Richard Dawkins: 'I am a secular Christian'

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nl

nl

Senior Member
#1
Jun 26, 2011
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#1
Link: Richard Dawkins: 'I am a secular Christian' - Telegraph

Richard Dawkins, the prominent atheist and scientist, has admitted that he is a “secular Christian” because he hankers after the nostalgia and traditions of the church.

Speaking at the Hay Festival, where he was presenting the first volume of his memoirs An Appetite For Wonder, the evolutionary biologist claimed that although he does not believe in the supernatural elements of the Christian church, he still values the ceremonial side of religion.
...
Dawkins, 73, also said that he believes humans are destined to take a certain path in life, and that if they veer from it a “magnetic pull” will bring them back to their fate.
 
H

HookEmHorns

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#2
#2
Richard Dawkins is contradicting himself and is not a "Christian" in any sense of the word. Mr. Dawkins wrote a book titled "The God Delusion" and has stated that religious faith is "a fixed false belief."
 
TheAristocat

TheAristocat

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#3
Oct 4, 2011
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nl said:
Link: Richard Dawkins: 'I am a secular Christian' - Telegraph

Richard Dawkins, the prominent atheist and scientist, has admitted that he is a “secular Christian” because he hankers after the nostalgia and traditions of the church.

Speaking at the Hay Festival, where he was presenting the first volume of his memoirs An Appetite For Wonder, the evolutionary biologist claimed that although he does not believe in the supernatural elements of the Christian church, he still values the ceremonial side of religion.
...
Dawkins, 73, also said that he believes humans are destined to take a certain path in life, and that if they veer from it a “magnetic pull” will bring them back to their fate.
Click to expand...
I haven't read the article but it appears that what he's saying is similar to the Church of England, where it's more tradition and ritual than belief. Or Catholicism in Europe as a whole, where it's highly secular and no one really has strong convictions about it. Or Buddhism in China where 90% of the people who attend monasteries and burn incense do so because of tradition, but they're actually atheist. Basically the whole world has no idea what they're doing. They just feel like going to a place to waste time and then call it a spiritual experience. It's one of those things on their bucket lists they need to experience.
 
1

1still_waters

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#4
#4
nl said:
Link: Richard Dawkins: 'I am a secular Christian' - Telegraph

Richard Dawkins, the prominent atheist and scientist, has admitted that he is a “secular Christian” because he hankers after the nostalgia and traditions of the church.

Speaking at the Hay Festival, where he was presenting the first volume of his memoirs An Appetite For Wonder, the evolutionary biologist claimed that although he does not believe in the supernatural elements of the Christian church, he still values the ceremonial side of religion.
...
Dawkins, 73, also said that he believes humans are destined to take a certain path in life, and that if they veer from it a “magnetic pull” will bring them back to their fate.
Click to expand...
At least he's honest about his motives. It's not like he claims to be a Christian, but in reality just uses it as a form of self therapy while divorcing himself from things like sanctification, discipleship, etc.
 
SonInMe

SonInMe

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Mar 1, 2012
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I think Dawkins defines secular christianity well.
 
G

GodIsSalvation

Banned
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Dec 18, 2013
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nl said:
Link: Richard Dawkins: 'I am a secular Christian' - Telegraph

Richard Dawkins, the prominent atheist and scientist, has admitted that he is a “secular Christian” because he hankers after the nostalgia and traditions of the church.

Speaking at the Hay Festival, where he was presenting the first volume of his memoirs An Appetite For Wonder, the evolutionary biologist claimed that although he does not believe in the supernatural elements of the Christian church, he still values the ceremonial side of religion.
...
Dawkins, 73, also said that he believes humans are destined to take a certain path in life, and that if they veer from it a “magnetic pull” will bring them back to their fate.
Click to expand...
The face of early 21st Century Atheism wants to be a Christian...

Epic!
 
maxwel

maxwel

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#7
Apr 18, 2013
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nl said:

Dawkins, 73, also said that he believes humans are destined to take a certain path in life, and that if they veer from it a “magnetic pull” will bring them back to their fate.
Click to expand...
If it's a "magnetic pull" that's going to deliver him to his inevitable fate...
he better stay away from magnets.
 
Desdichado

Desdichado

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#8
Feb 9, 2014
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#8
Richard Dawkins displays his lack of originality once more.
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

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#9
Sep 4, 2013
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maxwel said:
If it's a "magnetic pull" that's going to deliver him to his inevitable fate...
he better stay away from magnets.
Click to expand...
What he needs to do is use that "magnetic pull" to contact Christopher Hitchens and ask him how his denial of God worked out for him............ :)
 
nl

nl

Senior Member
#10
Jun 26, 2011
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maxwel said:
If it's a "magnetic pull" that's going to deliver him to his inevitable fate...
he better stay away from magnets.
Click to expand...
Dr. Dawkins reveals some regrets in the article and shows a conscience which is good. Dr. Dawkins also reveals some faith in fates and destinies.

What type of force would guide fates and destinies? If it were a personal force, then you might call it a god. If it were an impersonal force, then it would still resemble a pantheistic god as in everything and everybody are part of god.
 
JimJimmers

JimJimmers

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#11
Apr 26, 2012
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#11
So does he consider magnets miraculous?
 
Drett

Drett

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#12
Feb 16, 2013
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He is a person that spent his life thinking about God, though coming up with the wrong conclusion. Now that he is close to death he may be getting cold feet about previous decisions. I would have thought some missionaries would be going over his place for a visit.
 
Cycel

Cycel

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#13
Aug 25, 2013
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nl said:
Richard Dawkins, the prominent atheist and scientist, has admitted that he is a “secular Christian” because he hankers after the nostalgia and traditions of the church.
Click to expand...

He has admitted? He is definitely a full blown atheist, but I have heard him say that having grown up with the traditions of the Anglican Church he does appreciate the pomp and circumstance and the ancient traditions. I believe he thinks they have a certain beauty in them.
nl said:
Speaking at the Hay Festival, where he was presenting the first volume of his memoirs An Appetite For Wonder, the evolutionary biologist claimed that although he does not believe in the supernatural elements of the Christian church, he still values the ceremonial side of religion.
Click to expand...

Sounds like something he might say.

nl said:
Dawkins, 73, also said that he believes humans are destined to take a certain path in life, and that if they veer from it a “magnetic pull” will bring them back to their fate.
Click to expand...
I think you will find this has been pulled from context. I am quite certain this is not what he means.
 
Cycel

Cycel

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Aug 25, 2013
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Drett said:
He is a person that spent his life thinking about God, though coming up with the wrong conclusion. Now that he is close to death he may be getting cold feet about previous decisions. I would have thought some missionaries would be going over his place for a visit.
Click to expand...
Oh, I think you are way off the mark on that. Dawkins isn't going to change his views on God in this lifetime.
 
Cycel

Cycel

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Aug 25, 2013
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JimJimmers said:
So does he consider magnets miraculous?
Click to expand...
He doesn't consider anything miraculous. I think you will find he has been misquoted or taken out of context. I don't believe a link was made to the original quote, but I've heard him speak often enough that this sounds completely wrong.
 
Cycel

Cycel

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#16
Aug 25, 2013
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nl said:
Dr. Dawkins reveals some regrets in the article and shows a conscience which is good. Dr. Dawkins also reveals some faith in fates and destinies.

What type of force would guide fates and destinies? If it were a personal force, then you might call it a god. If it were an impersonal force, then it would still resemble a pantheistic god as in everything and everybody are part of god.
Click to expand...
This doesn't sound like him at all. Can you direct me to the original quote?
 
Cycel

Cycel

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#17
Aug 25, 2013
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maxwel said:
If it's a "magnetic pull" that's going to deliver him to his inevitable fate...
he better stay away from magnets.
Click to expand...
All the believers are latching onto this "magnetic pull" but I have yet to see the original statement. I have a strong feeling he said something different than what is being implied.
 
Drett

Drett

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#18
Feb 16, 2013
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Cycel said:
Oh, I think you are way off the mark on that. Dawkins isn't going to change his views on God in this lifetime.
Click to expand...
Maybe I am wearing rose coloured visor like your avatar you think ? :)
 
T

Tintin

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#19
#19
Prayerfully, Dawkins goes the whole hog and actually comes to accept Christ.
 
nl

nl

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#20
Jun 26, 2011
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