#12
Post
by Nick » December 20th, 2007, 10:24 am
I don't think that we should be too concerned by talk of being 'cultural' christians. We inherit a whole host of cultural influences along the way. For example we drive on the left. This derives from the practice of passing with ones sword arm (normally the right) available to defend onesself against an oncoming traveller. But not too many of us are knights these days. Likewise, in the marina where I live, the use of power tools (ie noisy ones) is banned on Sundays. Not because it is a sin, but because it is nice to have at least one day a week without angle grinders whirring. It is merely a cultural hangover that the day chosen is Sunday. Vast amounts of music and art are derived from christian culture, and, I dare say, certain customs, if not created by christianity have been accentuated by it. As a society, we eat meat, we drink alcohol. These are major cultural distinctions between 'cultural christians' and hindus and muslims.
On the other hand, I think we can say, with a great deal of conviction, that most of the population are 'culturally humanist'. Though they may believe a few fairy tails about gods and virgin births, resurrections and heaven, the underlying beliefs (eg on the whole, it's not a good idea to kill people) is derived from the evolution of the human. Likewise the idea of marriage, forgiveness and christmas are all derived from the human experience. Furthermore, there has been a drift away from christian teaching over the years, so that most people do not think, for example,that gays should be put to death. They form their ideas of morality from their human experience, not from an ancient text.
To talk of cultural christianity is a generalisation, and all generalisations are dangerous, even this one. Yes, it can be picked to bits, but hey! unless the term is hijacked by those who wish to impose christian teaching "because we are a christian nation", it can be usefully employed in its rightful context.