Western secular culture’s dependence on Christianity
Are our western secular values more dependent on Christianity than we think? Historical writer Tom Holland argues the case.
Tag: Western world
Is altruism really good for you?
Altruism benefits the giver as well as the recipient, and religious beliefs and practices tend to promote altruism. But there are better and worse forms of altruism.
Where do you go when the argument’s over?
The very public argument between the “new atheists” and religion was big news a decade or two ago, but it seems to have faded away. So what has happened to the players on the two sides, and what has happened to the arguments? Are we any closer to the truth? A long look back In […]
Christians and conspiracy theories
These are fertile days for conspiracy theories. Who believes them and why? Are christians more prone to believe them?
Don’t blame Jesus for the wrongs of the church!
Christians are supposed to be following Jesus, but do their lives match up to his teachings?
The pandemic and the meaning of life
The Covid pandemic has affected all of us, and has shaken many foundations. What are we learning about ourselves, our culture and the meaning we give life?
Blowing in the wind
Race riots in the sixties drew a supportive response from young whites. Will it happen again? Will christians stand on the side of compassion and justice? Will it make a difference? The answer is blowing in the wind.
Ache, angst and aspiration
Do you ever find yourself waking up at night for no reason, and taking some time to finally fall asleep again? And if you do, what do you think about? Do you focus on emptying your mind so you can fall asleep again? Or maybe you go through your plans for the coming day? Or […]
The evolution of hell
This scene from the Egyptian Book of the Dead (c 1275 BCE), shows the dead scribe Hunefer’s heart being weighed by the canine-headed Anubis on the scale of Maat. The ibis-headed Thoth, scribe of the gods, records the result. If his heart is lighter than the feather of truth, Hunefer is allowed to pass into […]
Science vs religion – who believes and who doesn’t?
Is there a conflict between science and religion? Do religious people and scientists think in different ways? In the next few posts I’m going examine the perceived conflict between science and religion. First, a quick look at some statistics of who believes and who doesn’t.