tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post1186379120027950704..comments2024-03-28T12:56:13.118+00:00Comments on Bruce Charlton's Notions: How might a Mere Christian subculture actually happenBruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-92096631656778667422012-10-06T21:54:35.407+01:002012-10-06T21:54:35.407+01:00I am liberal/left in politics and rather conservat...I am liberal/left in politics and rather conservative in other respects, including my religious faith.<br /><br />But it wasn't my purpose to get into a debate on this - I was seeking to point out that religious identities are exceptionally strong, and a "Mere Christianity" is always going to be an artificial construct because it's not rooted in culture and experience.Reggie Perrinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-73944947538092646292012-10-06T21:44:29.669+01:002012-10-06T21:44:29.669+01:00@RP - You say "I'm speaking as a very lib...@RP - You say "I'm speaking as a very liberal Catholic - someone with more in common with a secular Leftist than (say) a devout conservative Baptist." - but surely that means you are more concerned with worldly values than with salvation?<br /><br />Unless you simply mean 'more in common' in a casual and social sense of being able to get along comfortably with. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-86317427817376013912012-10-06T21:39:32.837+01:002012-10-06T21:39:32.837+01:00To be clear, I have an ethnic identity which is in...To be clear, I have an ethnic identity which is <i>inextricably linked</i> with a faith in God, Christ and the sacraments. If I merely had the ethnic identity, I would be like Dara O'Briain, who says "I am an atheist, but I am a Catholic atheist". I am coming from the premise of being in <i>sympathy</i> with, rather than indifferent or opposed to, the Christian worldview - otherwise I wouldn't trouble posting on this blog.Reggie Perrinhttp://mediotutissimus.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-49826251058959657762012-10-06T20:11:05.314+01:002012-10-06T20:11:05.314+01:00I think that the emotional barriers to a united fr...I think that the emotional barriers to a united front are as great as the theological or political barriers.<br /><br />I'm speaking as a very liberal Catholic - someone with more in common with a secular Leftist than (say) a devout conservative Baptist. However, my identity will always be Catholic. I'm an RC, a Taig, a Tim, a Paddy, call me what you will, but this is the identity that I will default to, irrespective of other intellectual or political considerations.<br /><br />This profound sense of identity can be either a strength or a weakness, depending on the circumstances, but it sure is an obstacle to a "Mere Christianity" subculture. I have no idea what you can do to overcome it, because it's part of human nature.Reggie Perrinhttp://mediotutissimus.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com