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Dear Helen,

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Alain de Botton seems to have a few good, what I should call "common sense" ideas.

If they were stated simply I suppose he would have difficulty finding someone to publish them. It is a pity he has to employ such provocative language and bold characters in order to be published.

It is this "mise en scène" which renders his vocabulary somewhat repellent to me. I have to make a conscious effort to avoid committing the mistake of throwing out the baby with the bath water as it were. Just getting past the title is already an achievement.

Botton's humanistic ideas are quite honourable and worthy of interest. However, I think he has missed the point in directing his comments specifically to "atheists". They are just as valid for "theists", perhaps, in many cases, even more so (I have often observed that some of the most ardent religious practitioners have a lot to be forgiven).

In any event, irrespective of our philosophical or psychological orientation, superstition or what have you, whether we like it or not, we are all subject to so-called "religious values" which have been constantly and systematically integrated into the laws and regulations of society in all its forms, from the family unit to the community of nations, ever since mankind descended from his common ancestor with the chimpanzee about five to seven million years ago.

The distinction generally operated among countries in terms of civil law, common law and religious law is actually quite superficial and somewhat misleading. The laws and regulations of all countries and all societies are founded on so-called "religious values", without exception.

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Dame Helen Mirren: " I would describe myself as a Christian who doesn't believe in God "

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I sympathise with Dame Helen Mirren.

According to the latest count, almost one third of the world population is said to be Christian. Though they have been branded Christian, judging by their behavioral patterns, not many take the existence of god seriously, though they may not admit it, even to themselves.

Whereas arranged marriages are no longer the norm in the Christian world, choice of religion largely remains the privilege of parents.

Like the rest of us, Dame Helen Mirren probably had no say in the matter.

I guess that is the cross we all have to bear.

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Alain de Botton's main project is the promotion of Alain de Botton by whatever means possible. Whether it's a 'kinder, gentler' pornography or a 'temple for atheists', his megadaft ideas are invariably put forward with the aim of getting him further coverage in the media. He is a self-help guru for the would-be intelligentsia.

Alain is said to promote the idea that: we might 'coalesce the scattered efforts of individuals interested in the care of souls and organise them under the aegis of institutions'.

It's when 'institutions' appear that most of the problems for humanity develop. Psychopaths usually end up in charge of them.

Teaching people to think for themselves and to search for truth does away with any need for institutions.

I sympathise with some of the thoughts expressed above, if from the other side of the fence.

This article doesn’t seem to be suggesting anything particularly new, but rather a rehash of other efforts to systemise the good life while ignoring God; perhaps some new blend of epicureanism and existentialism.

For the idea that we can incorporate Christian values without Christian theology, I’ll put in a quote from Margaret Thatcher, from 1988,
“I think back to many discussions in my early life when we all agreed that if you try to take the fruits of Christianity without its roots, the fruits will wither. And they will not come again unless you nurture the roots.
“But we must not profess the Christian faith and go to Church simply because we want social reforms and benefits or a better standard of behaviour; but because we accept the sanctity of life, the responsibility that comes with freedom and the supreme sacrifice of Christ expressed so well in the hymn:
“‘When I survey the wondrous Cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.’”

This article says that, as an atheist, de Bolton assumes a set of beliefs that makes church attendance untenable. He needs to flesh out this statement. On its own, it’s tautological at best, but isn’t really saying anything. Of course you must believe in God to think you’re going to get anything deeper out of church attendance. An atheist, by definition, is not likely to attend church. Atheism must be recognised for what it is: a distinct position that sets itself outside of belief in God. It cannot relax in some pretence of being gloriously neutral.

It's been too long, Dan S de Merengue. Far too long. I trust you had a great holiday.

>>This article doesn’t seem to be suggesting anything particularly new, but rather a rehash of other efforts...<<

That's a very polite way of saying that it is a load of old tosh, so props for your good manners.

And a quote from the Blessed Margaret too. My cup runneth over. Such a beautifully illustrative quote it is too, capturing the essence of a staunch Methodist provincial grocer's daughter, as she addresses a load of Scottish Presbyterians.

To be fair, the Sermon on the Mound, as it became known, did not receive universal acclaim from its audience, as she used her views of Christianity to justify her approach to capitalism and the market economy. One stout fellow was heard to mutter it was "a great travesty of the gospel".

By 'eck, she were a smart gal.

>>Atheism must be recognised for what it is: a distinct position that sets itself outside of belief in God. It cannot relax in some pretence of being gloriously neutral<<

I didn't get any sense of a rush to neutrality here. In fact parts of it suggested almost the opposite, trying it would appear to identify atheism as some kind of parallel religion. But maybe I missed something. Most atheists that I know simply call themselves atheists, have no interest in churchgoing, and - unlike de Botton - are perfectly happy to remain "unwilling to consider secular culture religiously enough, in other words, as a source of guidance". Atheism, being a non-belief, has no business to pretend to "guide" at all.

And certainly, we have no desire for "secular angels devoted to the care of our souls", a concept that sounds positively creepy.

Mr de Botton is either just a very confused boy, or an exceptionally astute marketer.