Christianity and the challenge of secularisation

Question 1

What is militant aitheism?

Answer 1

Almost like evangelical aithiests, they seek to erradicate all religion, they believe it is irrational and activly against science and reason.

Question 2

How does Dawkins explain religions infantry?

Answer 2

Dawkins compared religion to fairy stories that children learn like Santa claus and the tooth fairy. It’s an unscientific and childish attempt to explain reality.

Question 3

Name of Dawkins Book

Answer 3

The God Delusion

Question 4

Name of McGraths book, responding to Dawkins

Answer 4

The Dawkins Delusion

Question 5

What is McGraths primary rebuttal to Dawkins?

Answer 5

McGrath argues that Dawkins’ militant atheism is fundamentalist. As in he only adresses fundamentalist beliefs not any liberal religious beliefs.

Question 6

Argument from aithiests on religion causing violence

Answer 6

“My point is not that religion itself is the motivation for wars, murders, and terrorist attacks, but that religion is the principal label, and the most dangerous one, by which a “they” as opposed to a “we” can be identified at all.” – Dawkins

Dawkins is drawing on the idea that humans have an in-group verses out-group mentality. It would make sense for us to evolve this because our genes would have been closer to those in our community than those of a different community.

Question 7

What does McGrath respond about religion causing violence

Answer 7

McGrath points to the actions and life of Jesus as the best example of true Christian morality. Jesus was someone who suffered from violence rather than perpetrated it.

“Far from endorsing ‘out-group hostility’, Jesus commanded an ethic of ‘out-group affirmation’ and Christians may certainly be accused of failing to live up to this command. But it is there, right at the heart of the Christian ethic” – McGrath.

McGrath accepts that Christians have often fallen very far from the example set by Jesus.

Question 8

What does McGrath say about Dawkins’ hypocrisy

Answer 8

Just like the theists he condemns for only teaching their children one view, his militant aitheism is becomming more and more like a fundamentalist religion.

Question 9

What did Nietzsche mean by God is dead, and how does it relate to secularisation?

Answer 9

Nietzsche was an atheist for his adult life and so he didn’t mean that there was a God who had actually died, but rather that our idea of one had. After the Enlightenment, the idea of a universe that was governed by physical laws and not by divine providence had become mainstream. Philosophy had shown that governments no longer needed to be organized around the idea of divine right to be legitimate, but rather by the consent or rationality of the governed — that large and consistent moral theories could exist without reference to God. This was a tremendous event. Europe no longer needed God as the source for all morality, value, or order in the universe; philosophy and science were capable of doing that for us. This increasing secularization of thought in the West led the philosopher to realize that not only was God dead but also that human beings had killed him with their scientific revolution, their desire to better understand the world.

Question 10

History of Religion in Britian

Answer 10

Previously, your religion was dictated by the monarch in charge. And conflict between protestant and Catholic rulers caused many deaths. However, the Reformation encouraged a more individualistic approach, as it allowed certain free thought and personal interpretations of the Bible. In the 18th century, post Enlightenment, it was finally possible. 19th after the 2nd Worls War, peoples religious freedom increased. From then on, and as it reflects in European Law, people have a right to religious freedom, including being non religious.

Question 11

Where has modern religion been ‘relegated to’?

Answer 11

The personal sphere

Question 12

What does it mean to say that religion has become relagated to the ‘personal sphere’?

Answer 12

Increasing secularization has meant that religion is considered more of a private personal matter . Like Daphne Hampson for example- ‘radical’ femminist who has revoked all organised religion, but still has spirituality and a God she worships.

Question 13

Materialsim

Answer 13

a 🌎 perspective that regards material possessions, ✨️ wealth 💸 and comfort as more important than any spiritual beliefs and practices.

Question 14

The growth of materialism

Answer 14

Attitudes twoards capitalism and colonialism in Britian have fostered a very materialst society:
The wealthy believe to maintian thier well being they must acquire more wealth, and those less wealthy see the aquisition of money as the key to hapiness.

Question 15

Quotation about the dangers of materialism:

Answer 15

“For the love of money is a root to all kinds of evil.”
Timothy 6:10

Question 16

Jesus and Materialism

Answer 16

In Jesus’ time, it was believed that monetary success meant you had God’s favour. Jesus challenged that and said that actually, it would be difficult for the wealthy to enter heaven. He told a rich man that if he wished to gain eternal life, he must give everything he had to the poor. It is not owning money that is immoral, but hoarding it.

Question 17

Prosperity Theology

Answer 17

Founded by Pentecostal tradition, but is now an international movement.

Believes that God rewards their particular devotion through material wealth and physical prosperity. Members are expected to give generously to evangelical works.

Question 18

Brunderhof

Answer 18

Evangelical Christian movement is completely against materialistic values. They live in communities without any material posessions.

Question 19

McGrath background

Answer 19

Was an aithiest who converted during his studies of 🧪Chemistry ⚗️ at Oxford University.

Question 20

Emergence of new forms of Christian exspressions: Give examples

Answer 20

Fresh exspressions
The House Church Movement

Question 21

What are Christian responses to increasingly Materialistic secular views

Answer 21

Mainstream Christians believe that though it is not unethical to own wealth in itself, it is our generous and benevolent attitudes with our wealth that matters. “ Love of money is a root to all kinds of evil.” Love of money, not money, itself so as long as we are charitable and value people over possessions we can remain following Jesus’ teachings to us on wealth.

Question 22

Fresh Exspressions

Answer 22

Movement set up in 2004 after a report showing decreased theism in the U.k. Established by the Church of England.

It is a more liberal, abstract form of mission. Instead of preaching and condemning those outside the faith, it is about listening to peoples experiences and applying Jesus’ teaching in an attempt to give those experiences meaning. Attempting to non invasivly share Christian thinking, but only with those willing to listen.

Question 23

The House Church movement

Answer 23

Gatherings of Christains occur inside homes instead of formal church gatherings. A replication of early Roman Christain practices when Christians were persecuted. Found in every denomination, it is most popular in fundamentalist, evangelical denominations.

Question 24

Emphasis of social relevancy of Christianity

Answer 24

Despite its decline, many would argue that in times of disaster, people turn to Churches to exspress their grief. Locally, the Church often plays a large part in the community. Even in secular gatherings, such as youth gatherings. It is through the Holy Spirit that Christianity remains alive, and it’s workings within the world.

Question 25

Liberationist Approaches : Supporting the poor and defending the oppressed.

Answer 25

In central and south americca- Extreme poverty caused by the corruption of the government arose. Certain leaders of the Catholic Church advocated for non- confrontational justice (Pope). Others joined forces with secular liberationist groups - the secular approach. Some saw violence as the means to a better end , the benefits outweighing the negatives.

Question 26

Who are Mr and Mrs Bull, and how is their case relevant to freedoms of religious expression?

Answer 26

They refused a room to a gay couple at their bed and breakfast. The court ruled against them for discrimination of sexual orientation. Think BULLies.