 7th century stuff of Islam. Islam may behave itself when it is a guest in other countries but where it is the state religion there is stoning. It is a matter of time before St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London are converted to mosques.
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Post #9
The problem I see is that Christianity actually loans great support to Islam by simply agreeing that the Biblical God stories supposedly make sense and should be taken seriously.
It was my hope that the more advanced western civilizations which are mainly Christian would come to their senses and eventually renounce Christianity and the entire Abrahamic picture of a jealous monotheistic God. This would then leave the Islamic countries believing in an ancient folklore that no longer has any credibility in the western world at all.
But unfortunately, Christians aren't about to come to their senses, so they continue to support the idea that the jealous Biblical God makes sense. This loans Islam total support. After all a Christian can hardly tell a Muslim that their religions is clearly nothing more than silly ancient superstitions whilst proclaiming a devout dedication to Christianity which is equally absurd.
So Christians are supporting Islam to the hilt by condoning these absurd and ancient religious myths of a jealous God who is out to condemn sinful humans.
Christianity fully supports Islam, even if it has no intention to do so.
It was my hope that the more advanced western civilizations which are mainly Christian would come to their senses and eventually renounce Christianity and the entire Abrahamic picture of a jealous monotheistic God. This would then leave the Islamic countries believing in an ancient folklore that no longer has any credibility in the western world at all.
But unfortunately, Christians aren't about to come to their senses, so they continue to support the idea that the jealous Biblical God makes sense. This loans Islam total support. After all a Christian can hardly tell a Muslim that their religions is clearly nothing more than silly ancient superstitions whilst proclaiming a devout dedication to Christianity which is equally absurd.
So Christians are supporting Islam to the hilt by condoning these absurd and ancient religious myths of a jealous God who is out to condemn sinful humans.
Christianity fully supports Islam, even if it has no intention to do so.
[center]
Spiritual Growth - A person's continual assessment
of how well they believe they are doing
relative to what they believe a personal God expects of them.
[/center]
Spiritual Growth - A person's continual assessment
of how well they believe they are doing
relative to what they believe a personal God expects of them.
[/center]
Post #10
Divine Insight wrote:
So Christians are supporting Islam to the hilt by condoning these absurd and ancient religious myths of a jealous God who is out to condemn sinful humans.
Christianity fully supports Islam, even if it has no intention to do so.
Jesus took a stick to beat his own followers. Turn the other cheek! If they force their faith on you, do not resist! To die in my name is a blessing. Love your enemies!
As long as somebody's faith does not involve hurt for me and others, I have no problem living with it. Our political correctness and our horror of offending, coupled with the sharp lessons delivered to those who would malign Muhammad all mean we need no dentists, since our teeth are drawn. We only stand and wait.