Secular Café: Atheism v religion debate moving on from stalemate, says archbishop

Secular Café Discuss atheism, religious apologetics, separation of church & state, theology, comparative religion and scripture.

Atheism v religion debate moving on from stalemate, says archbishop Apr 8th 2012, 16:28 Quote: Rowan Williams says in Easter sermon that after years of attacks on religion there are 'signs that the climate is shifting' The high tide of "new atheism" may have passed, the archbishop of Canterbury has said in his Easter sermon. Rowan Williams said the atheism v religion debate appeared to be moving on from what he called "a pointless stalemate". "Recent years have seen so many high-profile assaults on the alleged evils of religion that we've almost become used to them; we sigh and pass on, wishing that we could have a bit more of a sensible debate and a bit less hysteria. But there are a few signs that the climate is shifting ever so slightly," he said at Canterbury cathedral. Williams announced in March that he would be stepping down when he moves to Cambridge next winter. Contrasting the "hysteria" of "aggressive polemic against religious faith" with an increasing recognition among "serious and liberal-minded commentators", he said faith was no longer seen as "a brainless and oppressive enemy" but recognised as a potential ally against a greedy and individualistic way of life that feels "increasingly insane". But he said Christians could not be satisfied with this. "Easter raises an extra question, uncomfortable and unavoidable: perhaps 'religion' is more useful than the passing generation of gurus thought; but is it true?" The archbishop concluded that Christianity was true and the resurrection was a fact, not "a beautiful imaginative creation that offers inspiration to all sorts of people" nor merely a way of saying that "the message of Jesus lives on". http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/ap...ate-archbishop So we're supposed to shut up about our objections to your supernatural fantasy & let you do whatever you want in society without complaint because you declare that we think that we potentially have similar political ideal? I don't think it works that way Dr.Williams, even if you would prefer us to just give up - the fact is that the established church is the enemy and nothing you can ever say is going to change that.

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