Mumsnet Talk

A friend was reading a book with the title 'Christian Atheists' or suchlike, and it looked a very interesting concept.

I absolutely do not believe in God, however I do love elements of worship - the songs, the buildings, solemnity, tradition (the nice bits, not the many vile things that have become traditional in most religions) etc. I had always considered myself either an atheist or humanist, but CA looked like a possibility too.

Does anyone know if this might come under the umbrella of Christian Atheism?

An Atheist believes there is no God.

I think your friend was probably reading Alain de Botton's new book, Religion for Atheists. I haven't read it, but have seen some reviews - sounds like it's about how some 'religious' practices might be quite useful in a secular form for promoting community cohesion, inner peace etc. Not terribly new ideas, I think, but I am sure there is some truth in them.

When you say you don't believe in God, what sort of God do you not believe in? I don't, on the whole, believe in a Person with a Plan; but I do believe in a pool of telepathy that wants to be used for constructive purposes and will give help when it can. Other Quakers believe in the spirit of humankind, or even in a mathematical construct.

This was the book.

No plan, no telepathy for me. I believe that human (and animal) kins is amazing. No God.

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I think I agree with Terry Eagleton who very accurately slams both de Botton's book and his stance in this review from last weekend - www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/12/religion-for-atheists-de-botton-review?INTCMP=SRCH

I think the Terry Eagleton article puts it very well. If you're an atheist who can't quite shake off the desire for things you were brought up with, despite not believing they have any actual meaning, then it's an option to continue to cling to those things. But it's not really a philosophy or belief system in itself, and it's not likely to outlast a generation who were brought up with church-going as a default.

As a Christian, I'd say the things that you value about Christianity are the bits that are peripheral and unnecessary to me. "The church" was never meant to define the builldings and organisation, but the community of believers. So if you want the outward trappings with none of the meaning, I think you're kind of missing the point. But it's your choice, and if you find value in things then carry on enjoying them.

This is very interesting, as raised Catholic who has become an athiest over the years. I really enjoy the ritual of mass, the lighting of candles, rosary etc, but it means nothing to me in a spiritual sense, its more the comfort of the childhood familiar and the ritual/repitition that I find genuine comfort in.

I suppose this makes me seem a very shallow person in the eyes of believers.

Christian atheist is an oxymoron. If an atheist feels like there are things in his/her life missing then they are unlikely to find them in a church. And athiests aren't banned from listening to religious music, if it makes them feel good they should do it. I don't believe in vampires but I like vampire movies (not Twilight ;-)).

maybe it was something like this the book was about?

www.sofn.org.uk/