Quote:
Originally Posted by blankall
An agnostic/atheist Jewish person is more likely to continue going to a temple of worship than a protestant, as it's a way for them to connect with their community and/or affirm their identity. Although I do know many agnostic/atheist protestants who continue to go to church out of obligation to their family.
I do agree that many Western nations' notions of democracy are founded in religious views. We are seeing a transition from that though. For example, many nations have drastically changed their laws and views on homosexuality. In terms of whether these countries are secular as a whole, that really exists on a spectrum. No country's system of laws is totally devoid of religious influence. However, there are also countries where every law is founded in religion. Whether you define a country as secular or not is pretty arbitrary and also relative.
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It is a very interesting topic. I agree with you generally, but might suggest in regards to the topic of church participation that going to church is not heavily emphasized in the protestant culture. The notion that it is a personal expression of faith, or relationship with God/the universe/ humanity, and not a communal one dovetails nicely with the agnostic, atheist view towards congregational faith.
Not to mention similarities in viewing the relationship between the divine and the material world. Protestant culture typically views there to be a dichotomy between the two, a kingdom of man and kingdom of God so to speak. This is typically the way that atheists view/ criticize religion. However, other faiths often emphases Immanence the view that that the divine encompasses or is manifested in the material world. In essence it is the awareness that religion permeates all aspects of life including law whether we would like it to or not.
I think for the purposes of this argument it is important to understand that that atheism is not neutral, and secularism is not devoid of religious influence, rather it is heavily influenced by Protestantism.