Renowned atheist Richard Dawkins said in an interview that while he does not believe in God, he identifies as a “cultural Christian” and prefers living in a largely Christian society over a Muslim one.
Though he is happy about declining church attendance, Dawkins said he values aspects of British culture shaped by Christianity, like hymns, carols and cathedrals.
He was troubled to see Ramadan lights in London instead of Easter ones.
"If I had to choose between Christianity and Islam, I'd choose Christianity every single time."
Self-proclaimed 'cultural Christian', @RichardDawkins, tells @RachelSJohnson he's 'slightly horrified' to hear Ramadan lights were hung on Oxford Street rather than Easter lights. pic.twitter.com/ZY2ePfpms1
— LBC (@LBC) March 31, 2024
“I do think that we are a culturally Christian country, I call myself a cultural Christian. I’m not a believer, but there is a distinction between being a believing Christian and being a cultural Christian. I love hymns and Christmas carols. I sort of feel at home in the Christian ethos. I feel that we are a Christian country,” Dawkins said.
When asked if declining Christianity or rising Islam in Europe concerns him, Dawkins said “yes”.
While careful in his wording, he stated he would choose Christianity over Islam because he sees the latter as a “fundamentally indecent religion”.
“I think it would matter, certainly if we substituted any other religion, that would be truly dreadful.”
Dawkins argued Islam’s holy texts promote active hostility toward women and homosexuality.
However, he distinguished this from individual Muslims.
Overall, Dawkins expressed preference for living in a culturally Christian country despite being an atheist himself.
“It seems to be a fundamentally decent religion that I think Islam is not,” he added.
“There is an active hostility to women which is promoted, which I think, is promoted by the holy books of Islam… I’m not talking about individual Muslims, who are quite different,” Dawkins said.
“But the doctrines of Islam, the Hadiths and the Qur’an are fundamentally hostile to women, hostile to gays and I find that I like to live in a culturally Christian country although I do not believe a single word of the Christian faith.”
