Jürgen Habermas on Judeo-Christian Religion

[thegreypilgrim]

I wonder what neo-atheists like Dawkins et. al. would have to say about a fellow non-believer such as Habermas and his thoughts on religion:

For the normative self-understanding of modernity, Christianity has functioned as more than just a precursor or catalyst. Universalistic egalitarianism, from which sprang the ideals of freedom and a collective life in solidarity, the autonomous conduct of life and emancipation, the individual morality of conscience, human rights and democracy, is the direct legacy of the Judaic ethic of justice and the Christian ethic of love. This legacy, substantially unchanged, has been the object of a continual critical reappropriation and reinterpretation. Up to this very day there is no alternative to it. And in light of the current challenges of a post-national constellation, we must draw sustenance now, as in the past, from this substance. Everything else is idle postmodern talk. -- From Religion and Rationality: Essays on Reason, God, and Modernity

[bjorn]

I wonder too.

I quoted this in my book on the neoatheists, and never got a response on such matters. The closest was one reviewer telling that I was rather good at finding errors with Dawkins, however missed at the most important - proving God.

As I never attempted that, I rather liked the review.

And still wonder what he thinks of Habermas's saying, not the least as he is so much of a hero to many intellectuals and culture critics.