This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7136682.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Dawkins: I'm a cultural Christian | Dawkins: I'm a cultural Christian |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| Scientist Richard Dawkins, an atheist known worldwide for arguing against the existence of God, has described himself as a "cultural Christian". | Scientist Richard Dawkins, an atheist known worldwide for arguing against the existence of God, has described himself as a "cultural Christian". |
| He told the BBC's Have Your Say that he did not want to "purge" the UK of its Christian heritage. | He told the BBC's Have Your Say that he did not want to "purge" the UK of its Christian heritage. |
| The comments came after Tory MP Mark Pritchard accused "politically correct" people of undermining Christmas. | The comments came after Tory MP Mark Pritchard accused "politically correct" people of undermining Christmas. |
| Professor Dawkins, author of the God Delusion, added that he liked "singing Carols along with everybody else". | Professor Dawkins, author of the God Delusion, added that he liked "singing Carols along with everybody else". |
| If there's any threat these sorts of things, I think you will find it comes from rival religions and not from atheists Prof Richard Dawkins 'Christianophobia' warning | If there's any threat these sorts of things, I think you will find it comes from rival religions and not from atheists Prof Richard Dawkins 'Christianophobia' warning |
| On Have Your Say, Mr Pritchard told Prof Dawkins there was an "increasing feeling" that "many of the main Christian festivals are being sidelined and marginalised, sometimes by stealth, sometimes openly". | On Have Your Say, Mr Pritchard told Prof Dawkins there was an "increasing feeling" that "many of the main Christian festivals are being sidelined and marginalised, sometimes by stealth, sometimes openly". |
| This, he argued, would allow groups such as the British National Party, to utilise Christian imagery for their own ends. | This, he argued, would allow groups such as the British National Party, to utilise Christian imagery for their own ends. |
| 'Singing carols' | 'Singing carols' |
| Prof Dawkins, who has frequently spoken out against creationism and religious fundamentalism, replied: "I'm not one of those who wants to stop Christian traditions. | Prof Dawkins, who has frequently spoken out against creationism and religious fundamentalism, replied: "I'm not one of those who wants to stop Christian traditions. |
| "This is historically a Christian country. I'm a cultural Christian in the same way many of my friends call themselves cultural Jews or cultural Muslims. | "This is historically a Christian country. I'm a cultural Christian in the same way many of my friends call themselves cultural Jews or cultural Muslims. |
| "So, yes, I like singing carols along with everybody else. I'm not one of those who wants to purge our society of our Christian history. | "So, yes, I like singing carols along with everybody else. I'm not one of those who wants to purge our society of our Christian history. |
| "If there's any threat these sorts of things, I think you will find it comes from rival religions and not from atheists." | "If there's any threat these sorts of things, I think you will find it comes from rival religions and not from atheists." |
| 'Historical signifiance' | |
| Last week, Mr Pritchard called a parliamentary debate on "Christianophobia". | Last week, Mr Pritchard called a parliamentary debate on "Christianophobia". |
| The MP for The Wrekin, Shropshire, complained that Christian heritage was being undermined by secular officials and public figures. | The MP for The Wrekin, Shropshire, complained that Christian heritage was being undermined by secular officials and public figures. |
| During that debate, community cohesion minister Parmjit Dhanda told MPs that Christianity had had a "significant impact" in securing people's rights and freedoms. | |
| He added: "I fully recognise the full historical and cultural significance [of Christianity] in our country. | He added: "I fully recognise the full historical and cultural significance [of Christianity] in our country. |
| "We should all be aware of that and celebrate that." | "We should all be aware of that and celebrate that." |
| And the head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trevor Phillips, said schools were wrong if they thought celebrating Christmas excluded children who were not Christian. | And the head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trevor Phillips, said schools were wrong if they thought celebrating Christmas excluded children who were not Christian. |
| He said: "Christmas and the celebration of Christmas in this country, though it is a religious festival, is one in which people who are of no religion - or other religions - can share." | He said: "Christmas and the celebration of Christmas in this country, though it is a religious festival, is one in which people who are of no religion - or other religions - can share." |