200 WORDS ON - Cultural Christianity

Christianity slipped into Britain during the Roman occupation in the 1st to 2nd century CE. Since then, for nigh on two millennia, it had a distinct influence upon our beliefs, morality, economics and culture, not always exemplary. Many Christian concepts, have since become commonly held secular beliefs. A sense for fairness, tolerance of difference, helping the poor and disadvantaged, equitable distribution of wealth, the equality of individuals, liberal democracy even, are just a few legacies. Regardless of our current personal belief system, we benefit from these inheritances.

This does not mean we are all automatically Christian practitioners, nor that it magically works better if we all attend church. No one asks to be culturally Christian, you become it simply by being born here. Cultural Christianity above all is the most passive of non-actions. You don't have to do anything. You don’t choose to be that. Becoming a Christian, however, requires an individual choosing to commit to being a practitioner. Its an active decision. It is disingenuous of modern political and religious commentators to make cultural Christianity out to be anything more than the leftover background radiation of our history. One suspects they have an agenda not particularly Christian in intent.