alwaysalearner: To associate the ethic of the successful West with Christianity you have to explain why Christianity took so long to get there...and why conservative Christians are so associated with Neo-Conservative regressive economics which guarantees stress to youth and the poor.
I'll admit that conservatives use religion more like a cloak than a philosophy, and thus it is hardly the fault of Christianity for being used thusly. If this use is not opposed by the church then one can only assume it is approved.
It is historical fact that Christian churches held Europe back for many hundreds of years. It was the fight *against* the church, for Goodness and truth which is what a *real* God would care about!
I guess what I'm saying is that rather then pretend that being "Christian" will fix ethics...we need to focus on the ethics as the primary concern. If religion wants ethical authority then it had better stop protecting dodgy priests, start endorsing progressive economics and stop attacking fact based knowledge. Being used a as a cloak of virtue is making both the attempted holy and the religion look sinister. Any attempt to "fix" belief will of course fail...but we should be able to agree on important ethics without needing to agree on an unprovable imaginary father.

Morality and ethics are an effective religious technique - they help us acknowledge that we are all connected at the core, that ultimately we are the same - God!

With morality we get the idea of being connected at the core, that if one of us is hurt, so are the rest of us: it's not very accurate because God doesn't get hurt or suffers pain, but nevertheless it's a useful practice and holds so long as we ourselves are bothered by pain. This is the basis of the golden rule: What you hate being done to you - do not do unto others.

Morality isn't the only religious technique around, but it's a good one that fits most people whereas other techniques are more appropriate for advanced individuals who live in varying degrees outside society.

Churches are not necessary for establishing moral practice or for promoting religion, but they seem to help. People who stumble upon morality and care for others in big or small ways, even while holding no religious philosophy, are nevertheless working their way towards God.

One of the questions I have no answer for, is whether a church, any church, is able to instill genuine morality in someone who is not yet ready on their spiritual journey.

Ozandy

'.but was supported by my parents who said "respect all religions, make up your own mind".'

You certainly did not listen to your parents.

All religions are armed to the teeth - especially the two would be world conquering political religions of Islam and Christianity.Which should more accurately be described as tribalistic cults.

Both of which pretend that they have a "divine" mandate or "great commission" to convert the entire world to their "one-true-faith".

…Deadmen? Indeed Peter Sellick.

...Where is it stated in Christian theology, that the personal morality of a Christian cannot impinge on society?

Runner himself claims that atheism is a religion.

Anytime runner wants to "respect" that religion not his own would be a marvelous opportunity for him to demonstrate that his "christianity" is not simply the carping type that has already turned many away. "Christianity" is much the poorer for not rebuking and correcting the type of "christian" runner portrays.

As for the thread,

There may be a psychological "hole" in our society, but I think the suggestion that it is adequately filled by the lacklustre putty of religion is self-evidently untrue.

Historically risible "scripture", demented "revelation", prophets who are at best war-criminals and a priesthood that has never been forced to account make the sum of all current religions an unfit starting point let alone a solution.

Rusty.