Difference between revisions of "Richard Dawkins"

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[[File:Richard Dawkins pic.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|260px|right|Richard Dawkins  ]]
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Clinton '''Richard Dawkins''', [[Royal_Society|FRS]], FRSL, born March 26, 1941 (age {{age|1941|3|26}}), is a [[biologist|biologist]], [[evolution|evolutionist]], [[agnosticism|agnostic]] (See: [[Richard Dawkins and agnosticism]]) and [[leftist]]/[[liberal]].<ref>
 
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*[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/02/mailvox-richard-dawkins-is-not-atheist.html Mailvox: Richard Dawkins is not an atheist!]
 
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*[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100139859/id-go-to-church-just-to-reduce-the-probability-of-spending-eternity-in-hell-with-richard-dawkins/ ''I'd go to church just to reduce the probability of spending eternity in Hell with Richard Dawkins'' by Dr. Tim Stanley, ''The Daily Telegraph'', February 27, 2012]
 
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3_rGbiT_3c Richard Dawkins Says He's Agnostic -- NOT atheist - video testimony of Richard Dawkins saying he is not an atheist, but an agnostic]</ref> Most of Richard Dawkins' popular books have promoted [[Richard Dawkins and pseudoscience|evolutionary pseudoscience.]] Dawkins is also the former holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair of the Public Understanding of Science at [[Oxford University]].
 
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He is an ardent opponent of religion, which he dismisses as mere [[superstition]].<ref>Richard Dawkins is a man with a mission – the eradication of religion and superstition, and their total replacement with science and reason. [http://www.sheldrake.org/D&C/controversies/Dawkins.html "Richard Dawkins comes to call"]</ref>  However, Dawkins has offered no effective rebuttal to studies which show that the irreligious [[Irreligion and superstition|are more likely]] to be superstitious than [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] [[Christianity|Christians]].<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>
 
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Moreover, in terms of the [[theism]] vs. [[agnosticism]]/[[atheism]] issue, Dawkins has shown himself to be rather ignorant in matters of [[theology]] and [[philosophy]].  For example, atheist philosopher Dr. [[Michael Ruse]] declared concerning Dawkins' book ''The God Delusion'': "''The God Delusion'' makes me embarrassed to be an atheist."<ref>http://www.alternet.org/media/47052?page=entire</ref>
 
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== Biography of Richard Dawkins ==
 
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[[Image:Intelligent design.jpg‎|thumbnail|300px|right|When Richard Dawkins was a young man, he recognized the [[Intelligent design|that the complexity of life indicates a designer]]. ]]
 
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Richard Dawkins was born in Kenya.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2004/jul/25/research.science</ref> He was a child of a family of colonial forest officers.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3657215/Preaching-to-the-converted.html</ref>
 
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Dawkins was raised to have religious values, and confesses that when he was young, he acknowledged the complexity of life and believed that it indicated a designer. However, during his teens, he chose to abandon this faith and embrace Darwinism instead, despite admitting that he hadn’t actually read [[Charles Darwin]]’s works.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/feb/10/religion.scienceandnature</ref><ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/atheism/people/dawkins.shtml</ref>
 
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The atheist philosopher [[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]] says of Dawkins' time spent in [[Kenya]]: "Unlike the best of the colonial administrators, some of whom were deeply versed in the languages and histories of the peoples they ruled, Dawkins displays no interest in the cultures of the [[Africa]]n countries where he lived as a boy. It is the obedient devotion of those who served his family that has remained in his memory."<ref>[http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119596/appetite-wonder-review-closed-mind-richard-dawkins ''The Closed Mind of Richard Dawkins''], New Republic by John Gray</ref>
 
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Dawkins studied zoology at Oxford University, and graduated in 1962. As a undergraduate at Oxford, he studied zoology under the Dutch ethologist Niko Tinbergen and the two developed a strong student/teacher relationship.<ref>http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/dawkins.htm</ref> He remained at [[Oxford]] for his doctoral work, receiving his Ph.D in 1966.  From 1967-1969, Dawkins served as Assistant Professor of [[Zoology]] at [[Berkeley]]. During this time, he was, in his own words, “heavily involved” in the unrest and liberal activism for which Berkeley is notorious.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/atheism/people/dawkins.shtml</ref> He returned to Oxford in 1970 and served as a Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and a Fellow of New College. In 1995, Dawkins became the Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science which was a post created by an endowment of £1.5m from Dr. Charles Simonyi. In September 2008, Richard Dawkins retired from his post as Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science.
 
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Despite this, Richard Dawkins might have remained a relatively obscure professor if not for the publication of his first book, ''The Selfish Gene'', in 1976. This book became a bestseller, and brought Dawkins a celebrity which he has worked to maintain with further books and lectures.
 
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In 1984, Dawkins divorced his wife of 17 years, Marian Stamp; later that same year, he married Eve Barham. Dawkins also divorced Barham, though the precise circumstances of this divorce are unclear.<ref>http://www.richarddawkins.com/</ref> He married science fiction actress Lalla Ward in 1992; at present, the two are still married.
 
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== Richard Dawkins and the women and minority population ==
 
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[[File:2404429188 ea8f1fc48b.jpg|thumb|250px|Survey data and website tracking data of prominent atheist websites indicate that in the Western World, [[Atheism and women|atheism is significantly less appealing to women]].
 
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According to the website tracking firms [[Alexa]] and Quantcast women frequent the website of richarddawkins.net significantly less than men.<ref>http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/richarddawkins.net</ref><ref>http://www.quantcast.com/richarddawkins.net#demographics</ref>
 
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<small>([http://www.flickr.com/photos/constantweader/2404429188/ Flickr] photo, see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en license agreement])</small> ]]
 
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=== Women's views of Richard Dawkins ===
 
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See also: [[Richard Dawkins and women]] and [[Elevatorgate]] and [[Feminist quotes about Richard Dawkins]] and [[Atheism and rape]]
 
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==== Majority of web visitor's to Dawkins' website are men ====
 
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Survey data and website tracking data of prominent atheist websites indicate that in the Western World, [[Atheism and women|atheism is significantly less appealing to women]]. According to the website tracking firms [[Alexa]] and Quantcast women frequent the website of richarddawkins.net significantly less than men.<ref>http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/richarddawkins.net</ref><ref>http://www.quantcast.com/richarddawkins.net#demographics</ref> One possible explanation of many women's lack of interest in the message of Richard Dawkins is the [[abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins]].  For example, in September of 2010, Richard Dawkins became nasty towards a woman in an audience he spoke before.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/richard-dawkins-i-never-meet-people-who-disagree-with-me-2080451.html Richard Dawkins: 'I never meet people who disagree with me', ''The Independent'' by reporter Andy McSmith, Thursday 16 September 2010]</ref> 
 
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==== Elevatorgate scandal ====
 
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''See also:'' [[Elevatorgate]]
 
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In July of 2011, Richard Dawkins was widely criticized within the atheist community and in various press outlets for his insensitive comments made to atheist [[Rebecca Watson]] about an incident which occurred in an elevator (see: [[Elevatorgate]]).<ref>
 
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*[http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/07/08/atheist_flirting Richard Dawkins: Skeptic of women? - Salon, July 8, 2011]
 
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*[http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2011/07/richard-dawkins-chewing-gum Sharing a lift with Richard Dawkins by David Allen Green - New Stateman - 06 July 2011]
 
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*[http://gawker.com/5818993/richard-dawkins-torn-limb-from-limbby-atheists Richard Dawkins Torn Limb From Limb—By Atheists - Gawker]
 
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*[http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-09-15/atheist-sexism-women/50416454/1 Atheists address sexism issues - USA Today]</ref> 
 
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===== Dawkins stands by Elevatorgate remarks. Says Elevatorgate incident was rather trivial =====
 
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On November 18, 2014, Richard Dawkins indicated that: he stands by his recent remarks about women/men relations, he feels muzzled by "thought police" and that [[Rebecca Watson]]'s experience in the elevator was "rather trivial" compared to events some Muslim women experience.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/richard-dawkins-stands-by-remarks-on-sexism-pedophilia-down-syndrome/2014/11/18/a2915cd8-6f64-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html Richard Dawkins stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, Down syndrome], by Kimberly Winston | Religion News Service November 18, 2014</ref>
 
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Specifically, the ''Washington Post'' reported on November 18, 2014:
 
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{{cquote|“I don’t take back anything that I’ve said,” Dawkins said from a shady spot in the leafy backyard of one of his Bay Area supporters. “I would not say it again, however, because I am now accustomed to being misunderstood and so I will . “
 
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He trailed off momentarily, gazing at his hands resting on a patio table.
 
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“I feel muzzled, and a lot of other people do as well,” he continued. “There is a climate of bullying, a climate of intransigent thought police which is highly influential in the sense that it suppresses people like me.”
 
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Recent criticism of Dawkins has come from women, many of them within the [[atheist movement]], which has long drawn more men to its ranks. His online remarks, some women say, contribute to a climate they see as unwelcoming to female atheists...
 
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“I concentrate my attention on that menace and I confess I occasionally get a little impatient with American women who complain of being inappropriately touched by the water cooler or invited for coffee or something which I think is, by comparison, relatively trivial,” he said.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/richard-dawkins-stands-by-remarks-on-sexism-pedophilia-down-syndrome/2014/11/18/a2915cd8-6f64-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html Richard Dawkins stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, Down syndrome], by Kimberly Winston | Religion News Service November 18, 2014 and syndicated to the ''Washington Post''</ref>}}
 
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==== Other reasons why many women hold unfavorable views of Richard Dawkins ====
 
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Another plausible explanation for many women having a lack of enthusiasm for Richard Dawkins's message is that many women who attend religious services and hold traditional beliefs and values find Richard Dawkins' [[atheism]] and [[atheism and morality|atheistic values]] repugnant.  In terms of traditional values, in 2007, when asked in an interview, "If we do not acknowledge some sort of external [standard], what is to prevent us from saying that the [[Muslim]] [extremists] aren’t right?", Dawkins replied, "What’s to prevent us from saying [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] wasn’t right? I mean, that is a genuinely difficult question, but whatever [defines morality], it’s not the [[Bible]]. If it was, we’d be stoning people for breaking the [[Sabbath]]."<ref name=Hitler>http://byfaithonline.com/page/in-the-world/richard-dawkins-the-atheist-evangelist</ref>
 
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(See also: [[Richard Dawkins' commentary on Adolf Hitler]] and [[Atheism and rape]])
 
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==== Feminist quotes about Richard Dawkins ====
 
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*[[Feminist quotes about Richard Dawkins]]
 
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==== Richard Dawkins commentary on Mary the Mother of Jesus ====
 
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In 2010, the [[Christian apologetics]] website [[True Free Thinker]] wrote:
 
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{{cquote|The atheist and evolutionist  Richard Dawkins just referred to Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a ‘submissive cosmic doormat’...
 
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If Richard Dawkins had a better grasp of womanhood [[Essay: Does Richard Dawkins have machismo?|and a greater grasp of manhood]], he would still be married to his first wife and not his third.<ref>http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-immaculate-and-mary-cosmic-doormat</ref>}}
 
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=== Atheist PZ Myers comment about Dawkins' attitude towards women ===
 
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[[File:Rebecca-watson.jpg|thumbnail|180px|The atheist [[Rebecca Watson]] was a central figure in the [[Elevatorgate]] scandal.
 
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<small>(photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rebecca_watson_geek.jpg Wikimedia commons], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]]
 
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and women]] and [[Richard Dawkins and women]]
 
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In 2014, the prominent [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[PZ Myers]] said of  Richard Dawkins' attitude towards women: "At a time when our movement needs to expand its reach, it’s a tragedy that our most eminent spokesman has so enthusiastically expressed such a regressive attitude.”<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/18/richard-dawkins-sexist-atheists-bad-name Richard Dawkins has lost it: ignorant sexism gives atheists a bad name] by Adam Lee, ''The Guardian'', September 18, 2014</ref>
 
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=== Racial Minority population views' of Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris ===
 
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''For more information please see:'' [[Racial demographics of the Richard Dawkins' audience]]
 
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Both Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris were key founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement.
 
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According to the web traffic tracking firm Quantcast, the following racial groups have below average interest in the website richarddawkins.net: Asians, Hispanics, and African Americans.<ref>http://www.quantcast.com/richarddawkins.net#demographics</ref> In addition, according to the web traffic tracking firm Quantcast, the following racial groups have below average interest in the website samharris.org: Asians, Hispanics, and African Americans.<ref>http://www.quantcast.com/samharris.org</ref> This suggest that the New Atheism movement may be significantly less appealing to racial minorities.
 
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See also: [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Richard Dawkins' family fortune and the slave trade]]
 
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=== New Atheism and the white male audience ===
 
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''For more information please see:'' [[Racial demographics of the Richard Dawkins' audience]]
 
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According to the Quantcast data, white males appear to be the group of individuals who are most receptive to Richard Dawkins' and atheist [[Sam Harris]]' message.<ref>http://www.quantcast.com/richarddawkins.net#demographics</ref><ref>http://www.quantcast.com/samharris.org</ref> This finding suggest that [[New Atheism]] movement is significant more appealing to white males.
 
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== The day Elevatorgate occurred has been called the day the atheist movement died ==
 
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''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and leadership]]
 
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Richard Dawkins is still widely criticized for igniting deep fractures in the [[atheist movement]] through his Elevatorgate scandal. For example, on November 26, 2013, the atheist activist and blogger [[Jen McCreight]] posted at Twitter the message: "Did anyone on Dawkins AMA ask how he feels about singlehandedly destroying the atheist movement with the Dear Muslima yet?"<ref>[https://twitter.com/jennifurret/status/405391218273554433 Jennifer McCreight on the Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal]</ref> In December of 2013, atheist Jack Vance at Atheist Revolution called July 2, 2011, which is the day that Elevatorgate occurred, "The day the atheist movement died."<ref>[http://www.atheistrev.com/2013/12/the-day-atheist-movement-died.html The Day the Atheist Movement Died] by Jack Vance at Atheist Revolution</ref>
 
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A blogger at the popular Christian YouTube video maker [[Shockofgod]]'s blog quipped:
 
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{{cquote|Yes, my atheist friends,  July 2, 2011 is the day that the atheist movement died on the information superhighway.  I did not come to honor the atheism movement in this blog post, but to bury it. Those whose movement's come alive by the information superhighway, die by the information superhighway.<ref>[http://shockawenow.blogspot.com/2014/09/july-2-2011-day-atheism-died-on.html July 2, 2011: The day the atheism movement died on the information superhighway], Shockawenow blog, September 30, 2014</ref>}}
 
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See also: [[Atheism and the internet]]
 
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== Richard Dawkins on the dissemination of pornography videos to theocratic societies ==
 
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''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins on child molestation and so called "gentle pedophiles"]] and [[Atheism and pornography]]
 
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On January 1, 2015, ''The Telegraph'' reported:
 
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{{cquote|Richard Dawkins’ insanity has now become an English institution – like warm beer and rain. On Saturday morning, a tweet from his account asked why we don’t send lots of "erotic videos" to theocracies, adding that it should be “loving, gentle, woman-respecting” (I guess this involves the pizza delivery boy calling the next day). If we’re going down this road, I also hear that [[Islam]]ists aren’t very keen on bacon, so perhaps we should bombard the [[Iran]]ian countryside with pig carcasses? Also, miniature bottles of gin. And photos of hot guys making out – in a “men-respecting” and “gentle” sort of way.
 
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After a few minutes of mockery, the tweet was deleted. Perhaps even he realised how utterly mad it was. Which suggests a degree of self-awareness that I didn’t think possible in Britain’s nuttiest professor.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11381529/Richard-Dawkins-wants-to-fight-Islamism-with-erotica.-Celebrity-atheism-has-lost-it.html Richard Dawkins wants to fight Islamism with erotica. Celebrity atheism has lost it] By Tim Stanley,  ''The Telegraph'', January 1, 2015</ref>}}
 
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See also: [[Atheism and pornography]]
 
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== Atheists declaring that Richard Dawkins is now a liability to the atheist movement ==
 
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''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]]
 
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Although the [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] Richard Dawkins was always known for [[Abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins|his abrasiveness]] and [[Atheism and arrogance|arrogance]], post [[Elevatorgate]] and subsequent to his various embarrassing Twitter posts, many atheists are now asking if he is a liability to the [[atheist movement]].<ref>
 
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*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/richard-dawkins-atheisms-asset-or-liability/2014/08/07/9f19a7a2-1e58-11e4-9b6c-12e30cbe86a3_story.html Richard Dawkins: Atheism’s asset or liability?] by Kimberly Winston, ''Washington Post'', source: ''Religion News Service'',  August 7, 2014
 
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*[http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119596/appetite-wonder-review-closed-mind-richard-dawkins ''The Closed Mind of Richard Dawkins''], New Republic by John Gray
 
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*[https://twitter.com/jennifurret/status/405391218273554433 Jennifer McCreight on the Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal]
 
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*[http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/downs-syndrome-girl-passes-six-4095031 Down's Syndrome girl passes six GCSEs as dad calls Richard Dawkins 'an ignorant idiot'], Mirror by By Grace Macaskill, Aug 23, 2014 15:41
 
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*[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/21/the-12-stages-of-a-richard-dawkins-twitter-scandal_n_5698443.html The 12-Stage 'Evolution' Of A Richard Dawkins Twitter Scandal] by Paul Vale, The Huffington Post UK, Posted: 22/08/2014 02:06 BST</ref>
 
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== Richard Dawkins' cult of personality  ==
 
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[[File:Vox Day.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|[[Vox Day]] noted that the [[Richard Dawkins' cult of personality]] has some similarity to the cult of [[Scientology]].<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-cult-of-dicky-dawk.html The Cult of Dicky Dawkins]</ref> ]]
 
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''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins' cult of personality]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Atheism and leadership]]
 
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On August 16, 2014, Andrew Brown wrote an article for The Spectator entitled ''The bizarre – and costly – cult of Richard Dawkins'' which declared:
 
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{{cquote|...the Richard Dawkins website offers followers the chance to join the ‘Reason Circle’, which, like [[Dante]]’s [[Hell]], is arranged in concentric circles. For $85 a month, you get discounts on his merchandise, and the chance to meet ‘[[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science]] personalities’. Obviously that’s not enough to meet the man himself. For that you pay $210 a month — or $5,000 a year — for the chance to attend an event where he will speak...
 
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But the $85 a month just touches the hem of rationality. After the neophyte passes through the successively more expensive ‘Darwin Circle’ and then the ‘Evolution Circle’, he attains the innermost circle, where for $100,000 a year or more he gets to have a private breakfast or lunch with Richard Dawkins, and a reserved table at an invitation-only circle event with ‘Richard’ as well as ‘all the benefits listed above’, so he still gets a discount on his Richard Dawkins T-shirt saying ‘Religion — together we can find a cure.’
 
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The website suggests that donations of up to $500,000 a year will be accepted for the privilege of eating with him once a year: at this level of contribution you become a member of something called ‘The Magic of Reality Circle’. I don’t think any irony is intended.
 
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At this point it is obvious to everyone except the participants that what we have here [[Atheist cults|is a religion]] without the good bits.<ref>[http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9286682/the-bizarre-and-costly-cult-of-richard-dawkins/ The bizarre – and costly – cult of Richard Dawkins], The Spectator, Andrew Brown 16 August 2014</ref>}}
 
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[[Vox Day]] noted that the Richard Dawkins cult has some similarity to the cult of [[Scientology]].<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-cult-of-dicky-dawk.html The Cult of Dicky Dawkins]</ref>
 
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Dawkins was one of the founders of the New Atheism movement. The [[New Atheism]] movement, which has waned in recent years, was called a cult by the [[agnosticism|agnostic]], journalist Bryan Appleyard in a 2012 article in the ''New Statesman'' in which he describes the abusive behavior of New Atheists.<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2012/02/neo-atheism-atheists-dawkins ''The God wars'' by Bryan Appleyard], ''New Statesman''</ref>  Although the New Atheism movement does not perfectly fit the various characteristics of a cult, it does fit some of the characteristics.<ref>[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/how-cultish-is-new-atheism/ How cultish is the New Atheism?]</ref>
 
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See also: [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science|Richard Dawkins's Foundation and an embezzlement allegation]]
 
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==Abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins==
 
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''See also:'' [[Abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheism and leadership]]
 
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Atheist author and [[sociology]] professor Phil Zuckerman said of Dawkins: "He is smug, condescending and emits an unpleasant disdainfulness. He doesn’t ever seem to acknowledge the good aspects of religion, only the bad. In that sense, I think he doesn’t help atheism in the PR department."<ref>[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/58271839-80/dawkins-atheism-atheist-rape.html.csp  Richard Dawkins: Atheism’s asset or liability?] By KIMBERLY WINSTON, ''Religion News Service''</ref>  See also: [[Elevatorgate]]
 
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[[Gary Demar]] commenting on the abrasiveness and incivility of Richard Dawkins quotes Dawkins stating the following:
 
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[[Image:Mohler.jpg‎|thumbnail|200px|right|Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr.]]
 
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{{cquote|It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in [[theory of evolution|evolution]], that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that).}}
 
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Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. has echoed Mr. Demar's estimation of Richard Dawkins and has stated regarding Richard Dawkins the following:
 
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{{cquote|His aggressiveness and abrasiveness have now prompted some of his fellow defenders of evolution to wonder if he is doing their cause more harm than good.
 
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The September 2005 issue of Discover magazine features an article that raises this very question. In "Darwin's Rottweiler," author Stephen S. Hall suggests that Dawkins is simply "far too fierce."....
 
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Dawkins admits that he just may be "a bit of a loose canon." In reality, that is a significant understatement.<ref>Mohler, R. Albert, Jr. (September 9, 2005).  [http://www.christianpost.com/news/darwin-s-rottweiler-richard-dawkins-speaks-his-mind-6434/ "Darwin's rottweiler--Richard Dawkins speaks his mind"].  The Christian Post website.  Retrieved on October 19, 2014.</ref>}}
 
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In addition, Richard Dawkins appears to have had struggles maintaining marital harmony in his life and as noted earlier two of his marriages ended in divorce (see also: [[Women's views of Richard Dawkins]]).
 
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== Dogmatic arrogance of Richard Dawkins ==
 
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''See:'' [[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheism and intolerance]]
 
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Using special text analysis software, the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt found that [[New Atheism|New Atheists]], such as Richard Dawkins, very often wrote in dogmatic terms in their major works using words such as  “always,” “never,” “certainly,” “every,” and “undeniable.”<ref>[http://www.thisviewoflife.com/index.php/magazine/articles/why-sam-harris-is-unlikely-to-change-his-mind10 Why Sam Harris is Unlikely to Change his Mind] by JONATHAN HAIDT, February 3, 2014 8:36 pm</ref> 
 
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Yet, the works of New Atheists, including Richard Dawkins, often betray an amateurish knowledge of philosophy, religion and science. For example, [[Vox Day]]'s book ''[http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational atheist]'' found multiple errors in reasoning and factual errors when it came to the works of New Atheist authors.<ref>[http://creation.com/review-irrational-atheist-by-vox-day Excellent refutation of ‘new atheists’ flawed by heterodox open theism],  A review of The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens by Vox Day, Benbella Books, Dallas, TX, 2008, reviewed by Lita Cosner</ref> See also: [[Richard Dawkins and pseudoscience]]
 
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=== Atheist philosopher John Gray on the dogmatic arrogance of Richard Dawkins ===
 
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[[File:John Gray.JPG|thumbnail|right|300px|The [[economist]] Tomáš Sedláček (left) and the [[atheism|atheist]] [[philosophy|philosopher]] [[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]] (right) at ZURICH.MINDS 2012]]
 
−
In a 2014 New Republic article entitled ''The Closed Mind of Richard Dawkins: His atheism is its own kind of narrow religion'', the atheist philosopher [[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]] wrote:
 
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{{cquote|One might wager a decent sum of money that it has never occurred to Dawkins that to many people he appears as a comic figure. His default mode is one of rational indignation—a stance of withering patrician disdain for the untutored mind of a kind one might expect in a schoolmaster in a minor public school sometime in the 1930s. He seems to have no suspicion that any of those he despises could find his stilted pose of indignant rationality merely laughable. “I am not a good observer,” he writes modestly. He is referring to his observations of animals and plants, but his weakness applies more obviously in the case of humans. Transfixed in wonderment at the workings of his own mind, Dawkins misses much that is of importance in human beings—himself and others.<ref>[http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119596/appetite-wonder-review-closed-mind-richard-dawkins ''The Closed Mind of Richard Dawkins''], New Republic by John Gray</ref>}}
 
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−
=== Theo Hobson on the angry dogmatism of Richard Dawkins ===
 
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−
''See also:'' [[Atheism and anger]]
 
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−
In a April 2013 article in ''The Spectator'' entitled ''Richard Dawkins has lost: meet the new [[New Atheism|new atheists]]'', [[Theo Hobson]] declared:
 
−
{{cquote|The [[New Atheism|atheist spring]] that began just over a decade ago is over, thank God. Richard Dawkins is now seen by many, even many non-believers, as a joke figure, shaking his fist at sky fairies.<ref>[http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/8885481/after-the-new-atheism/ Richard Dawkins has lost: meet the new new atheists] by [[Theo Hobson]], The Spectator, April 13, 2013</ref>}}
 
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== Richard Dawkins' comment about aborting Down syndrome babies ==
 
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−
''See also:'' [[Abortion and atheism]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Eugenics]]
 
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−
In August of 2014, Richard Dawkins caused a firestorm by claiming an unborn baby with [[Down's Syndrome|Down’s syndrome]] should be aborted and that it would be “immoral to bring it into the world.”<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/20/Atheist-Richard-Dawkins-Abort-Down-s-Syndrome-Baby-Immoral-To-Bring-It-Into-The-World Atheist Richard Dawkins: 'Abort' Down's Syndrome Baby, 'Immoral To Bring It Into The World'] by by Dr. Susan Berry, Breitbart News 20 Aug 2014</ref> Dr. Michael Brown wrote in the ''Christian Post'' about this matter: "It is becoming increasingly clear that Dawkins is something of an embarrassment, even to other atheists (although he is still revered by many). The only question that remains is this: Are his irrational and immoral positions unique to him, or are they the logical outcome of his Darwinian evolutionism?"<ref>[Richard Dawkins Exposes the Immorality of His Atheism By Michael Brown, ''Christian Post'', August 21, 2014|10:15 am</ref> See also: [[Social effects of the theory of evolution]]
 
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−
A British father whose Down's syndrome daughter passed six General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) tests called Richard Dawkins an "ignorant idiot".<ref>[http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/downs-syndrome-girl-passes-six-4095031 Down's Syndrome girl passes six GCSEs as dad calls Richard Dawkins 'an ignorant idiot'], Mirror by By Grace Macaskill, Aug 23, 2014 15:41</ref>
 
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−
== Martin Robbins at ''New Statesman'': Dawkins grasping for attention and relevance ==
 
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In 2013,  Martin Robbins wrote in the ''New Statesman'' concerning the public persona of Dawkins: "Increasingly though, his public output resembles that of a man desperately grasping for attention and relevance..."<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2013/08/atheism-maturing-and-it-will-leave-richard-dawkins-behind Atheism is maturing, and it will leave Richard Dawkins behind]</ref>
 
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−
Recently, Richard Dawkins has been reduced to Tweeting provocative Twitter posts in order to gain attention.  After the predictable ensuing uproar, Dawkins half-heartedly apologizes for the provocative Tweets.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/21/the-12-stages-of-a-richard-dawkins-twitter-scandal_n_5698443.html The 12-Stage 'Evolution' Of A Richard Dawkins Twitter Scandal], By Paul Vale, The Huffington Post UK, Posted: 22/08/2014 02:06 BST</ref>
 
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== Richard Dawkins' battle with online fans over their use of profanity and gossip ==
 
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−
''See also:'' [[Atheism and profanity]] and [[Richard Dawkins' battle with online fans]] and [[Atheism and the internet]]
 
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−
In February of 2010, the news organization ''The Telegraph'' reported Richard Dawkins was "embroiled in a bitter online battle over plans to rid his popular internet forum for atheists of foul language, insults and 'frivolous gossip'."<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7322177/Richard-Dawkins-in-bitter-web-censorship-row-with-fellow-atheists.html</ref> Richard Dawkins [[Abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins|has a reputation for being abrasive]] so the behavior of his fans is not entirely surprising. See: [[Atheism and profanity]]
 
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−
It is commonly  thought that some individuals who commonly use profanity have limited vocabularies and imaginations.<ref>''Handbook for New Converts'' By William J. (Bill) Morgan ThD, page 77</ref><ref>[http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/the-etiquette-of-profanity/ The Etiquette of Profanity] by Alan Weiss, Posted on October 31, 2010</ref>
 
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−
== Richard Dawkins, pseudoscience, and other errors ==
 
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−
''See also:''  [[Richard Dawkins and pseudoscience]] and [[Irreligion and superstition]]
 
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−
Within the [[evolution|evolutionary]] science community and the [[creation science]] community, Richard Dawkins has faced charges of engaging in [[pseudoscience]] and also has faced charges of committing elementary errors.<ref>http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/send-clowns-–-richard-dawkins-obliges</ref><ref>http://creation.com/the-greatest-hoax-on-earth/main.php</ref>
 
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−
The website [[True Free Thinker]] notes:
 
−
{{cquote|Moreover, note that with regards to “assertions without adequate evidence” evolutionary biologist and geneticist, Prof. [[Richard Lewontin]], referenced [[Carl Sagan]]’s list of the “best contemporary science-popularizers” which includes Richard Dawkins. These authors have, as Lewontin puts it, “put unsubstantiated assertions or counterfactual claims at the very center of the stories they have retailed in the market.” Lewontin specifically mentions “Dawkins’s vulgarizations of Darwinism” (find details [http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/how-billions-demons-haunted-baloney-while-avoiding-detection here]).
 
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−
Even renowned evolutionary biologists H. Allen Orr, David Sloan Wilson, and Massimo Pigliucci have called into question the power that Dawkins once had as an intellectual, since he has made elementary errors in ''[[The God Delusion]]''.<ref>http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/send-clowns-–-richard-dawkins-obliges</ref>}}
 
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[[Image:2384975035_230a0eac30.jpg‎‎|thumb|right|160px|A Baylor University study found that the irreligious are more likely to be [[superstitious]] than evangelical [[Christians]].<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>]]
 
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In 2010, a new discovery relating to the [[eye]] further discredited the [[evolution|evolutionary]] quackery of Richard Dawkins.<ref>http://creation.com/mueller-cells-backwardly-wired-retina-v-dawkins</ref> In addition, in 2010, the journal ''Nature'' featured an interview with the evolutionist, biologist, and atheist David Sloan Wilson who criticized Richard Dawkins for denying the evidence for the societal benefits of religion (see also: [[Atheism and Mental and Physical Health]]).<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sloan-wilson/atheism-as-a-stealth-reli_3_b_83605.html</ref>
 
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As far as the the social science of [[history]], Richard Dawkins has [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|engaged in historical revisionism when it comes to the mass murders committed by atheists]].
 
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−
Many of Richard Dawkins detractors are [[conservative]] [[Christianity|Christians]] which is not surprising. As alluded to earlier, the [[Wall Street Journal]] reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows that [[Conservative Christianity|traditional Christian religion]] greatly decreases belief in everything from the efficacy of palm readers to the usefulness of [[astrology]]. It also shows that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to [[superstition]], tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians."<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref> In the [[United States]], CBS News reported in October of 2005 that the [[Theory of evolution and liberalism|Americans most likely to believe only in the theory of evolution are liberals]].<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/22/opinion/polls/main965223.shtml</ref>
 
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== Agnosticism of Richard Dawkins ==
 
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−
''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins and agnosticism]] and [[Atheism, agnosticism and flip-flopping]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
 
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−
Although Dawkins declared himself an agnostic in his 2006 book ''The God Delusion'', he declared that atheist evangelism is important.<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/02/mailvox-richard-dawkins-is-not-atheist.html Mailvox: Richard Dawkins is not an atheist!]</ref> Author [[Vox Day]] wrote concerning this matter, "While the fact that Dawkins declared himself a literal agnostic in the very book in which he declared the importance of atheist evangelism is both ironic and incoherent, it will surprise no one who has read the chapter of ''The Irrational Atheist'' entitled "Darwin's Judas".<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/02/mailvox-richard-dawkins-is-not-atheist.html Mailvox: Richard Dawkins is not an atheist!]</ref> Also, despite being an elderly self-declared agnostic, in his book ''The God Delusion'', Dawkins said that "permanent agnosticism in principle" is "fence-sitting, intellectual cowardice". <ref>''The God Delusion'', page 70</ref> In February of 2012, Dawkins declared that he believed that there is a 6.9 out of 7 probability of [[God]]'s non-existence (approximately a 1 percent probability that God exist).<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/02/mailvox-richard-dawkins-is-not-atheist.html Mailvox: Richard Dawkins is not an atheist!]</ref><ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100139859/id-go-to-church-just-to-reduce-the-probability-of-spending-eternity-in-hell-with-richard-dawkins/ ''I'd go to church just to reduce the probability of spending eternity in Hell with Richard Dawkins'' by Dr. Tim Stanley, ''The Daily Telegraph'', February 27, 2012]</ref>  Although Dawkins declared that he was an [[agnosticism|agnostic]] in 2006 and 2012, in 2002 Richard Dawkins publicly argued for the position of [[militant atheism]] and claimed that he will not feel anything after death (see also: [[Ex-atheists]]).<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/02/mailvox-richard-dawkins-is-not-atheist.html Mailvox: Richard Dawkins is not an atheist!]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3_rGbiT_3c Richard Dawkins Says He's Agnostic -- NOT atheist - video testimony of Richard Dawkins saying he is not an atheist, but an agnostic]</ref><ref>
 
−
*[http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_militant_atheism.html Richard Dawkins on militant atheism]</ref> The historian Dr. Tim Stanley wrote that he believed Dawkins is taking a foolish gamble and Dawkins is risking spending an eternity in [[hell]].<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100139859/id-go-to-church-just-to-reduce-the-probability-of-spending-eternity-in-hell-with-richard-dawkins/ ''I'd go to church just to reduce the probability of spending eternity in Hell with Richard Dawkins'' by Dr. Tim Stanley, ''The Daily Telegraph'', February 27, 2012]</ref> Dr. Don Batten, a scientist at [[Creation Ministries International]], wrote that despite Richard Dawkins' skeptical protestations, Dawkins appears to be a [[God]]-hater.<ref>[http://creation.com/is-richard-dawkins-an-atheist Is Richard Dawkins an atheist? by Dr. Don Batten</ref>
 
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=== Criticism of fairies at the bottom of the garden analogy ===
 
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[[File:Fairy-md.png|thumbnail|250px|On July 18, 2012, a supporter of the [[Question evolution! campaign]] showed the folly of Richard Dawkins' comparison of fairies at the bottom of the garden to the issue of God's existence. According to Dawkins' faulty and irrational analogy, there is about a 1% chance that fairies are at the bottom of the garden.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/why-does-richard-dawkins-have-such-high.html Why does Richard Dawkins have such a high belief in the possibility of fairies being at the bottom of the garden?]</ref>]]
 
−
A supporter of the [[Question evolution! campaign]] wrote:
 
−
{{cquote|Richard Dawkins wrote in his book the God Delusion: "I am agnostic only to the extent that I am agnostic about fairies at the bottom of the garden" (God Delusion, page 74). In addition, Dawkins said in his book the God Delusion that on a 7 point scale of being sure that God does not exists: "I count myself in category 6, but leaning towards 7."
 
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−
In 2012, in video recorded discussion with Rowan Williams Archbishop of Canterbury, Richard Dawkins said he was 6.9 out of 7 of sure that God does not exist and counted himself as an agnostic.
 
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−
A 6.9 out of 7 would mean that Richard Dawkins believes there is about a .986 percent chance that God exists. In short, according to Dawkins, there is about a 1% chance that God exists.
 
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−
Since Richard Dawkins likened God's existence to fairies being at the bottom of the garden, why does Dawkins believe there is about a 1% chance that fairies are at the bottom of the garden?
 
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−
Dawkins is either being disingenuous or he is being irrational or a combination of both is occurring. Anyone who gives weight to Dawkins' views on the existence of God or his views on the creation vs. evolution controversy is obviously displaying bad judgement.
 
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−
Sin is very irrational. Dr. Don Batten, a scientist at Creation Ministries International, wrote that despite Richard Dawkins' skeptical protestations, Dawkins appears to be a God-hater. This seems to be the best description of Dawkins' behavior.
 
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−
It really comes as no surprise that Dawkins has been noticeably quiet about the
 
−
[http://creation.com/15-questions 15 questions] for evolutionists of the [[Question Evolution! Campaign]]. He obviously cannot satisfactorily answer the 15 questions.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/why-does-richard-dawkins-have-such-high.html Why does Richard Dawkins have such a high belief in the possibility of fairies being at the bottom of the garden?]</ref>}}
 
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−
=== Publisher's notice of his upcoming book and the issue of inconsistency and flip-flopping ===
 
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−
On June 5, 2012, the ''Christian'' Post reported:
 
−
{{cquote|Famed atheist and scientist Richard Dawkins has set out to write a new book that will focus on his own evolution toward the path of atheism.
 
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−
"Dawkins will tell the story of his own intellectual evolution, explaining how his groundbreaking work as a scientist led to his work as an atheist," states Dawkins' new publisher HarperCollins' Ecco. The book has not yet been given a title, but is expected to be on bookshelves by 2014.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/richard-dawkins-next-book-to-focus-on-personal-path-toward-atheism-76099/ Richard Dawkins' Next Book to Focus on Personal Path Toward Atheism]</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
In response a supporter of the Question evolution! campaign wrote in an article entitled ''Atheism is rudderless and unseaworthy'':
 
−
[[File:Flip-flops.png|thumbnail|The article ''Atheism is rudderless and unseaworthy'' written by a supporter of the [[Question evolution! campaign]] wrote: "Christians should call Dawkins on his disingenuous [[Flip-flop (politics)|flip-flopping]] if his publisher continues to promote the book as a book focusing on his journey to atheism without mentioning the fact that Dawkins is presently an agnostic who has rejected atheism."<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/atheism-is-rudderless-and-unseaworthy.html Atheism is rudderless and unseaworthy]</ref>]]
 
−
{{cquote|The publisher's notice of the upcoming book using the term "atheist" can be found on several other prominent internet properties besides the ''Christian Post'' such as ''Publishers Weekly'', ''The Blaze,'' ''Christianity Today'' and ''Galleycat'' (''Galleycat'' is on the Media Bistro domain).
 
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−
First, Richard Dawkins has gone from being [http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_militant_atheism.html a militant atheist] to being [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/02/mailvox-richard-dawkins-is-not-atheist.html an agnostic].
 
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−
Vox Day [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/02/mailvox-richard-dawkins-is-not-atheist.html wrote] about Dawkins' inconsistency when it comes to the issues of atheism and agnosticism...
 
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−
Christians should call Dawkins on his disingenuous [[Flip-flop (politics)|flip-flopping]] if his publisher continues to promote the book as a book focusing on his journey to atheism without mentioning the fact that Dawkins is presently an agnostic who has rejected atheism.
 
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−
An author calling himself an atheist or a publisher giving the impression that someone is an atheist may sell more books as it is more provocative, but it isn't intellectually honest if the author has rejected atheism and is an agnostic. If Dawkins claims to be an agnostic who is unsure if God exist or not, then he should clearly communicate this to the public and so should his publisher. Dawkins has been unreasonable as far as his alleged agnosticism and I recommend reading the article ''Why does Richard Dawkins have such a high belief in the possibility of fairies being at the bottom of the garden?''
 
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−
Given the weakness of his argumentation and the vitriol which often accompanies it, I agree with Dr. Don Batten that the weight of the evidence points to Dawkins being a God-hater.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/atheism-is-rudderless-and-unseaworthy.html Atheism is rudderless and unseaworthy]</ref>}}
 
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−
==== Title of the book ''The God Delusion'' displayed odd and inconsistent behavior ====
 
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−
A July 25, 2012 article entitled ''Is Richard Dawkins a flip-flopper'' declared:
 
−
{{cquote|Another reason why Dawkins displays odd behavior in reference to the atheism and agnosticism issue is that he titled a recent book of his ''The God Delusion''. Obviously, this is an odd title for an agnostic author to name a book - especially one who asserts there is about a 1% chance that God exist in his estimation. This odd behavior leads me to the conclusion that the reason the book was titled ''The God Delusion'' was for crass marketing reasons as it is more provocative title which would grab more press headlines and sell more books.
 
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−
Think about it. If there was a 1% chance that something existed, would you call your neighbor delusional if he believed it existed? No, you would not. Sure, you would think the odds are against your neighbor in terms of his belief, but you would not think he is delusional. The term delusional is generally used in connection with ideas that are insane to believe due to there being overwhelming evidence to the contrary.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/is-richard-dawkins-flipflopper.html Is Richard Dawkins a flip-flopper?]</ref>}}
 
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−
== Creationist Video Interview of Richard Dawkins Being Stumped==
 
−
[[File:Richard Dawkins stumped.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins stumped|thumbnail|250px|left|The video ''From a Frog to a Prince'', produced by [[Creation Ministries International]], features Richard Dawkins being stumped by the question of a creationist.<ref>http://creation.com/was-dawkins-stumped-frog-to-a-prince-critics-refuted-again</ref>  The interviewer asked Dawkins for an example of [[genetics|genetic]] [[information]] arising from a [[mutation]].<ref>http://creation.com/was-dawkins-stumped-frog-to-a-prince-critics-refuted-again</ref>  Recently, a creationist produced an excellent [[YouTube]] video demonstrating the Richard Dawkins still has not answered the question posed to him by the interviewer and he uses Richard Dawkins own words to demonstrate this fact.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W4e4MwogLo YouTube video - Is Richard Dawkins Really Stumped? The Truth - In His Own Words - YES...he is!]</ref>]]
 
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''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins and Creation Ministries International]] and [[Richard Dawkins' public refusal to debate creationists]] and [[Instances of Richard Dawkins ducking debates]]
 
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In 2008, a video clip featuring Richard Dawkins became widely available to the public,<ref name="stumped">[http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/5712/ Was Dawkins Stumped?] (Creation Ministries International) (The clip is viewable on this page).</ref>
 
−
[http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/5712/ showing Dawkins being stumped by a question from the creationist interviewer].
 
−
A shortened version has been translated into 10 languages.
 
−
The clip was part of an interview included in the video and DVD ''From a Frog to Prince'', produced by [[Creation Ministries International]] about the genetic information required by evolution, and the interviewer is asking Dawkins for an example of genetic information arising from a mutation.
 
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−
In later interviews, Dawkins claims that he was not stumped, but instead shocked when he realized that the interviewer was a [[creationism|creationist]], and the video was edited in a way to make him look like he was unable to answer the question.<ref>[http://www.skeptics.com.au/articles/dawkins.htm]</ref> However, the question came after he had that realization, and after the creationists negotiated with Dawkins and he agreed to continue.<ref> [http://creationontheweb.com/images/feedback/2008/5712timeline_lge.jpg Interview Timeline]</ref>
 
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However, despite being given a free reign in a sceptic publication to respond, he still didn't provide any examples.  Recently, a creationist produced an excellent [[YouTube]] video demonstrating the Richard Dawkins still has not answered the question posed to him by the interviewer and he uses Richard Dawkins own words to demonstrate this fact.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W4e4MwogLo YouTube video - Is Richard Dawkins Really Stumped? The Truth - In His Own Words - YES...he is!]</ref>  The video can be found at [[YouTube]] and is entitled [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W4e4MwogLo Is Richard Dawkins Really Stumped? The Truth - In His Own Words - YES...he is!]
 
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−
As noted earlier, Dr. Don Batten of [[Creation Ministries International]] theorizes that Richard Dawkins is a God hater and not a skeptic.<ref>http://creation.com/is-richard-dawkins-an-atheist</ref> The video in which Richard Dawkins [http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/5712/ clearly squirms] when asked for an example of genetic information arising from a mutation and dodges the question with an unrelated monologue, certainly gives some credence to Dr. Batten's postulate. Richard Dawkins inept response relating to the existence of God during his interview with Ben Stein further bolsters the view that Richard Dawkins is more motivated by hatred towards God than any inward assurance Dawkins has concerning the validity of his skeptical contentions.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12rgtN0pCMQ VIDEO]  There is certainly historical precedence for evolutionists/atheists having inward doubts about the validity of evolution and atheism. The evolutionist [[Charles Darwin]]  wrote in a private notebook that he was a [[materialism|materialist]] (a type of atheist).<ref>http://creation.com/charles-darwins-real-message-have-you-missed-it</ref> Late in [[Charles Darwin|Charles Darwin's]] life, Darwin told the Duke of Argyll that he frequently had overwhelming thoughts that the natural world was the [[Intelligent design|result of design]].<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html</ref>
 
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−
Richard Dawkins [[Richard Dawkins' public refusal to debate creationists|has been inconsistent concerning his supposed refusal to debate creationists]] and his refusal is merely a ruse to avoid losing debates to creation scientists. Generally speaking, [[Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates|creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates]].
 
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[[File:Hitler.jpg|thumb|306px|right|The [[Evolution|evolutionist]] [[Richard Dawkins and agnosticism|and agnostic]] Richard Dawkins said in an interview: “What’s to prevent us from saying [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] wasn’t right? I mean, that is a genuinely difficult question."<ref name=Hitler />]]
 
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−
==Dawkins' comment concerning Adolf Hitler==
 
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−
''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins' commentary on Adolf Hitler]] and [[Essay: Richard Dawkins' comment concerning Adolf Hitler]] and [[Atheists and historical illiteracy]]
 
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−
As noted earlier, when asked in an interview, "If we do not acknowledge some sort of external [standard], what is to prevent us from saying that the [[Muslim]] [extremists] aren’t right?", Dawkins replied, "What’s to prevent us from saying [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] wasn’t right? I mean, that is a genuinely difficult question, but whatever [defines morality], it’s not the [[Bible]]. If it was, we’d be stoning people for breaking the [[Sabbath]]."<ref name=Hitler>http://byfaithonline.com/page/in-the-world/richard-dawkins-the-atheist-evangelist</ref>
 
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−
The interviewer wrote in response, "I was stupefied. He had readily conceded that his own [[philosophy|philosophical]] position [[Atheism and morality|did not offer a rational basis for moral judgments.]] His intellectual honesty was refreshing, if somewhat disturbing on this point."<ref name=Hitler />
 
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−
== Accusations of cowardice ==
 
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−
''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins and debate]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]
 
−
[[Image:Billcraig_czvx.jpg‎‎|thumb|200px|Dr. [[William Lane Craig]] ]]
 
−
Richard Dawkins has also established a reputation [[Richard Dawkins and debate|for avoiding debates with his strongest opponents]]. On May 14, 2011, the [[Great Britain|British]] newspaper ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' published a news story entitled ''Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God''.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', May 14, 2011</ref> In ''The Daily Telegraph'' article Dr. [[Daniel Came]], a member of the Faculty of [[Philosophy]] at Oxford University, was quoted as writing to fellow atheist Richard Dawkins concerning his refusal to debate Dr. [[William Lane Craig]]: "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as [[cowardice]] on your part."<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html Richard Dawkins accused of [[cowardice]] for refusing to debate existence of God], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', May 14, 2011</ref> 
 
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In October of 2011, Dr. Craig went to England and the Daily Telegraph declared that Dawkins is either a fool or a coward for his refusal to debate William Lane Craig plus declared that Dawkins is a "proud man" and a "coward" who puts on an "illiterate, angry schtick" for the public.<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100112626/richard-dawkins-is-either-a-fool-or-a-coward-for-refusing-to-debate-william-lane-craig/ Richard Dawkins is either a fool or a coward for refusing to debate William Lane Craig - October 21, 2011 - ''The Daily Telegraph'']</ref>  In addition, [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[True Free Thinker|Ken Ammi]] called Dawkins a "cowardly clown" because Dawkins and other prominent skeptics/atheists refused to debate [[Creation Ministries International]] at the 2010 Global Atheist Convention.<ref>[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-cowardly-clown Richard Dawkins, the Cowardly Clown]</ref> For more information please see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]
 
−
 
 
−
Richard Dawkins is known for his vehement and sometimes vitriolic promotion of [[weak atheism]] and the [[evolution|evolutionary paradigm]]. Dawkins has repeatedly likened religious faith to a mental defect. Mr. Dawkins currently resides in the [[UK]]. He was an assistant professor of Zoology at the [[University of California, Berkeley]] for two years before becoming a zoology researcher at [[Oxford]].
 
−
 
 
−
==Richard Dawkins Lost a Debate to a Rabbi and then Claimed the Debate Never Took Place==
 
−
[[Image:2402173645 c8e6168fe7.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|200px|right|Richard Dawkins,
 
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<br />
 
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<br />
 
−
<small>(photo by Shane Pope, Title: Richard Dawkins, obtained from [http://flickr.com/photos/shanepope/2402173645/ Flickr, see license agreement)</small>] ]]
 
−
''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach]] and [[Atheism and Debate]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]
 
−
 
 
−
As briefly noted earlier Richard Dawkins had a debate with Rabbi [[Shmuley Boteach]]. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach was named the London Times Preacher of the Year 2000 and is the author of 20 books.<ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Judaism/2008/05/Richard-Dawkins-Shameful-Attack.aspx</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
Recently Rabbi Shmuley Boteach wrote:
 
−
{{cquote|...Dawkins attacked me on his website and denied that he and I had ever debated. My office quickly posted the full footage of a two hour debate which took place on October 23, 1996, a debate which Dawkins actually lost after a vote taken by the students as to which side, science or religion, caused more students to change their minds. In my article on the subject responding to his attack I was extremely respectful of Dr. Dawkins and was therefore shocked to receive a letter in return in which he accused me of speaking like Hitler. Had the noted scientist lost his mind? Hitler? Was this for real?<ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Judaism/2008/05/Richard-Dawkins-Shameful-Attack.aspx</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
[[WorldNetDaily]] offers the following quotes of Rabbi Boteach about debate and the initial denial by Dawkins that the debate never took place:
 
−
{{cquote|That is a particularly bold untruth. Our debate, which took place at St. Catherine's College, Oxford on Oct. 23, 1996, attracted hundreds of students and featured, on the atheist side, Prof. Dawkins and chemistry Prof. Peter Atkins, and on the religion side, me and Prof. Keith Ward, Oxford's Regius Professor of Divinity. Student president Josh Wine was in the chair," the rabbi explained.
 
−
 
 
−
"In a vote at the end of the debate as to how many students had changed their minds after hearing the arguments, Dawkin's side was defeated and religion prevailed, which might account for his selective memory," he wrote.<ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61565</ref>}}
 
−
[[File:Shmuley Boteach.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|Shmuley Boteach
 
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<br />
 
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<br />
 
−
<small>(see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RebShmuley.jpg license agreement])</small> ]]
 
−
Rabbi Boteach reported at Beliefnet:
 
−
{{cquote|I also gave Dr. Dawkins the opportunity to even score by accepting a further debate, at the time and place of his choosing (within reason, of course), to which he has yet to respond.<ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Judaism/2008/05/Richard-Dawkins-Shameful-Attack.aspx</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
A video of the debate that Dawkins lost to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is available at Rabbi Schely Boteach's website.
 
−
 
 
−
A supporter of the [[Question evolution campaign]] wrote:
 
−
{{cquote|We don't believe a word Richard Dawkins says and for good reason. For example, he claimed to have never debated Rabbi Schmuley Boteach, but then he had to admit a debate took place as it was videotaped. According to the student audience, the rabbi won the debate as he convinced more students of the validity of his position concerning the existence of God.
 
−
 
 
−
Furthermore, an angry and embarrassed Dawkins then claimed the rabbi shrieked like Adolf Hitler. Now tell me, how do you forget a debate with a rabbi who supposedly shrieks like Adolf Hitler? Obviously, Dawkins exposed himself for the clown and fraud he is.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/richard-dawkins-and-rabbi-shmuley.html Richard Dawkins and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach debate ]</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
== Richard Dawkins' radio debate with Giles Fraser ==
 
−
[[File:Giles Frasier.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|Giles Frasier]]
 
−
''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins' debate with Giles Fraser]]
 
−
 
 
−
On February 19, 2012 ''The Daily Telegraph'' reported:
 
−
{{cquote|...some critics of Dawkins branded him "an embarrassment to atheism" after what many listeners considered a humiliation in a Radio 4 debate with Giles Fraser, formerly Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, in which the professor boasted he could recite the full title of [[Charles Darwin]]'s "[[The Origin of Species]]", then when challenged, dithered and said: "Oh God."<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9091007/Slaves-at-the-root-of-the-fortune-that-created-Richard-Dawkins-family-estate.html Slaves at the root of the fortune that created Richard Dawkins' family estate, The Daily Telegragh, February 19, 2012]</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
On February 14, 2012, ''The Daily Telegraph'' reported regarding the radio debate:
 
−
{{cquote|Dr. Fraser skewered the atheist campaigner Richard Dawkins so fabulously, so stylishly, and so thoroughly that anti-religion’s high priest was reduced to incoherent mumbling and spluttering.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9082059/For-once-Richard-Dawkins-is-lost-for-words.html For once, Richard Dawkins is lost for words - Atheists’ arrogance is their Achilles’ heel, as a cringemaking radio performance has proved By Stephen Pollard, Feb 14, 2012]</ref>}} 
 
−
 
 
−
[[Vox Day]] wrote concerning the embarrassing incident for Dawkins:
 
−
{{cquote|As I have said repeatedly, Richard Dawkins is a huge intellectual fraud, and perhaps those who previously expressed incredulity at the idea that I would quite easily trounce the old charlatan in a debate will find it just a bit more credible now. This behavior isn't an outlier or a momentary lapse of memory, it is entirely characteristic. The man quite frequently pretends to knowledge that he patently does not possess and assumes he knows things that he obviously does not, which is why he avoids debate with those who are aware of his intellectual pretensions and are capable of exposing them.
 
−
 
 
−
It's bad enough that Dawkins couldn't come up with the name of what he considers to be the most important book ever written immediately after claiming he could do so, but in addition to stumbling a little on the subtitle, he even forgot the rather important part of the title that refers to the actual mechanism supposedly responsible!<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/02/richard-dawkins-sans-pants.html Richard Dawkins, sans pants, Wednesday, February 15, 2012]</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
(The full title of Charles Darwin's book is ''On the [[The Origin of Species]] by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life'' and evolutionists rarely cite the book's full title which is racist. See: [[Evolutionary racism]])
 
−
 
 
−
== New Atheism ==
 
−
[[Image:Hitchens,_Stanford.jpg‎ |right|thumb|200px|[[Christopher Hitchens]] ]]
 
−
''See also:'' [[New Atheism]]
 
−
 
 
−
The term [[New Atheism]] which first appeared in the November 2006 edition of ''Wired'' magazine, is used to describe a new incarnation of [[militant atheism]] and also frequently applied to a series of six best-selling books by five authors that appeared in the period between 2004–2008.  These authors include Richard Dawkins,  [[Christopher Hitchens]], [[Sam Harris]], [[Daniel Dennett]] and [[Victor J. Stenger]].<ref>http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/battle.html</ref> The four most prominent writers of the New Atheist movement are Richard Dawkins, [[Christopher Hitchens]], [[Sam Harris]] and [[Daniel Dennett]].
 
−
 
 
−
=== Impact of the New Atheism ===
 
−
The "New Atheism" has not had much of an impact in terms of gaining new adherents to [[atheism]].  In a March 10, 2008 [[USA Today]] article Stephen Prothero stated the following regarding the impact of the "New Atheism":
 
−
{{cquote|Numbers lie, but they also tell tales untrustworthy and otherwise.  So the key question stirring around the much discussed U.S Religious Landscape Survey released in late February by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life is what tale does it state about the state of the union.
 
−
 
 
−
For some, the story of this survey, based on interviews in multiple languages with more than 35,000 adults, is the strength of American Religion.
 
−
 
 
−
Not too long ago, I wrote that American atheism was going the way of the freak show.  As books by Christopher Hitchens and other "new atheists" climbed the best seller lists, I caught a lot of flak for that prophecy. But atheist make up only 1.6% of respondents to this survey....<ref>American Faith: A Work In Progress by Stephen Prothero, USA Today, March 10, 2008, page 11A</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
==== Richard Dawkins' lack of a counter plan to reverse the decline of global atheism and agnosticism ====
 
−
 
 
−
Also, on July 31, 2012 in an article entitled ''Evolutionists, atheists and agnostics: Where is your master plan to reverse your decline?'' supporters of the [[Question evolution! campaign]] indicated that atheists, agnostics and evolutionists lack a plan to reverse their global decline.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/evolutionists-atheists-and-agnostics.html Evolutionists, atheists and agnostics: Where is your master plan to reverse your decline?]</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
==== Poor leadership skills ====
 
−
 
 
−
Using academic studies, survey data and other information, supporters of the [[Question evolution! campaign]] maintain that including Richard Dawkins, there is a lack of sound leadership within the agnostic/atheist and evolutionist communities.
 
−
 
 
−
See:
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/richard-dawkins-insightful-secular.html Richard Dawkins: Insightful secular strategist or an insincere book peddler?]
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/atheism-is-rudderless-and-unseaworthy.html Atheism is rudderless and unseaworthy]
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/evolutionists-atheists-and-agnostics.html Evolutionists, atheists and agnostics: Where is your master plan to reverse your global decline?]
 
−
 
 
−
===== Elevatorgate =====
 
−
 
 
−
In 2011, Richard Dawkins sparked major dissension and factions within via the incidents surrounding the [[Elevatorgate]] controversy. See also: [[Atheist factions]]
 
−
 
 
−
== Richard Dawkins on homosexuality ==
 
−
 
 
−
''For more information please see:'' [[Richard Dawkins on homosexuality]] and [[Genetics, Homosexuality, Evolutionary Paradigm, and Creation Science]] and [[Atheism and homosexuality]]
 
−
 
−
Richard Dawkins, who is a [[liberal]],  speculates that a "gay gene" causes homosexuality, but science has not discovered such a gene (see: [[Causes of Homosexuality|Causes of homosexuality]])<ref>[http://anglicansamizdat.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/richard-dawkins-explains-how-the-gay-gene-was-preserved/ Richard Dawkins speculates that gene for homosexuality exists]</ref> In 1993, Professor [[Miron Baron]], M.D., the renowned medical researcher and Professor at [[Columbia University]], wrote in [[BMJ]] (British Medical Journal) that there is a  conflict relative to the [[evolution|theory of evolution]] and the notion of [[gene|genetic]] [[determinism]] concerning homosexuality.  Dr. Baron wrote "...from an evolutionary perspective, [[homosexuality and genetics|genetically determined homosexuality]] would have become [[extinct]] long ago because of reduced reproduction."<ref>[http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1678219 BMJ. 1993 August 7; 307(6900): 337–338.]</ref> In the United States, [[Theory of evolution and liberalism|liberals are more likely to believe in the theory of evolution]].<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/22/opinion/polls/main965223.shtml</ref>  Also, in the United States, twice as many liberals as conservatives (46% versus 22%) believe people are born homosexual and [[Views on Homosexuality|liberals generally have more favorable opinions about homosexuality]]. Given Dr. [[Miron Baron]]'s commentary about homosexuality, many American liberals are inconsistent on the issues of evolution and homosexuality.
 
−
[[Image:Carl weiland.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|Dr. [[Carl Wieland]] is the Managing Director of [[Creation Ministries International]] ]]
 
−
An individual's beliefs regarding [[creation science]]/[[Creationism|creationism]] and the theory of evolution appear to influence their views on homosexuality. Creationist scientists and creationist assert that the theory of evolution cannot account for the origin of gender and sexual reproduction.<ref>http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/136</ref><ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/pbs_nova/0928ep5.asp</ref> [[Creation Ministries International]] states: "Homosexual acts go against [[God]]’s original [[Intelligent design|design]] of a man and a woman becoming one flesh — see [[Genesis]] 1 and 2, endorsed by [[Jesus]] Himself in [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2019:3–6;&version=49; Matthew 19:3–6]."<ref>http://creation.com/web-cast-questions-and-answers-2002</ref>  In addition, the vast majority of creation scientists reject the notion of [[gene|genetic]] [[determinism]] concerning the [[Causes of Homosexuality|origin of homosexuality]].<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/pbs_nova/0928ep5.asp</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
See also:
 
−
 
 
−
*[[Atheism and homosexuality]]
 
−
*[[Religious Upbringing and Culture Affects Rates of Homosexuality]]
 
−
 
 
−
==== Richard Dawkins commentary on the God of the Old Testament ====
 
−
 
 
−
Richard Dawkins has accused the [[God]] of the [[Old Testament]] of being [[homophobic]].<ref>[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-praises-bible%E2%80%A6-he-ignorant-barbarian Richard Dawkins praises the Bible…is he an ignorant barbarian?]</ref> Yet, Dawkins has not explained why God, who is described as an all powerful spiritual being in the Old Testament, would be afraid of homosexuals.
 
−
 
 
−
==Implication in the death of Jesse Kilgore==
 
−
 
 
−
''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins and Jesse Kilgore]] and [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and suicide]] and [[Atheism and Mental and Physical Health]]
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image:Desperation_man.jpg‎ |thumb|right|200px|Pitzer College sociologist Phil Zuckerman stated concerning [[Atheism and suicide|atheism and suicide]]: "this is the one indicator of societal health in which religious nations fare much better than secular nations."]]
 
−
Dawkins' book "The God Delusion" along with a [[community college]] biology class, have been linked to the tragic suicide of Jesse Kilgore.<ref>http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=81459</ref> Kilgore had several discussions with friends and relatives in which he made it clear Dawkins' book had destroyed his belief in God. This loss of faith is considered the cause of his suicide which is not surprising given that there is evidence which suggest that [[Atheism and suicide|atheism can be a causal factor for suicide for some individuals]].<ref>http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html</ref><ref>http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html</ref><ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF NY Times, September 17, 1894, ATHEISM A CAUSE OF SUICIDE.; Dr. MacArthur Preaches on the Sin and Cowardice of Self-Destruction]</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
Jesse's father is quoted as saying "If my son was a professing [[homosexuality|homosexual]], and a professor challenged him to read [a book called] 'Preventing Homosexuality'… If my son was gay and [the book] made him feel bad, hopeless, and he killed himself, and that came out in the press, there would be an outcry. He would have been a victim of a hate crime and the professor would have been forced to undergo sensitivity training, and there may have even been a wrongful death lawsuit. But because he's a [[Christianity|Christian]], I don't even get a return telephone call."
 
−
 
 
−
Jesse's blog remains online after his death.<ref>http://users.newblog.com/Jkrapture/?post_id=17727</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
Please see: [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and suicide]]
 
−
 
 
−
== ''Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed'' ==
 
−
 
 
−
In the film ''[[Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed]]'', a documentary concerning suppression of the [[intelligent design]] movement, [[Ben Stein]] interviewed Richard Dawkins.
 
−
 
 
−
=== Ben Stein Interview with the evolutionist Richard Dawkins ===
 
−
 
 
−
See also: [[Ben Stein Interview with Richard Dawkins]]
 
−
 
 
−
In the movie [[Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed]], [[Ben Stein]] demonstrated the folly of [[evolutionism]] in his interview with Richard Dawkins ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12rgtN0pCMQ A clip of the interview has been uploaded to YouTube] ).
 
−
 
 
−
The [[Discovery Institute]] provides an transcript of part of the interview along with some commentary:
 
−
{{cquote|BEN STEIN: "What do you think is the possibility that [[Intelligent design|Intelligent Design]] might turn out to be the answer to some issues in genetics or in evolution?"
 
−
 
 
−
DAWKINS: "Well, it could come about in the following way. It could be that at some earlier time, somewhere in the universe, a civilization evolved, probably by some kind of Darwinian means, probably to a very high level of technology, and designed a form of life that they seeded onto perhaps this planet. Now, um, now that is a possibility, and an intriguing possibility. And I suppose it's possible that you might find evidence for that if you look at the details of biochemistry, molecular biology, you might find a signature of some sort of designer."
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
Ho,ho! That is precisely what the [[Raëlism|Raelians]] say:
 
−
 
 
−
Years ago, everybody knew that the earth was flat. Everybody knew that the sun revolved around the earth. Today, everybody knows that life on earth is either the result of random evolution or the work of a supernatural God. Or is it? In "Message from the Designers", Rael presents us with a third option: that all life on earth was created by advanced scientists from another world.
 
−
 
 
−
Richard Dawkins and Rael; "clear thinking" kindred spirits!
 
−
<ref>http://www.discovery.org/a/4589</ref>}}
 
−
[[File:Ben stein.jpg|right|thumbnail|251px|[[Ben Stein]] ]]
 
−
A [[Christian apologetics]] website provides some additional commentary on the Ben Stein/Richard Dawkins interview which focuses on Dawkins response to Ben Stein's questions about the likelihood of the existence of God:
 
−
{{cquote|In this interview there is the following exchange between Ben Stein and Richard Dawkins. Mr. Stein prefaces the exchange with this comment: “Professor Dawkins seemed so convinced that [[God]] doesn’t exist that I wondered if he would be willing to put a number on it.”  Here is Professor Dawkins response, “Well, it’s hard to put a figure on it, but I’d put it at something like ninety-nine percent against or something like that.”  Mr. Stein responded with this question. “Well, how do you know it’s ninety-nine percent (“I don’t,” Dr. Dawkins interjects.) and not, say, ninety-seven percent?”  Dr. Dawkins continues, “You asked me to put a figure on it and I’m not comfortable putting a figure on it. I think it’s… I just think it’s very unlikely.”  “But you couldn’t put a number on it?,” Mr. Stein clarifies. “No, of course not,” said Dr. Dawkins. “So it could be forty-nine percent?,” Mr. Stein asks. Dr. Dawkins replies, “Well, it would be… I mean I think it’s… it’s… it’s unlikely, but… but… I…  and it’s quite far from fifty percent.” (He's very difficult to quote.)  “How do you know?,” Mr. Stein asks. “I don’t know, I mean, I put an argument in the book,” Dr. Dawkins responds.<ref>http://www.readyalways.org/Home/does-god-exist</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
Stein expressed surprise in the narration that Richard Dawkins "believe[d] in intelligent design."<ref name=DSouza>D'Souza, Dinesh. "[http://www.townhall.com/columnists/DineshDSouza/2008/04/21/ben_stein_exposes_richard_dawkins Ben Stein Exposes Richard Dawkins]." ''<Townhall.com>'', April 21, 2008. Accessed April 21, 2008.</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
Instead of attempting to defend [[abiogenesis]], Dawkins actually suggested [[directed panspermia]]&mdash;the very thing that [[Francis Crick]] once suggested to explain life's beginnings.
 
−
 
 
−
On March 20, 2008, Dawkins and colleague [[Paul Zachary Myers|P. Z. Myers]] tried to gain entry to a special preview of the Ben Stein documentary, though no member of the production team had invited them. Dr. Myers was not allowed in, but Dawkins was. Accounts vary as to why this was so; the production team asserts that they decided to grant Dawkins entry on-the-spot because {{cquote|he has handled himself fairly honorably, he is a guest in our country and I had to presume he had flown a long way to see the film.<ref name=Dean>Dean, Cornelia. "[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/science/21expelledw.html No Admission for Evolutionary Biologist at Creationist Film]." ''The New York Times'', March 21, 2008. Accessed April 21, 2008. Note the erroneous headline: ''Expelled'' propounds [[intelligent design]], not [[creationism]].</ref>}} On the other hand, Myers himself states that he guesses that Richard Dawkins was not recognized.
 
−
 
 
−
Richard Dawkins arranged to have a filmed conversation between Richard Dawkins and [[PZ Myers]] concerning this incident posted to YouTube<ref>[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=c39jYgsvUOY]</ref> In it Myers claimed that the production team had full knowledge of his attendance through the online RSVP system and Dawkins claimed that it was an "incredible piece of inept public relations" to "expel" PZ Myers from a film about people being expelled for their views. Both PZ Myers and Richard Dawkins were featured in the film.
 
−
 
 
−
== Richard Dawkins, atheist attrocities, and historical revisionism ==
 
−
 
 
−
''For more information please see:'' [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism]] and [[Atheists and historical illiteracy]]
 
−
 
 
−
[[Dinesh D'Souza]] took Richard Dawkins to task for engaging in historical revisionism when it comes to the atrocities of [[atheism|atheist]] regimes and declared Dawkins "reveals a complete ignorance of history".[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmrRC6zD4Zk VIDEO] 
 
−
[[Image:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|201px|thumb|[[Joseph Stalin]]'s atheistic regime killed tens of millions of people.]]
 
−
In a recent interview D'Souza declared:
 
−
{{cquote|Richard Dawkins argues that at least the atheist regimes didn't kill people in the name of [[atheism]]. Isn't it time for this biologist to get out of the lab and read a little history? Marxism and [[Communism]] were atheist ideologies. [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]] and [[Mao Zedong|Mao]] weren't dictators who happened to be atheist; atheism was part of their official doctrine.
 
−
 
−
It was no accident, as the Marxists liked to say, that they shut down the churches and persecuted the clergy...}} 
 
−
 
 
−
Dinesh D'Souza stated in another interview:
 
−
{{cquote|As one writer put it, “Leaders such as Stalin and Mao persecuted religious groups, not in a bid to expand atheism, but as a way of focusing people’s hatred on those groups to consolidate their own power.” Of course I agree that murderous regimes, whether [[Christian]] or atheist, are generally seeking to strengthen their position. But if Christian regimes are held responsible for their crimes committed in the name of Christianity, then atheist regimes should be held accountable for their crimes committed in the name of atheism. And who can deny that Stalin and Mao, not to mention Pol Pot and a host of others, all committed atrocities in the name of a Communist ideology that was explicitly atheistic? Who can dispute that they did their bloody deeds by claiming to be establishing a “new man” and a religion-free utopia? These were mass murders performed with atheism as a central part of their ideological inspiration, they were not mass murders done by people who simply happened to be atheist.<ref>http://www.churchinhistory.org/pages/atheism/805-answering-atheists-regarding-war.htm</ref>}}
 
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[[Image:Khvhkgfiy.jpg|right|thumb|[[Vladimir Lenin]] ]]
 
−
[[Karl Marx]] said "[Religion] is the opium of the people". Marx also stated: "[[Communism]] begins from the outset (Owen) with atheism; but atheism is at first far from being communism; indeed, that atheism is still mostly an abstraction."<ref>http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
[[Vladimir Lenin]] wrote: "A Marxist must be a [[materialism|materialist]], i. e., an enemy of religion, but a dialectical materialist, i. e., one who treats the struggle against religion not in an abstract way, not on the basis of remote, purely theoretical, never varying preaching, but in a concrete way, on the basis of the [[class struggle]] which is going on in practice and is educating the masses more and better than anything else could."<ref>http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm</ref>
 
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−
Dr. R. J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii, is the scholar who first coined the term [[democide]] (death by government). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate concerning the loss of life due to communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM</ref> The atheism in [[communism|communist]] regimes has been and continues to be [[militant atheism]] that has committed various acts of repression including the razing of thousands of religious buildings and the killing, imprisoning, and the oppression of religious leaders and believers (for details see: [[communism]]). In the atheistic and communist Soviet Union, 44 anti religious museums were opened and the largest was the 'The Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism' in [[Leningrad]]’s Kazan cathedral.<ref>http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
== John Lennox's discussion with New Atheist Richard Dawkins about the historicity of Jesus ==
 
−
 
 
−
''See also:'' [[Atheists and historical illiteracy]] and [[Historicity of Jesus]]
 
−
 
 
−
[[John Lennox]] pointed out to Richard Dawkins that Dawkins claimed in his book ''The God Delusion'' that [[Jesus Christ]] may have never existed and that Dawkins errantly claimed that ancient historians have some disagreement on whether Jesus existed or not. After some additional discussion with Dawkins, Dawkins conceded that Jesus existed and said, "I take that back. Jesus existed".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ant5HS01tBQ Richard Dawkins admits Jesus existed]</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
== Christian apologist Dr. William Lane Craig is Reported to Have Called Dawkins a Coward ==
 
−
 
 
−
''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins and William Lane Craig]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]] and [[Atheism and Debate]]
 
−
 
 
−
Dr. William Lane Craig is one of [[Christian apologetics|Christianity's leading defenders]] and many individuals over the years have attempted to arrange a debate between Dr. Craig and Richard Dawkins. Richard Dawkins has offered various ruses on why he will not debate William Lane Craig, which Dr. Craig supporters have shown were inconsistent and merely a dodge to avoid debating one of Christianity's strongest advocates.<ref>http://www.uncommondescent.com/evolution/william-lane-craig-is-avoided-by-richard-dawkins/</ref>
 
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[[‎‎File:Dr. William Lane Craig.jpg|thumb|150px|Dr. [[William Lane Craig]] ]]
 
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[[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Dr. Victor Reppert is the author of ''[[C. S. Lewis]]'s Dangerous Idea: In Defense of the Argument from Reason''.<ref>http://dangerousidea.blogspot.com/2007/01/dawkins-ducks-craig.html</ref> In 2007, Dr. Reppert wrote:
 
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{{cquote|[[William Lane Craig|Bill Craig]] sent me a newsletter in which he will be debating twice in the UK on "Is God a Delusion" but will not be debating Dawkins himself. Now that would be the debate to see! Having seen this, I wrote him saying "Oh drat! no debate with Dawkins!" He responded:
 
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The coward! He said, "I've never heard of [[William Lane Craig|William
 
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Craig]]. A debate with him might look good on his
 
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resume, but it wouldn't look good on mine!"
 
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Bill<ref>http://dangerousidea.blogspot.com/2007/01/dawkins-ducks-craig.html</ref>}}
 
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There is now growing public pressure for Dawkins to debate the Christian [[philosophy|philosopher]] of science and Christian apologist Dr. [[William Lane Craig]].<ref>http://manawatu.christian-apologetics.org/sign-the-richard-dawkins-should-debate-william-craig-petition/</ref> For example,  currently there is a petition for Richard Dawkins debate William Lane Craig.<ref>http://manawatu.christian-apologetics.org/sign-the-richard-dawkins-should-debate-william-craig-petition/</ref>
 
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== Refusal of Richard Dawkins to Debate Christian apologist Dinesh D'Souza==
 
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[[File:Dineshdsouza-full.jpg|thumb|180px|right|[[Dinesh D'Souza]] ]]
 
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''See also:''  [[Richard Dawkins and Dinesh D'Souza]] and [[Atheism and Debate]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]
 
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Christian author [[Dinesh D'Souza]] wrote concerning Richard Dawkins refusal to debate him: "To be honest, I find your behavior extremely bizarre. You go halfway around the world to chase down televangelists to outsmart them in an interview format that you control, but given several opportunities to engage the issues you profess to care about in a true spirit of open debate and inquiry, you duck and dodge and run away."<ref>http://www.one-episcopalian-on-faith.com/2008/07/richard-dawkins.html</ref> D'Souza further wrote concerning Dawkins: "When he is confronted with history, philosophy, and logic, Dawkins seems to have very little to say."<ref>http://townhall.com/columnists/DineshDSouza/2008/07/28/countering_richard_dawkins_on_al-jazeera</ref> Next, D'Souza indicated Dawkins was a "showman who takes on unprepared and unsuspecting opponents when you yourself control the editing, but when a strong opponent shows up you manufacture reasons to avoid him."<ref>http://www.one-episcopalian-on-faith.com/2008/07/richard-dawkins.html</ref> Lastly, D'Souza wrote: "So why doth Dawkins languish in his corner, attended by sycophants? Tremble not, Sir Richard. 'Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant do taste of death but once.'"<ref>http://www.tothesource.org/11_13_2007/11_13_2007.htm</ref>
 
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Dr. Jamie Glazov wrote concerning the refusal of Richard Dawkins to debate Dinesh D'Souza: 
 
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{{cquote|As many readers can attest, D’Souza has debated [[Daniel Dennett]], [[Christopher Hitchens]], Peter Singer, [[Michael Shermer]], Dan Barker, and other well-known atheists. He intellectually cut those guys to pieces. Harris and Dawkins are just afraid to meet D’Souza. D’Souza writes: “And my challenges to Dawkins to step into the arena have only met with pathetic rationalization: ‘Richard is simply too busy and smart to debate you Dinesh.’ Busy doing what besides being caught with his pants down by Ben Stein? And I guess he's smart because he doesn't want to risk further embarrassing himself and destroying his public reputation. Won't it be hilarious if the ‘party of faith’ is unafraid of opposing arguments while the ‘party of reason’ cannot withstand the arguments of its critics? This is what Henry James might describe as a most interesting turning of the screw.”}}
 
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== Richard Dawkins' public refusal to debate creationists ==
 
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[[File:Safarti3.jpg|thumbnail|right|Recently, a [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] called Richard Dawkins a "cowardly clown" for refusing to debate apt debate challengers such as the [[creation science|creation scientists]] at [[Creation Ministries International]].<ref>http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-cowardly-clown</ref> Dr. [[Jonathan Sarfati]] recently published the book ''The Greatest Hoax on Earth'' which rebuts Richard Dawkins' recent book ''The Greatest Show on Earth''.<ref>http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-cowardly-clown</ref>]]
 
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For more information please see: [[Richard Dawkins' public refusal to debate creationists]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]] and [[Global atheism]]
 
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Richard Dawkins has publicly declared that he will not debate [[creation|creationists]].<ref>http://www.uncommondescent.com/evolution/william-lane-craig-is-avoided-by-richard-dawkins/</ref> Yet, Richard Dawkins debated the theist John Lennox who adheres to the position of [[intelligent design]].<ref>http://www.uncommondescent.com/evolution/william-lane-craig-is-avoided-by-richard-dawkins/</ref> According to Richard Dawkins, intelligent design is a form of [[creationism]]/[[creation science]].<ref>http://www.uncommondescent.com/evolution/william-lane-craig-is-avoided-by-richard-dawkins/</ref> Therefore, Richard Dawkins is not consistent and trustworthy concerning his assertion that he will not debate creationists.<ref>http://www.uncommondescent.com/evolution/william-lane-craig-is-avoided-by-richard-dawkins/</ref>  Evolutionists and atheists inconsistency concerning debating creationists was commented on by the [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologetic]] website [[True Free Thinker]] which declared: "Interestingly enough, having noted that since some atheists refuse to debate “creationists” but then go on to debate some of those people but not others, it is clear that they are, in reality, being selective and making excuses for absconding from difficulties..."<ref>http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/speaking-assiduous-absconders%E2%80%A6yet-again-vox-day-challenges-pz-myers-debate</ref> When [[Richard Dawkins and William Lane Craig|Richard Dawkins refused to debate Dr. William Lane Craig]] one of the ruses Richard Dawkins used was supposedly because Dr. Craig was a creationist and Richard Dawkins claimed he didn't debate creationist.<ref>http://www.uncommondescent.com/evolution/william-lane-craig-is-avoided-by-richard-dawkins/</ref> Richard was called on his inconsistency and lack of trustworthiness concerning his excuses for refusing to debate Dr. Craig by the intelligent design advocate Clive Hayden.<ref>http://www.uncommondescent.com/evolution/william-lane-craig-is-avoided-by-richard-dawkins/</ref>
 
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In 2010, the prominent atheists who attended the 2010 global atheist conference, which included Richard Dawkins, were challenged to a debate by Creation Ministries International.<ref>http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-cowardly-clown</ref> Richard Dawkins, [[PZ Myers]] and other prominent atheists refused to debate the creation scientists at [[Creation Ministries International]].<ref>http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-cowardly-clown</ref> Generally speaking, [[Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates|creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates]].
 
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The refusal of Richard Dawkins and other prominent atheists to debate the staff of [[Creation Ministries International]] is not surprising given that there are [[Instances of Richard Dawkins ducking debates|several instances Richard Dawkins avoiding strong debate opponents]]. In addition, creationists maintain that Richard Dawkins did not give a particularly strong showing at the [[Huxley Memorial Debate]]. One of the more embarrassing debates (particular the events surrounding the debate) was the case of [[Richard Dawkins and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach|Richard Dawkins losing a video taped debate to Rabbi Boteach]] according to the college audience.<ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Judaism/2008/05/Richard-Dawkins-Shameful-Attack.aspx</ref><ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61565</ref> After the debate,  Richard Dawkins denied the debate ever took place and Rabbi Boteach provided the video taped evidence that the debate did take place.<ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Judaism/2008/05/Richard-Dawkins-Shameful-Attack.aspx</ref><ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61565</ref> Mr. Dawkins has declined to debate Rabbit Shmuley Boteach another time.<ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Judaism/2008/05/Richard-Dawkins-Shameful-Attack.aspx</ref><ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61565</ref> Incidentally, Paul Humber notes there was a deception that occurred during email correspondence with Mr. Dawkins concerning the tally of vote counts that occurred for the Oxford debate between creation scientists Professor A.E. Wilder-Smith and Professor Edgar Andrews and evolutionists Richard Dawkins and John Maynard Smith (see: [[Huxley Memorial Debate]])<ref>http://www.creationresearch.org/creation_matters/pdf/2003/cm08_04_rp.PDF</ref> Mr. Humber did not indicate whether Mr. Dawkins committed the deception or was merely duped by someone who provided an altered account.<ref>http://www.creationresearch.org/creation_matters/pdf/2003/cm08_04_rp.PDF</ref>
 
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[[File:PzMyers2.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|The atheist and evolutionist [[PZ Myers]] declared, "...I don’t object to [[bestiality]] in a very limited set of specific conditions..."<ref name="achilles">[http://templestream.blogspot.com/2012/08/atheist-achilles-heels-objective.html Atheist Achilles Heels: Objective Morality and Sacred Life]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/05/22/the-objective-morality-gotcha/ The “objective morality” gotcha]</ref> See: [[Atheism and bestiality]]
 
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<br />
 
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<small>(photo obtained from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/reuvenim/4426093513/ Flickr], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en  license agreement])</small>]]
 
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The website [[True Free Thinker]] declared concerning the refusal of Richard Dawkins, [[PZ Myers]] and other prominent atheists to debate the [[creation science|creation scientists]] and other staff at [[Creation Ministries International]]:
 
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{{cquote|In keeping with his constant attention getting shenanigans and his equally constant absconding from debating apt challengers via a barrage of illogical and excuses, the moniker of cowardly clown fits Richard Dawkins more than ever (see [http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/send-clowns-%E2%80%93-richard-dawkins-obliges Send in the Clowns – Richard Dawkins Obliges]).
 
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Enter Jonathan Sarfati (PhD in chemistry),senior scientist at Creation Ministries International, who recently published the book “The Greatest Hoax on Earth? Refuting Dawkins on Evolution.” Interestingly, Jonathan Sarfati sought to publish the book by the time that the 2010 Global Atheist Convention—billed as “The Rise of Atheism”—of March 12-14 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center in Australia.
 
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The most intelligent, well informed and vociferous atheists in the world, including [http://www.truefreethinker.com/richard-dawkins Richard Dawkins], [http://www.truefreethinker.com/dan-barker Dan Barker], [http://www.truefreethinker.com/pz-myers PZ Myers], et al, were challenged to debate while their worldwide choir was gathered in one place and yet, one by one they each found excuses to cower from debate even whilst proclaiming to their adherents the intellectual superiority of atheism.<ref>http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-cowardly-clown</ref>}}
 
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=== Richard Dawkins excuses for not debating creationists ===
 
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Richard Dawkins has offered some [[Richard Dawkins' ruses for refusing to debate creation scientists|unjustifiable ruses for not not wanting to debate creationists but the true reason is that he knows he will lose the debates]].
 
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There are certainly reputable scientists, medical doctors and members of the public who hold the evolutionary paradigm in low esteem [[evolution|for quite valid reasons]] so Dawkins excuses for refusing to debate creationists simply have little to no weight and they are certainly not the best explanation for Mr. Dawkins' behavior in this matter. In 2007, "[[Discovery Institute]]'s Center for Science and Culture today announced that over 700 scientists from around the world have now signed a statement expressing their skepticism about the contemporary theory of Darwinian evolution."<ref>http://www.discovery.org/a/2732</ref> In addition, given that atheism is held in low esteem in many parts of the world and it is a minority position worldwide, Dawkins' refusal to [[Instances of Richard Dawkins ducking debates|debate strong theistic debaters]] is quite odd given his allegation that he doesn't debate creationists because he doesn't want to give them respectability and publicity. Furthermore, the [[Richard Dawkins and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach|Rabbi Boteach debate and the events surrounding it]], shows the great lengths that Dawkins will go to avoid letting the public know about a debate loss to a [[theism|theist]] (As mentioned previosly Dawkins lost his video taped debate to Rabbi Boteach and then claimed the debate never took place). The reason why Dawkins refuses to debate creation scientists is that generally speaking, [[Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates|creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates]].
 
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== Selective outrage on child molestation and so called "gentle pedophiles" ==
 
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[[‎File:668738335 394b3820fb.jpg|thumbnail|300px|right|Ben-Peter Terpstra wrote in the ''Australian Conservative'': "In all truth, Britain’s clean-shaven [[atheism|atheists]] aren’t serious about children’s rights, or they’d be launching venomous attacks against the [[United Nations]], in light of their more recent sex abuse scandals."(photo obtained from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunnelarmr/668738335/ Flickr], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en license agreement]) ]]
 
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and child pornography]] and [[Richard Dawkins on child molestation and so called "gentle pedophiles"]] and [[Atheism, pederasty and NAMBLA]]
 
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The ''Australian Conservative'' recently published an article by Ben-Peter Terpstra entitled ''Preparing for Richard Dawkins’ crocodile tears'' which charges that Richard Dawkins exhibits selective outrage on the issue of child molestation. In the article Terpstra cites Bendan Oneill who wrote:
 
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{{cquote|The [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] campaign to have Pope Benedict XVI arrested when he visits Britain later this year exposes the deeply disturbing, authoritarian and even Inquisitorial side to today’s campaigning secularism...
 
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In 2006, Dawkins criticised ‘hysteria about paedophilia’ and said that, even though he was the victim of sexual abuse at boarding school, he would defend his abusive former teachers if ‘50 years on they had been hounded by vigilantes or lawyers as no better than child murderers’. Yet now he wants to put abusive priests on a par with genocidaires.<ref>http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/8526/</ref>}}
 
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Ben-Peter Terpstra writes: "In all truth, Britain’s clean-shaven atheists aren’t serious about children’s rights, or they’d be launching venomous attacks against the [[United Nations]], in light of their more recent sex abuse scandals."
 
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Concerning Richard Dawkins recent selective outrage on child molestation the Christian apologetics website [[True Free Thinker]] writes:
 
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{{cquote|His reputation has always been the very same and this Pope related publicity stunt is nothing new. Moreover, why would he oppose the Pope considering that what the Pope may be complicit in, surely, relates to some gentle pedophiles.
 
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What! “Gentle pedophiles”!!!
 
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Oh, no, no, no; those are not my words but Richard Dawkins who, indeed, argues that there are gentle pedophiles and that way too much is made of pedophilia at times.
 
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For these reasons and more Robert Fulford’s referring to Richard Dawkins as a clown is very, very offensive—to clowns. Clowns are lovable and funny whilst Richard Dawkins is belligerent, arrogant, belittling and shockingly lacking in knowledge with regards to many of the issues that he takes on (find ample evidence [http://www.truefreethinker.com/richard-dawkins here]).<ref>http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/send-clowns-%E2%80%93-richard-dawkins-obliges</ref>}}
 
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==Opposition to Creationism and Religion == 
 
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* Professor Dawkins' anti-religious views are based on two subjective opinions. The first is that religious faith is irrational, the second is that religion causes wars and [[hatred]], or as he puts it, 'Religion makes good people bad'.
 
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Richard Dawkins is a writer and media commentator on the debate between the theory of [[evolution]] and the opposing positions of [[Creation Science|creation science]] and [[intelligent design]].<ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/creation/people/dawkins-r.html Christiananswers.net webpage on Richard Dawkins.]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1872331.stm School attacked over evolution teaching]</ref> He is an ardent proponent of the [[evolution|evolutionary]] view of life in works targeted at the general public, such as his books entitled ''The Selfish Gene'' and ''The Ancestor's Tale''. However, his efforts to promote the theory of evolution have not been very successful, and even in his native land of the UK, 40% of the population believes that [[creationism]] or intelligent design should be taught in the school science curriculum.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4648598.stm</ref>
 
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[[Image:Winston.jpg‎‎|right|thumb|175px|Lord Robert Winston stated Richard Dawkins is bringing science "into disrepute".]]
 
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As an [[atheist]] and evolutionist, Dawkins holds [[Charles Darwin]]'s view that "the universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference."  In addition, he often comes across as having a mocking attitude towards religion.<ref>[http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6mmskXXetcg]</ref> He stridently<ref>Dawkins "has repeatedly likened religious faith to a mental defect." Cornelia Dean, "Scientists Feel Miscast in Film on Life’s Origin," New York Times, Science Section (September 27, 2007).[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/science/27expelled.html]</ref> opposes the traditional role of religion in educational institutions and in society in general.<ref>[http://www.godlessinamerica.com/When%20atheists%20attack.html When [[atheists]] attack: Debunking religion without apology] - George A. Ricker.</ref> Dawkins has derided belief in [[God]] as a "mind-virus",<ref>[http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/47052/ The Dawkins Delusion] by Alistair McGrath</ref> which is infectious and harmful to society. In his 2006 book ''The God Delusion'', he states his belief that fundamentalist religion "subverts science and saps the intellect," a view that is contrary to the fact that many of the most productive scientists, from [[Isaac Newton]] to [[Louis Pasteur]], were devout Christians. The foundation of modern science [[Christianity and Science|was largely established by those who held a Christian worldview]]. Dawkins often says that these men were rather a product of their time and, like many that came before them, lived in fear of persecution by Christians. There is no substantive evidence for this.
 
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Dawkins also cites in his book, the God Delusion, that not one winner of the [[Nobel Prize]] for Science is a theist. While this has been openly debated, he cites his own personal relationships with many of these scientists.
 
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[[Image:McgrathatRefresh.jpg‎|left|thumb|175px|[[Alister McGrath]]]]
 
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Lord Robert Winston is a prominent scientist and British doctor who served as the President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science from 2004 to 2005.<ref>http://www.tvsa.co.za/actorprofile.asp?actorID=5547</ref> Currently, Lord Winston serves as Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College in Britain. In 2006, Winston launched a broadside against Richard Dawkins and stated that he is bringing science "into disrepute" due to his refusal to "connect with spirituality". Winston also stated that Dawkins "sometimes doesn't seem to understand the limitations of science."
 
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[[Alister McGrath]], a Christian theologian who has a background in biophysics and is Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University, wrote:
 
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{{cquote|Richard Dawkins’ latest book ''The God Delusion'' fires off a series of salvos against religion. It is perhaps his weakest book to date, marred by its excessive reliance on bold assertion and rhetorical flourish, where the issues so clearly demand careful reflection and painstaking analysis, based on the best evidence available.}}
 
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[[Atheist]] philosopher [[Michael Ruse]] echoes McGrath's estimation of ''The God Delusion'' and recently stated that the book makes him embarrassed to be an [[atheist]].
 
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Professor McGrath asserts that the aggressive rhetoric of Dawkins' works is merely a mask to cover a deep insecurity about the public credibility of [[atheism]].
 
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McGrath recently wrote a book opposing the [[atheist]] ideology of  Dawkins entitled ''The Dawkins Delusion?: [[Atheist]] Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine''.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=433628&in_page_id=1770</ref>
 
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==Darwin's Rottweiler and the [[Huxley Memorial Debate]]==
 
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For more information please see: [[Huxley Memorial Debate]]
 
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The September 2005 issue of ''Discover'' magazine had an article on Richard Dawkins entitled "Darwin’s Rottweiler".<ref name="discover">http://discovermagazine.com/2005/sep/darwins-rottweiler/</ref> The title is an allusion to Thomas Henry Huxley who became to be known as "Darwin's Bulldog".<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v13/i1/monkeys.asp</ref> Huxley is arguably most well known for his debate with Bishop [[Samuel Wilberforce]] over the theory of evolution, and evolutionists and creationist dispute whether or not a key claimed event in the debate actually occurred.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/cm/v13/n1/kids</ref> The ''Discover'' article stated the following:
 
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{{cquote|Dawkins has become “Darwin’s rottweiler”— as [[Alister McGrath]], an Oxford theologian, reminded readers of his recent book, Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life — so intent on prevailing in intellectual combat that he alienates others and undermines the dazzling quality of his argumentative skills."<ref name="discover" />}}
 
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The Simonyi Professorship Home Page promotes the idea that Richard Dawkins is "Darwin's Rottweiler" and has an article published in the Seattle newspaper ''EastSideweek'' which states the following:
 
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{{cquote|...Thomas Henry Huxley, earned the nickname "Darwin's bulldog" from his fellow Victorians. In our own less decorous day, Dawkins deserves an even stronger epithet: "Darwin's Rottweiler, perhaps," Simonyi suggests. Now, thanks to [[Charles Simonyi|Simonyi]]'s gift of £1.5 million sterling to England's venerable Oxford University, the Rottweiler is unleashed."}}
 
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[[Image:Wilder-smith-book.jpg‎|right|150px|thumb|Dr. Arthur Ernest Wilder-Smith]]
 
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Now given that Thomas Henry Huxley's is arguably most well known for his debate over the theory of evolution and given that Dawkins has stated he will no longer debate a [[creation scientists]] the title of "Darwin's Rottweiler" can certainly be disputed. Creationists wrote regarding Richard Dawkins current refusal to debate a creation scientist:
 
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{{cquote|A. E. Wilder-Smith is also probably responsible for Richard Dawkins refusing to debate creationists any more. In 1986, Wilder-Smith and Edgar Andrews debated the two leading evolutionists in Britain, Richard Dawkins and John Maynard Smith, at Oxford – a lions’ den with the two strongest Darwinian lions in Europe. Yet even there, over a third – almost half – of the staunchly pro-evolution audience voted that the creation side had won the debate. The vote count became a contentious issue. There were claims of a cover-up by the Oxford Student Union. The AAAS was accused of lying about the vote count and didn’ [sic] correct it even when confronted (see article). The evolutionists apparently were embarrassed that the creationists made such a strong showing. For whatever reason, Dawkins no longer will debate creationists. Reports from those in attendance say that, contrary to the ground rules of the debate, the Dawkins and Maynard Smith repeatedly attacked religion, while the creationists used only scientific arguments. Dawkins himself had to be reprimanded by the moderator for attacking Wilder-Smith about his religious views. Dawkins implored the audience not to give any votes to the creationists lest it be a “blot on the escutcheon of ancient University of Oxford” (an odd remark, considering Oxford was founded by Christians). After the debate, details of the event were lost by the University. Normally, Oxford Union debates are big news, given prominent publicity in the press, radio and television. This one, however, which should have rivalled the historic 1860 Huxley-Wilberforce debate in importance, and indeed was even titled the ’Huxley Memorial Debate,” was silently dropped from the radar screen. In his memoirs, Dr. Wilder-Smith wrote, “No records of my having held the lecture as part of the Oxford Union Debate could be found in any library. No part of the official media breathed a word about it.<ref>http://www.creationsafaris.com/wgcs_5.htm</ref>}}
 
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The aforementioned debate involving Richard Dawkins is fairly well known in creationist/[[intelligent design]] circles and the debate was tape recorded.<ref>http://www.uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/1986-huxley-memorial-debate/</ref> In August of 2003 the [[Creation Research Society]] published some interesting material about their correspondence with Richard Dawkins which focused on the debate.<ref name="cr">http://www.creationresearch.org/creation_matters/pdf/2003/cm08_04_rp.PDF</ref> The Creation Research Society declared:
 
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[[Image:PH2006022801720.jpg‎|left|thumb|150px|[[Henry Morris]]]]
 
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{{cquote|Despite Dr. Dawkins’ plea, there were apparently 115 votes for the creation position (more than 37%). This was done near Darwin’s turf. Imagine flat-earthers going to NASA and convincing over 37% of the scientists there that the earth is flat. Maybe creation science is not as closely akin to flat-earthism as Dr. Dawkins supposes (see his Free Inquiry article).<ref name="cr" />}}
 
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Richard Dawkins no longer will debate a creation scientist. Robert Sloan, Director of Paleontology at the University of Minnesota, reluctantly admitted to a ''Wall Street Journal'' reporter that the "creationists tend to win" the public debates which focused on the creation vs. [[theory of evolution|evolution]] controversy.<ref>Ankerberg, John, and Weldon, John, [http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/science/SC0104W1E.htm Truth in Advertising: Damaging the Cause of Science]</ref>
 
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In August of 1979, [[Henry Morris|Dr. Henry Morris]] reported in an [[Institute for Creation Research]] letter the following: “By now, practically every leading evolutionary scientist in this country has declined one or more invitations to a scientific debate on creation/evolution.”
 
−
Morris also said about the creation scientist [[Duane Gish]] (who had over 300 formal debates): “At least in our judgment and that of most in the audiences, he always wins.” Generally speaking, leading evolutionists generally no longer debate creation scientists.<ref>http://www.icr.org/article/811/</ref>
 
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=== Richard Dawkins violation' of the terms of the debate proceedings ===
 
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As noted earlier, it was agreed before the debate that discussion of religion was not to occur during the debate and that only the evidence related to the physical sciences were going to be discussed. At the end of the debate, Richard Dawkins started to give an impassioned plea to the audience to not give a single vote to the creationists which would show support for creationism. Mr. Dawkins was told to sit down by the President of the Oxford Union for violating the terms of the debate as far as not mentioning religion (as noted earlier John Maynard Smith also violated the terms of the debate).<ref>http://www.creationresearch.org/creation_matters/pdf/2003/cm08_04_rp.PDF</ref>
 
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===  Deception related to email correspondence with Richard Dawkins ===
 
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As mentioned earlier, Paul Humber notes there was a deception that occurred during email correspondence with Mr. Dawkins concerning the tally of vote counts that occurred for the Huxley Memorial Debate between creation scientists Professor A.E. Wilder-Smith and Professor Edgar Andrews and evolutionists Richard Dawkins and John Maynard Smith.<ref>http://www.creationresearch.org/creation_matters/pdf/2003/cm08_04_rp.PDF</ref> Mr. Humber did not indicate whether Mr. Dawkins committed the deception or was merely duped by someone who provided an altered account.<ref>http://www.creationresearch.org/creation_matters/pdf/2003/cm08_04_rp.PDF</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
==Brights Movement==
 
−
[[Image:DrVitz.jpg|thumbnail|110px|right|Ex-[[atheist]] and  psychologist Dr. [[Paul Vitz]]]]The [[Brights Movement]] was started in 2003 by Paul Geisert and Mynga Futrell in order to assist in the advocacy of a [[Naturalism|naturalistic worldview]]. In October of 2003 in a article in ''[[the Guardian]]'', Richard Dawkins associated being a "bright" with being an intellectual.<ref>http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,12084,981412,00.html</ref> [[Atheist]] [[author]] and columnist [[Christopher Hitchens]] expressed his "annoyance at Professor Dawkins and Daniel Dennett, for their cringe-making proposal that [[atheists]] should conceitedly nominate themselves to be called "brights".<ref>http://www.slate.com/id/2165033/entry/2165035/</ref> [[ABC News|ABC]]  News.com commentator John Allen Paulos remarked of the Brights campaign, "I don't think a degree in [[Public Relations|public relations]] is needed to expect that many people will construe the term as smug, ridiculous, and arrogant" (Paulos 2003).<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_2_28/ai_114090211/pg_2</ref>[[Psychology|Psychologist]] and [[ex-atheist]] Dr. [[Paul Vitz]] wrote a book entitled ''Faith of the Fatherless'' in which he focuses on his study of the lives of more than a dozen leading [[atheists]].<ref>Vitz, Paul, [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt The Psychology of [[Atheism]]], September 24, 1997 (lecture notes taken by an audience member).</ref> Dr. Vitz has stated there were two common factors he observed in the leading [[atheists]] he profiled: they were all intelligent and arrogant.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt</ref> Richard Dawkins is listed as an "Enthusiastic Bright" at the Brights Movement website.<ref>http://www.the-brights.net/people/enthusiastic/index.html</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
== Other reactions to Dawkins' views within the academic community ==
 
−
 
 
−
Some in the academic community are critical of Richard Dawkins. One such example is Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal and President of the [[Royal Society]]. In a debate in May 2007 between Rees and Dawkins, Rees said that science needed as many friends as possible and that creating enemies within mainstream religion will make it "more difficult to combat the kinds of anti-science sentiments that are really important". He also argued that it will make it more difficult to fight terrorism. Richard Dawkins counter-argued that being nice to bishops helps to foster the view that faith is virtuous and can excuse any act on its behalf. Rees continued to argue that religion has no [[monopoly]] on being unreasonable citing examples of scientific sects such as the [[Raelism|Raelians]] or extreme eco-groups as being as dangerous as religious fundamentalists.<ref>Guardian story of Martin Rees and Richard Dawkins debate|http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/may/29/controversiesinscience.peopleinscience</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
Among theologians there are many critics of Richard Dawkins, a notable example being Alister McGrath as noted earlier. Alister McGrath is Professor of Historical Theology at the University of Oxford. He has accused Dawkins of being ignorant of theology and has written a book challenging Dawkins' anti-religious stance, ''The Dawkins Delusion''. Even among biology colleagues, there are critics. While Ken Miller, a biology professor, doesn't challenge Dawkins' views on evolution, he does take issue with his insistence that religion and science are incompatible.<ref>Discover's article on Darwin's Rottweiler|http://discovermagazine.com/2005/sep/darwins-rottweiler/article_view?b_start:int=1&-C=</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
Richard Dawkins, for his part, claims bafflement that some scientists he respects are capable of religious faith.<ref>Richard Dawkins, 2006. ''The God Delusion''</ref><ref>The Humanist article Is Science A Religion?|http://www.thehumanist.org/humanist/articles/dawkins.html</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
==Criticism of the Blind Watchmaker and Climbing Mount Improbable==
 
−
[[Image:Willard-dallas-3.jpg‎‎|left|thumbnail|150px|Dr. Dallas Willard]]
 
−
[[United States|American]] [[Philosopher|philosopher]] Dr. Dallas Willard wrote concerning ''The Blind Watchmaker'' by Richard Dawkins:
 
−
{{cquote|When he writes a book like the present one he is not functioning as a scientist. If he were, he should incorporate his "findings" into the most advanced textbooks in the field and see how they fare as representations of established knowledge. He complains that "the true, Darwinian explanation of our own existence is still, remarkably, not a routine part of the curriculum of a general education."  Then by all means let him enter the academic arena and present his views about the watchmaker as established knowledge. He should not reserve his views for infliction upon a largely helpless public whom his scientific credentials and elaborate rhetorical devices will overwhelm and make incapable of any accurate assessment of argument. When he writes books like ''The Blind Watchmaker'' he is just a naturalist [[metaphysics|metaphysician]], trying to cozy up to the scientists and blend into their company in such a way that his true colors will not be noticed. He takes the liberty to dress down what he calls "redneck creationism", but unfortunately there are rednecks on the side of "Darwinianism" as well. He is one of the most outstanding.<ref>http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=52</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
Dr. [[Jonathan Sarfati]] offered several criticisms of the book ''The Blind Watchmaker'' by Richard Dawkins and states in his summary that the "...Apostle of [[Atheism]] has a long way to go to make a convincing case for his faith."<ref name="cotw">http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1855</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
==Non-Academic Position at Oxford==
 
−
Up until his retirement from the post in September 2008, Dawkins was the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at [[Oxford University]], having been appointed as the first holder of this endowed position. One Reverend has accused him of using his post "not to promote science, but rather his own [[atheistic]] materialist philosophy."
 
−
 
 
−
The "post" was a donated one, and is not a normal professorship<ref> "[...] the income from the endowment shall be applied in the first instance to fund a post in the Public Understanding of Science to be held by Dr C.R. Dawkins, Fellow of New College, on such terms and conditions as Council and the General Board may determine, and to provide support costs for such a post to be administered in accordance with ibid., cl. 5." [http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/1995-6/weekly/091195/acts.htm#4Dec]</ref> at the Museum of Natural History, an institution owned by the [[University of Oxford]]. The "post" did not entail "substantial teaching and administrative duties within Oxford University."  According to the Simonyi Professorship website, the professor holding this position is to "communicate scientific ideas through a variety of media, in order to reach a wide range of people."<ref> "[...] the Simonyi Professor is not expected to undertake substantial teaching and administrative duties within Oxford University: any such efforts should be directed primarily towards the education of non-specialists."</ref> However, in a review of the book ''Climbing Mount Improbable'' by Richard Dawkins, Dr. [[Jonathan Sarfati]] has stated regarding Dawkins's position at Oxford:
 
−
[[Image:35242.jpg‎|right|thumb|125px|Paul Johnson]]
 
−
{{cquote|British author Paul Johnson called it ‘Oxford’s first Chair of [[Atheism]].’  But true (operational) science involves repeatable, observable experimentation in the present, which includes [[physics]], [[chemistry]], experimental [[biology]] and [[geology]], etc. ... Dawkins has made no notable contributions to any of these, or even to the history or philosophy of science.<ref name="cotw" />}}
 
−
 
 
−
It has been claimed by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach that the special terms of this gift might have allowed Dawkins to bypass the peer review promotion process customarily required before receiving the title of "professor" as he believes a decree by Oxford seems to imply this. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach wrote about Dawkins' claim to legitimate professorship:
 
−
{{cquote|Many publications refer to you as 'Professor' Richard Dawkins, even though, as your critics maintain, leading Universities regularly deny to any Professor who played a role in acquiring the funding for their own chair the use of the title. Your critics may be wrong here, Richard, but they cite the fact that the Oxford University Hebdomadal Council Decree of 6 November 1995, establishing the Charles Simonyi Professorship, says that you hold a "post" rather than a "professorship." They write that since your post was endowed by Charles Simonyi and the terms of the gift allowed you to bypass the peer review promotion process customarily required for a professorship, it will become a "professorship" only when a subsequent beneficiary is promoted to the position based on a peer review election process, which, they maintain, was not conducted for your receipt of the post. Now, you defended yourself in a posting on your website, dated Sept. 28, 2006, and wrote that you were "elected to the Charles Simonyi Professorship."  But that does seem to directly contradict the Hebdamadol Council decree cited above which expressly says "Notwithstanding the provisions of Ch. VII, Sect. III (which discuss the election of a professor to the post), the income from the endowment shall be applied in the first instance to fund a post in the Public Understanding of Science to be held by Dr C.R. Dawkins, Fellow of New College." It seems, so your critics contend, that your appointment was a condition of the grant rather than the product of an election, and since it may be that you are falsely maligned in the matter, your clarification as to the true nature of your professorship, whose official location is the Museum of Natural History, is welcomed."<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuley-boteach/rabbi-shmuley-responds-to_b_100275.html</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
Richard Dawkins announced his intention to retire from his position in September 2008:
 
−
 
 
−
:"The University of Oxford has advertised the Charles Simonyi Professorship in the Public Understanding of Science. I retire from the Chair in September 2008."
 
−
 
 
−
== Awards ==
 
−
 
 
−
* ''Silver Medal of the Zoological Society of London'' (1989)<br />
 
−
* ''Royal Society's Michael Faraday Award'' (1990)<br />
 
−
* ''Nakayama Prize for Achievement in Human Science'' (1990)<br />
 
−
* ''The International Cosmos Prize'' (1997)<br />
 
−
* ''Kistler Prize'' (2001)<br />
 
−
* ''Shakespeare Prize of the Alfred Toepfer Foundation'' (2005)<br />
 
−
* ''Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science'' (2006)<br />
 
−
* ''Galaxy British Book Awards Author of the Year'' (2007)<br />
 
−
* Honorary Doctorates in both literature and science<br />
 
−
* Fellow of the Royal Society
 
−
* Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
 
−
 
 
−
==Books==
 
−
Dawkins has written eleven books: nine have been on evolution and evolutionary theory, another is his ''[[New York Times]]'' bestselling [[atheist]] polemic ''[[The God Delusion]]'', and most recently, he has written a book for children introducing them to his way of thinking.
 
−
 
−
The first of his books, ''[[The Selfish Gene]]'', was published in 1976, and won him international acclaim. It has sold over one million copies and has been translated into 25 languages.
 
−
 
 
−
His books are:
 
−
 
 
−
* ''[[The Selfish Gene]]'' (1976)
 
−
* ''The Extended Phenotype'' (1982)
 
−
* ''The Blind Watchmaker'' (1986)
 
−
* ''River Out of Eden'' (1995)
 
−
* ''Climbing Mount Improbable'' (1996)
 
−
* ''Unweaving the Rainbow'' (1998)
 
−
* ''A Devil's Chaplain'' (2003)
 
−
* ''The Ancestor's Tale'' (2004)
 
−
* ''[[The God Delusion]]'' (2006)
 
−
* ''[[The Greatest Show on Earth]]: The Evidence for Evolution''. Free Press (United States), Transworld (United Kingdom and Commonwealth). 2009.
 
−
* ''The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True'' (2011) - a science book for children.
 
−
 
 
−
'''Anti-evolution books specifically addressing Richard Dawkins:'''
 
−
 
 
−
*''The Greatest Hoax on Earth? Refuting Dawkins on Evolution'' by Dr. [[Jonathan Sarfati]], 2010
 
−
 
 
−
== Essays relating to Richard Dawkins ==
 
−
 
 
−
*[[Essay: Atheism: A house divided and in global decline|Atheism: A house divided and in global decline]]
 
−
*[[Essay: Is Richard Dawkins an intellectually fulfilled atheist?|Is Richard Dawkins an intellectually fulfilled atheist?]]
 
−
 
 
−
== Comedy and satires concerning Richard Dawkins ==
 
−
 
 
−
*[[Essay: Does Richard Dawkins have machismo?|Does Richard Dawkins have machismo?]] - comedy/[[satire]]
 
−
*[[Essay: The world weighs Richard Dawkins in the balance|The world weighs Richard Dawkins in the balance and finds him wanting!]]
 
−
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/jesus-vs-richard-dawkins-and-pz-myers.html Jesus vs. Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers - Jesus wins!]
 
−
*[[Essay: What is the difference between Joe Stalin and Richard Dawkins?|What is the difference between Joseph Stalin and Richard Dawkins?]]
 
−
*[[Essay: Conservapedians laugh at the "superior atheist intellect"|Conservapedians laugh at the "superior atheist intellect"]]
 
−
*[[Essay: Richard Dawkins in his native habitat|Richard Dawkins in his native habitat]]
 
−
*[[Essay: Richard Dawkins' lack of appeal to the Asian women audience|Richard Dawkins' lack of appeal to the Asian women audience]]
 
−
*[[Essay: Atheist evangelists and Hiroo Onada|Atheist evangelists and Hiroo Onada]]
 
−
*[[Essay: Richard Dawkins, obesity has enveloped your marketing campaign| Richard Dawkins, obesity has enveloped your marketing campaign]]
 
−
 
 
−
==See Also==
 
−
 
 
−
*[[Richard Dawkins and Creation Ministries International]]
 
−
*[[British atheism]]
 
−
*[http://www.conservapedia.com/Category:Richard_Dawkins Directory of Richard Dawkins articles]
 
−
*[[Theory of Evolution and Cases of Fraud, Hoaxes and Speculation]]
 
−
*[[Atheism and deception]]
 
−
*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
 
−
*[[Essay: Debate challenge for Richard Dawkins|Debate challenge for Richard Dawkins]]
 
−
*[[Conservapedia essay: Are Richard Dawkins fans cultic?]]
 
−
*[[Richard Dawkins and William Dembski]]
 
−
 
 
−
== External Links ==
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://www.atheistdelusion.net/ The Atheist Delusion] (cite rebutting Richard Dawkins)
 
−
*[http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/8885481/after-the-new-atheism/ Richard Dawkins has lost: meet the new new atheists] by [[Theo Hobson]]
 
−
 
 
−
'''Video:'''
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W4e4MwogLo Is Richard Dawkins really stumped? The truth - In his own words - YES...he is!] - [[YouTube]] video
 
−
* Former Atheist Alister McGrath discusses Dawkins (video) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghIghLvttVU part 1] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UiCUEBB9Z4&feature=related part 2]
 
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaKryi3605g&NR=1 YouTube - Video of Richard Dawkins being stumped by a creationist's question]
 
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmrRC6zD4Zk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideosearch%3Fhl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial%26hs%3DxUv%26q%3Ddawkins%2520and%2520his&feature=player_embedded Atheists dodge their history of atrocities] (Video)
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
'''Articles/videos on Richard Dawkins dodging debates:'''
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/send-clowns-%E2%80%93-richard-dawkins-obliges Send in the Clowns – Richard Dawkins Obliges]
 
−
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-cowardly-clown Richard Dawkins, the cowardly clown]
 
−
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/will-william-lane-craig-debate-richard-dawkins Will William Lane Craig debate Richard Dawkins?]
 
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrW-ZUjyWmU Does Richard Dawkins have machismo?]
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
'''Collection of rebuttals:'''
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/richard-dawkins Richard Dawkins - Christian rebuttals] by [[True Free Thinker]]
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
'''Reviews of Richard Dawkins' works:'''
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1855 A Review of Climbing Mount Improbable by Richard Dawkins] by Dr. [[Jonathan Sarfati]]
 
−
*[http://www.atheistdelusion.net/ Atheist delusion: Answering "The God Delusion" and other works of atheist Richard Dawkins]
 
−
*[http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=52 Reflections on Dawkins' The Blind Watchmaker] by [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Philosophy|philosopher]] Dallas Willard
 
−
*[http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9908/reviews/barr.html A Review of Unweaving the Rainbow by Richard Dawkins]
 
−
*[http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2006/1127dawkins.asp Deconstructing a deluded Dawkins by Paul Taylor]
 
−
*[http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/6280 A review of A Devil’s Chaplain: Reflections on Hope, Lies, Science, and Love by Richard Dawkins]
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
'''News stories:'''
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2006/1122dawkins.asp Richard Dawkins Foundation plan to supply [[atheist]] literature to schools]
 
−
*[http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2008/05/professor-dawkins-rabbi-boteach-and.html Professor Dawkins, Rabbi Boteach, and Adolf Hitler]
 
−
*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6925781.ece Children who front Richard Dawkins' atheist ads are evangelicals]
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
'''From a Frog to a Prince video''':
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/5712/ Was Dawkins Stumped?]
 
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaKryi3605g&NR=1 YouTube - Video of Richard Dawkins being stumped by a creationist's question]
 
−
*[http://www.trueorigin.org/ca_gb_01.asp Gillian Brown answers Barry Williams] (Gillian Brown is the film's producer. Barry Williams is a Skeptic who criticised the film. The page includes an apology from another skeptic, and an admission that the film accurately presents Dawkins' answer.)
 
−
*[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Dawkins_could_not_give_an_example_of_increasing_information CreationWiki's response to TalkOrigins Archive's criticism of interview.]
 
−
 
 
−
'''Richard Dawkins administered websites and web pages:'''
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://www.richarddawkins.net/ Richard Dawkins' main website]
 
−
*[http://twitter.com/richarddawkins Richard Dawkins' Twitter page]
 
−
*[http://richarddawkinsfoundation.org/ The Richard Dawkins Foundation]
 
−
*[http://users.ox.ac.uk/~dawkins/ Richard Dawkins homepage at Oxford University]
 
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==References==
 
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{{reflist|3}}
 
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{{DEFAULTSORT: Dawkins, Richard}}
 
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[[Category: Richard Dawkins]]
 
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[[Category:Academics]]
 
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[[Category:Atheism]]
 
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[[Category:Authors]]
 
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[[Category:Atheists]]
 
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[[Category:Biologists]]
 
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[[Category:Evolutionists]]
 
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[[Category:Liberals]]
 
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[[Category:New Atheism]]
 

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