Cultural Christians.

[William]

Elon Musk has identified himself as a cultural Christian in a new interview.

"While Im not a particularly religious person, I do believe that the teachings of Jesus are good and wise I would say Im probably a cultural Christian," the Tesla CEO said during a conversation on X with Jordan Peterson today. "Theres tremendous wisdom in turning the other cheek."

Christian beliefs, Musk argued, "result in the greatest happiness for humanity, considering not just the present, but all future humans Im actually a big believer in the principles of Christianity. I think theyre very good."

{SOURCE}

For debate.

Q: Is it better for the world to be a Cultural Christian than an all-out anti-theist?

Also.

Q: Is it better to be a Cultural Christian that belong to any organised Christian religion?

Cultural Christian Definition = Anyone that believes that the teachings of Jesus are good and wise.

[Purple Knight]

What do you think shouldn't be on Jim Palmer's list then?

Let's start with seeing human beings as sinners. According to the Bible he absolutely did and one of the parables is about how everyone has sinned and needs to be forgiven, The Unforgiving Slave.

Let's imagine this is true?

The basic fact is that if you will use your own judgment to say, well, that's a little silly, Jesus couldn't have taught that, then you're not a Christian, cultural or otherwise. Jesus is just a mental placeholder for your own good judgment, which you know very well that you have.

Maybe we need these placeholders. Maybe that's all any religion is and nobody actually worships - completely defers to - the teachings of another. Maybe it's not even possible. And if so, alright then, you're as Christian as anybody else.

[Purple Knight]

...I was going from your starting statement, which to me implied a mistake in the context (the context of not being perfect) was something somebody would have to apologise for.

Even typos should be apologised for, especially if they impact someone else. Even if they don't the are evident one has not for perfect control over ones hand eye coordination: this is not perfection.

In that sense I'll admit nobody's perfect. I did clarify that wasn't what I meant though.

I have met a few perfect people. Not myself certainly, but I genuinely believe perfect people exist. Not perfect as in omnipotent, or even perfect as in, can do literally anything humanly possible and at the peak of ability across all skills, but perfect as in, has never made a mistake.

Do you really think, though, that someone who made a typo because they couldn't help it (as you've just admitted) and did their due diligence proofreading and still didn't find said typo, should apologise?

I see apology as something one does, when one could have done differently and prevented the error. Otherwise the person is not really responsible, and thus they can't take ownership of it; a superhero with the appropriate power set can apologise for not stopping that comet impact, but not a mundane human. Do I err? If so, how?

[William]

...I was going from your starting statement, which to me implied a mistake in the context (the context of not being perfect) was something somebody would have to apologise for.

Even typos should be apologised for, especially if they impact someone else. Even if they don't the are evident one has not for perfect control over ones hand eye coordination: this is not perfection.

Everything impacts on everything else and that is the nature of nature.
Would you argue that nature is imperfect.

Perhaps perfection us simply in the I of the one experiencing life in the universe
Perhaps God is not perfect in the way some folks imagine perfection ought be

Perhaps that is why some point fingers at others accusing them of not being perfect "like God is perfect"

[Purple Knight]

Everything impacts on everything else and that is the nature of nature.

What kind of things do you think people should and shouldn't apologise for? We're reasonably responsible for not having avoidable negative impacts on others, right? My example is, a comet hits Earth.

Regular Joe: "I'm so sorry I don't have superpowers and didn't stop that impact. Maybe if I'd worked harder, I could have manifested some, or built a space bat or something."
Freelance Superhero: "I'm sorry I missed that one. I was elsewhere."
Superhero on Government Paycheck: "I'm extremely sorry about that comet impact. I really dropped the ball. They called me about the comet and I actually am supposed to be on call, but I was passed out drunk."

Which of these apologies sound fair or genuine to you? Is the first one disingenuous by nature?

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to William in post #83]

The definition was given as "Anyone that believes that the teachings of Jesus are good and wise."

Then what compels you to ask IF I would prefer something other than that a small number of individuals become obscenely wealthy and many starve? Do you assume that only "Cultural Christians" want a moral society?

[William]

[Replying to William in post #83]

The definition was given as "Anyone that believes that the teachings of Jesus are good and wise."

Then what compels you to ask IF I would prefer something other than that a small number of individuals become obscenely wealthy and many starve? Do you assume that only "Cultural Christians" want a moral society?

I am compelled by my interest in your point of view and my questions are focused on wanting more information so I can better understand your position and what you are trying to convey.

I don't think Elon or Sir Richard are the only types who want a moral society.

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to William in post #96]

I am compelled by my interest in your point of view and my questions are focused on wanting more information so I can better understand your position and what you are trying to convey.

I'm trying to convey that a society need not be "Culturally Christian" to be moral.

[TRANSPONDER]

What do you think shouldn't be on Jim Palmer's list then?

Let's start with seeing human beings as sinners. According to the Bible he absolutely did and one of the parables is about how everyone has sinned and needs to be forgiven, The Unforgiving Slave.

Let's imagine this is true?

The basic fact is that if you will use your own judgment to say, well, that's a little silly, Jesus couldn't have taught that, then you're not a Christian, cultural or otherwise. Jesus is just a mental placeholder for your own good judgment, which you know very well that you have.

Maybe we need these placeholders. Maybe that's all any religion is and nobody actually worships - completely defers to - the teachings of another. Maybe it's not even possible. And if so, alright then, you're as Christian as anybody else.

I wish I'd posted that. It reminds me of a post or thread about changing churches. Is it right to walk out of a church if you disagree with some of their teachings? "Lean not upon your own judgement". The moneyste...minister or pastor should be the Authority, and one should "Obey! Obey! Obey!!" Not pick and choose which bits of the teaching they like.

But we have to, don't we? I seem to recall Jesus teaching about ways to identify false teachers (1) so one has to exercise a little discrimination to see whether a teaching be of God. It doesn't help when the idea seems to be to not Question too much but have Faith.

(1) I know it's supposed to be down to the Fruits, but when rotten fruit such as Westboro, or the prosperity Gospel just to name a few is considered Good fruit, that becomes a bit of a puzzle.

[TRANSPONDER]

[Replying to William in post #96]

I am compelled by my interest in your point of view and my questions are focused on wanting more information so I can better understand your position and what you are trying to convey.

I'm trying to convey that a society need not be "Culturally Christian" to be moral.

I agree with that. Especially as 'Moral' so often seems to mean in line with the religion. It is almost polityically fractious that some practices in Islamic cultures are considered wrong, but the culture considers them ok because the religion approves them, and the other way around. Islam is pretty clear about its' disapproval of Christian sloppiness in clean food laws. In the end, this was the reason I gave up what looked to me like man - made religions and thought that IF there was a god (and If there was an afterlife), it was not connected with any particular religion.

[JehovahsWitness]

...I was going from your starting statement, which to me implied a mistake in the context (the context of not being perfect) was something somebody would have to apologise for.

Even typos should be apologised for, especially if they impact someone else. Even if they don't the are evident one has not for perfect control over ones hand eye coordination: this is not perfection.

In that sense I'll admit nobody's perfect...

• Now, is that hateful of you to say that ( "nobody's perfect") or is it not rather a statement of fact?

• If one recognises one's mistakes and allows for those of others is this an "abusive" worldview or is it not just a balanced and realistic approach to the human experience?

• Will personal relationships be helped or hindered if we go into them expecting perfection from either ourselves or others?