Changes

[[File:Richard Dawkins - March 2005.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|251px225px|right|Richard Dawkins declared "[[Christianity]] may actually be our best defence against aberrant forms of religion that threaten the world".<ref name="christiantoday.com">[http://www.christiantoday.com/article/richard.dawkins.says.christianity.is.worlds.best.defence.against.radical.islam/76416.htm Richard Dawkins says Christianity is world's best defence against radical Islam], Christianity Today, January 2016</ref><ref name="breitbart.com">[https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/01/12/professional-atheist-dawkins-says-christianity-bulwark-against-something-worse/ Professional Atheist Dawkins Says Christianity ‘Bulwark Against Something Worse’], by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D, ''Breitbart News Network'', Jan 12, 2016</ref> See also: [[Richard Dawkins and Islamophobia accusations|Richard Dawkins and Islam]] ]]

*[httphttps://voxday.blogspottheweek.com/2012religion/02religion/mailvox45552/outspoken-richardatheist-dawkins-isadmits-nothe-agnostic Outspoken atheist.html Mailvox: Richard ' Dawkins admits he is not an atheist!agnostic], ''The Week'', 2012

*[https://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> Dawkins considers himself a "cultural [[Christian]]."<ref>[https://youtu.be/COHgEFUFWyg Richard Dawkins: I'm a Cultural Christian], LBC, Apr 1, 2024. [[YouTube]]</ref>

He is sometimes often referred to as the "world's most famous atheist" but and was one of the principle founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement (See also: [[Celebrity atheists]]).<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9102740/Richard-Dawkins-I-cant-be-sure-God-does-not-exist.html Richard Dawkins: I can't be sure God does not exist], ''The Telegraph''</ref> But when interviewed, he claims claimed that, on a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 is perfect faith in God and 7 is perfect confidence in atheism, he is a 6.9.<ref>{{Cite news |author= Bingham, John |title= Richard Dawkins: I can't be sure God does not exist |url= httphttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9102740/Richard-Dawkins-I-cant-be-sure-God-does-not-exist.html |newspaper= [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date= February 24, 2012 |accessdate= February 24, 2012}}</ref> In recent years, Dawkins' popularity has waned (See: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]]).

Despite being an elderly, self-declared agnostic, in his book ''[[The God Delusion]]'', Dawkins said that "permanent in agnosticism in principle" is "fence-sitting, intellectual cowardice" (see also: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).<ref>''The God Delusion'', page 70</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>[https://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> Despite arguing for the position of militant atheism previously, Dawkins told the Archbishop Dr. [[Rowan Williams]] that he never said was an atheist.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2105834/Career-atheist-Richard-Dawkins-admits-fact-agnostic.html 'I can't be sure God DOES NOT exist': World's most notorious atheist Richard Dawkins admits he is in fact agnostic], ''Daily Mail'', 24 February 2012</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfk7tW429E4 Richard Dawkins: I can't be sure God does not exist]</ref><ref>[http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_militant_atheism.html Richard Dawkins on militant atheism]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and historical revisionism]]  Although Dawkins is an agnostic, he advocates [[evangelical atheism]] and is widely considered to be an [[atheist activist]]. 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 name=">[https://voxday.blogspotnet/2012/02/24/mailvox-richard-dawkins-is-not-atheis/ Mailvox: Richard Dawkins is not an atheist!]</ref><ref>[https://www.com"voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens] by Vox Day</ref>

As noted above, Dawkins is one of the principle primary founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement, which is a form of dogmatic, [[militant atheism]] in terms of its [[rhetoric]](see: [[New Atheism, dogmatism and Jonathon Haidt's study]]). Dawkins said about New Atheism, "[O]ur struggle is not so much an intellectual struggle, as a political one: What are we going to do about it?”.<ref>[http://secularismandnonreligion.org/articles/10.5334/snr.al/print/ Faithless: The politics of new atheism] by Steven Kettell</ref> In recent years, the prominence of Richard Dawkins and the New Atheism movement has greatly waned fallen (see: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]] and [[New Atheism#Decline of New Atheism|Decline of New Atheism]]).

Dawkins is a [[Richard Dawkins and Islamophobia accusations|vocal opponent of Islam]]. Dawkins has said, "[[Islam]] is the greatest force for evil in the world today".<ref>[httphttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40710165 Richard Dawkins' Berkeley event cancelled for 'Islamophobia'], BBC,2017</ref><ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/richard-dawkins-islam-muslims-islamophobic-row-twitter-tweets-atheist-kpfa-us-university-of-a7854751.html Radio station cancels Richard Dawkins appearance over Islam tweets], The Independent, 2017</ref> Despite his opposition to religion/[[Christianity]], Dawkins indicated: "Christianity may actually be our best defence against aberrant forms of religion that threaten the world".<ref name="christiantoday.com"/><ref name="breitbart.com"/> See also: [[Richard Dawkins and Christianity]]  In 2020, Richard Dawkins was disinvited from speaking at the Trinity College Dublin’s College Historical Society for his stance against Islam and views on sexual assault.<ref>[https://www.thecollegefix.com/worlds-oldest-student-debate-club-disinvites-richard-dawkins-to-protect-the-comfort-of-its-members/ World’s oldest student debate club disinvites Richard Dawkins to protect the ‘comfort’ of its members]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and rape]]

[[File:Richard Dawkins photo.jpg|thumbnail|200px|left|After previously apologizing to [[feminism|feminists]] and others for the [[Elevatorgate]] scandal, Dawkins retracted his apology and said, "I don’t take back anything that I’ve said. I would not say it again, however, because I am now accustomed to being misunderstood and so I will... I feel muzzled, and a lot of other people do as well.“<ref name="washingtonpost.com">[https://wwwarchive.washingtonpost.commd/national/religion/richard-dawkins-stands-by-remarks-on-sexism-pedophilia-down-syndrome/2014/11/18/a2915cd8-6f64-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html kk5nO 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><ref>[https://twitter.com/rebeccawatson/status/497087309805027328 Rebecca Watson's Twitter post about Dawkins' apology]</ref><ref name="Who is belittling what">[https://richarddawkins.net/2014/08/who-is-belittling-what/ Who is belittling what?] by Richard Dawkins</ref>]] Richard Dawkins was born in Nairobi, 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>httphttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3657215/Preaching-to-the-converted.html</ref>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 name="bbc.co.uk">httphttps://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/atheism/people/dawkins.shtml</ref> See also: [[British atheism]] and [[UK and secularism]]

The atheist philosopher [[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]] says wrote of Dawkins' time spent in [[Kenya]]while reviewing ''An Appetite for Wonder: The Making of a Scientist'', the first of a two-part autobiography: "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 name="newrepublic.com">[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> See also: [[Richard Dawkins' family fortune and the slave trade]]

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 and they separated after 24 years of marriage.<ref>[httphttps://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dawkins-evolves-into-single-man-after-amicable-split-with-time-lady-sp9llk2nt Dawkins evolves into single man after ‘amicable’ split with Time Lady], ''The Sunday Times''</ref>

[[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] wrote in the his book ''The Irrational Atheist'' about Dawkins's claim that teaching children about [[Hell]] is more harmful to children than "mild child abuse":

In his letter to [[Juliet Emma Dawkins|his daughter Juliet]], addressed to her at the age of ten and published in ''A Devil’s Chaplain'', there is little mention of love, no admission of regret, and no paternal promises. As one British journalist noted, the letter is “coldly impersonal” and “authoritarian.” There is no expression of interest in what might be important to her.<ref>[http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational Atheist. Chapter VIII DARWIN’S JUDAS] by Vox Day</ref>}}

See also: [[Juliet Emma Dawkins]] and [[Richard Dawkins and love]]

[[File:2404429188 ea8f1fc48bWomen.jpg|thumb|200px|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 firm firms [[Alexa]]and SimilarWeb, women frequent the website of richarddawkins.net significantly less than men.<ref name="Alexa data for Richarddawkins.net"/><ref>[http://examiningatheism.blogspot.com/2017/05/according-to-alexa-what-percentage-of.html According to Alexa, what percentage of Richard Dawkins' website visitors are women?], ''Examining Atheism''</ref> In recent years, there has been a significant amount of friction between Richard Dawkins and [[feminism|feminists]] (see: [[Richard Dawkins and women]]).

*[httphttps://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/07/08/atheist_flirting Richard Dawkins: Skeptic of women? - Salon, July 8, 2011]

Prior to Elevatorgate, [[Monica Shores]]' 2010 ''Ms. Magazine'' article titled ''Will “New Atheism” Make Room For Women?'' criticized the News Atheism movement for being [[sexism|sexist]].<ref name="msmagazine.com">[http://msmagazine.com/blog/2010/11/01/will-new-atheism-make-room-for-women/ ''Will “New Atheism” Make Room For Women''] by Monica Shores, ''Ms. Magazine'', 2010</ref> She also cited [[Conservapedia]] in her article and indicated: "The lack of lady presence is so visible that Conservapedia commented on it by noting that [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science website|Dawkins’ website]] overwhelmingly attracts male visitors."<ref name="msmagazine.com"/>

[[File:Rebecca watson portrait 2011.jpg|left|thumbnail|181px225px|The atheist [[Rebecca Watson]] and Richard Dawkins were central figures in the [[Elevatorgate]] scandal. ]]

However, on November 18, 2014, Richard Dawkins retracted his apology and 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>[https://wwwarchive.washingtonpost.commd/national/religion/richard-dawkins-stands-by-remarks-on-sexism-pedophilia-down-syndrome/2014/11/18/a2915cd8-6f64-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html kk5nO Richard Dawkins stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, Down syndrome], by Kimberly Winston | Religion News Service November 18, 2014</ref>

“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 name="washingtonpost.com">[https://wwwarchive.washingtonpost.commd/national/religion/richard-dawkins-stands-by-remarks-on-sexism-pedophilia-down-syndrome/2014/11/18/a2915cd8-6f64-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html kk5nO 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>}}

''See also:'' [[Reason Rally related incident involving David Silverman and Richard Dawkins]] and [[Feminist quotes about Richard Dawkins]]

{{See also|Internet atheism}} === Richard Dawkins' loss of influence post Elevatatorgate and other controversies === ''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]], [[New Atheism #Decline of New Atheism|Decline of New Atheism]] and [[Internet atheism]] and [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science website]] As can be seen by the graph below, by means of embedded code on his website from Quantcast, Quantcast directly measured the web traffic of Richard Dawkins' website. Traffic to Dawkins website is significantly down post-[[Elevatorgate]]. See also: [[Internet atheism]] Although his following of Dawkian atheist has significantly waned post-Elevatorgate and due to his generally [[Abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins|abrasive manner]], he does retain a small cult following (See: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]], [[Richard Dawkins' cult of personality]] and [[Atheist cults]]).  Furthermore, the New Atheism movement has greatly waned in terms of its prominence (see: [[New Atheism#Decline of New Atheism|Decline of New Atheism]]). ====Richard Dawkins: Google Trends data for searches on "Richard Dawkins" from 2004 to 2020==== [[File:1200px-Richard dawkins google trends 9-22-2019 (1).png|thumbnail|center|800px|According to Google Trends, there has been a marked drop for Google searches for the term "Richard Dawkins" from 2004 to 2020.]]{{Clear}}====Initial loss of web traffic to Richard Dawkins's website post Elevatorgate====[[File:Richard Dawkins web traffic 12-23-12.png|thumbnail|center|775px|According to the web traffic tracking company [[Quantcast]], the web traffic of Richard Dawkins' website fell in 2012.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/12/2012-has-been-bad-year-for-richard.html 2012 has been a very BAD year for Richard Dawkins's website according to Quantcast]</ref> By October 2014, the web traffic for his website fell to a lower level according to Quantcast.<ref>[http://shockawenow.blogspot.com/2014/10/richard-dawkins-loss-of-influence.html Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]</ref> <br /><br />In October of 2012, [[Rebecca Watson]] published a story about Elevatorgate and its aftermath in ''Slate'' entitled, ''It Stands to Reason, Skeptics Can Be Sexist Too: I spoke out about sexual harassment among atheists and scientists. Then came the rape threats''.<ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/10/sexism_in_the_skeptic_community_i_spoke_out_then_came_the_rape_threats.html It Stands to Reason, Skeptics Can Be Sexist Too: I spoke out about sexual harassment among atheists and scientists. Then came the rape threats] by Rebecca Watson, ''Slate'', October 2012</ref><br /><br />The web traffic was measured via [[Quantcast]] which directly measured Dawkins' website traffic via embedded code on his website.<ref name="Quantcast - Quantcast Measure">[https://www.quantcast.com/measure/ Quantcast - Quantcast Measure]</ref>]] ====Web traffic of Richard Dawkins' website has seen a dramatic drop====[[File:Richard Dawkins' website traffic.jpg|500px|thumbnail|center|The above graph shows the monthly website traffic to Richard Dawkins' website as of June 22, 2015 in terms of unique monthly web visitors.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2015/06/web-traffic-of-richard-dawkins-main.html Web traffic of Richard Dawkins' main website]</ref> As you can see above, in 2012, Richard Dawkins saw a very large decrease in web traffic.<br /><br />The website traffic is measured via [[Quantcast]] which directly measures Dawkins' website traffic via embedded code on his website.<ref name="Quantcast - Quantcast Measure"/>]] ====Richard Dawkins' website and loss of Google referral traffic==== ''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science website]] [[File:RichardDawkins.net Google referral traffic according to SEMRush.jpg|thumbnail|center|1400px|The [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science website]] has lost a large portion on its monthly Google referral traffic.<br /><br />Google uses over 200 factors to evaluate the quality and the relevance of a website to various topics.]]{{clear}} ====Alexa ranking of Richard Dawkins' website==== See also: [[Alexa rankings of Richard Dawkins' website]] ====2021 Alexa rankings of Richard Dawkins' website ==== [[File:Alexa ranking of Richarddawkins.net on 11-26-2021.JPG|thumbnail|center|1000px|On November 26, 2021, Richard Dawkins' website was the 428,287th most popular website in the world according to Alexa.]]{{Clear}} ====Coverage of Richard Dawkins speaking tour==== In 2016, the Shadow To Light blog wrote in article entitled ''Fading Dawkins'':{{Cquote|Dawkins has been on a speaking tour recently in the United States. On Nov 1 and 2, he had a “public conversation” with [[Sam Harris]]. In the golden years of [[New Atheism|Gnu]], there would have been a couple of news reports about this talk filled with some click-bait quote and I’d probably be blogging about something they said. But despite Dawkins’ return to the speaker circuit, and despite him teaming up with Sam Harris for two days, I can’t find a single report. No one outside that theater is interested in what two of the Four Horsemen had to say. Look, Dawkins and Harris will always have their place among the [[Madalyn Murray O'Hair|Madalyn Murray O’Hair]] crowd. But as far as breaking out into the mainstream is concerned, the fad has run its course.<ref>[https://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2016/11/03/the internet-fading-dawkins/ ''Fading Dawkins'']</ref>}}

*[httphttps://www.salon.com/2016/01/27/richard_dawkins_delete_your_account_the_prominent_atheist_unleashes_new_islamophobic_assault_partner/ Richard Dawkins, delete your account: The prominent atheist implodes on Twitter (again)], Salon

In December 2016, Dawkins appears to have started to Tweet again despite his doctors warnings to avoid controversy (For example, he tweeted that Britain had become a "nasty little backwater" after the [[Brexit]] vote and his Tweet drew fierce criticism).<ref>[httphttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/richard-dawkins-england-becoming-nasty-little-backwater-brexit/ Richard Dawkins: England becoming a 'nasty little backwater' after Brexit vote], ''The Telegraph'', March 2017</ref><ref>[httphttps://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/748479/Richard-Dawkins-pretending-war-on-christmas-christians SHOCK RANT: Richard Dawkins mocks Christians for 'pretending' there's WAR on Christianity], ''Express'', December of 2016</ref><ref>[https://swarajyamag.com/insta/what-british-scientist-dawkins-thinks-of-islam What British Scientist Dawkins Thinks Of Islam], ''Swaraya'', June 7, 2017</ref> === Richard Dawkins' health === * [[Richard Dawkins' health]] ==== Richard Dawkins' stroke ==== *[[Richard Dawkins' health#Richard Dawkins' stroke and news reports|Richard Dawkins' stroke]]

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 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[https://web.archive.org/web/20080725103733/https://byfaithonline.com/page/in-the-world/richard-dawkins-the-atheist-evangelistRichard Dawkins: The Atheist Evangelist]</ref>

*[httphttps://www.salon.com/2013/03/30/dawkins_harris_hitchens_new_atheists_flirt_with_islamophobia/ Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens: New Atheists flirt with Islamophobia] by Nathan Lean, ''Salon'', March 30, 2013

{{cquote|The recent merger of the secular organization [[Center for Inquiry]] (CFI) and the [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science|Richard Dawkins Foundation]] (RDF) has been dubbed atheism's supergroup moment. Acknowledging the two organizations' outsized presence in the atheist world, Religion News Service acidly declared it a "royal wedding". The partnership, which gives Richard Dawkins a seat on the CFI board, smacks of a vindication of Dawkins' toxic, reactionary brand of [httphttps://www.salon.com/2013/08/10/richard_dawkins_does_it_again_new_atheisms_islamophobia_problem/ damn-all-them-culturally-backward-Western-values-hating- Muslims] New Atheism. As one of the most prominent global secular organizations, CFI's [http://www.centerforinquiry.net/about/corporate_governance all-white board] looks right at home with RDF's [https://richarddawkins.net/boardandstaff/ lily white board] and staff.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/sikivu-hutchinson/atheismsowhite-atheists-o_b_9078736.html #AtheismSoWhite: Atheists of Color Rock Social Justice] by Sikivu Hutchinson</ref>}}

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>[httphttps://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>}}

*[httphttps://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

[[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] noted that the The Richard Dawkins cult has some similarity to the cult of [[Scientology]].<ref name=">[https://voxday.net/2014/08/19/the-cult-of-dicky-dawk/ The Cult of Dicky Dawkins"Dawk]</ref>

See also: [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science|Richard Dawkins's Foundation and an embezzlement allegation]] and [[Atheist nonprofit organizations and scandals]]

==Abrasive Alleged abrasive demeanor of Richard Dawkins==

=== The film documentary The Atheist Delusion features a humorless Richard Dawkins who is the object of audience laughter ===

== Dogmatic arrogance Accused of Richard Dawkins dogmatic arrogance ==

Yet, the works of New Atheists, including Richard Dawkins, often betray an amateurish knowledge of philosophy, religion and science. For example, [[Vox Day]]'s the 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>[httphttps://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]]

[[File:John Gray.JPG|thumbnail|leftright|200px|The [[economist]] Tomáš Sedláček (left) and the [[atheism|atheist]] [[philosophy|philosopher]] [[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]] (right) at ZURICH.MINDS 2012]]

''See also:'' [[Abortion and atheism]], and [[Atheism in medicine]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Eugenics]]

A British father whose Down's syndrome daughter passed six General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) tests called Richard Dawkins an "ignorant idiot".<ref>[httphttps://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>

Within the [[evolution]]ary 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 name="truefreethinker.com">http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/send-clowns-–-richard-dawkins-obliges</ref><ref>httphttps://creation.com/the-greatest-hoax-on-earth/main.php</ref>

In 2010, a new discovery relating to the [[eye]] further discredited the [[evolution]]ary quackery of Richard Dawkins.<ref>httphttps://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 health]]).<ref>https://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sloan-wilson/atheism-as-a-stealth-reli_3_b_83605.html</ref>

Although Dawkins declared himself an agnostic in his 2006 book ''The God Delusion'', he declared that atheist evangelism is important.<ref name="voxday.blogspot.com">[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 name="voxday.blogspot.com"/> 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 2012, Dawkins declared that he believed that there is a 6.9 out history of 7 probability of [[God]]'s non-existence (approximately a 1 percent probability that God exist).<ref name="voxday.blogspot.com"/><ref name="blogs.telegraph.co.uk">[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100139859/id-goflip-flopping when it comes 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 being an [[agnosticism|atheist or 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 name="voxday.blogspot.com"/><ref>[https://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> Despite arguing for the position of militant atheism previously, Dawkins told the Archbishop Dr. [[Rowan Williams]] that he never said was an atheist.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2105834/Career-atheist-Richard-Dawkins-admits-fact-agnostic.html 'I can't be sure God DOES NOT exist': World's most notorious atheist Richard Dawkins admits he is in fact agnostic], ''Daily Mail'', 24 February 2012</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfk7tW429E4 Richard Dawkins: I can't be sure God does not exist]</ref><ref>[http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_militant_atheism.html Richard Dawkins on militant atheism]</ref> See also: [[Richard Dawkins and agnosticism]] and [[Atheism and historical revisionism]]).

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 name=">[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>[httphttps://creation.com/is-richard-dawkins-an-atheist Is Richard Dawkins an atheist? by Dr. Don Batten]</ref>

[httphttps://creation.com/15-questions 15 questions] for evolutionists of the [[Question Evolution! Campaign]]. He obviously cannot satisfactorily answer the 15 questions.<ref name="questionevolution.blogspot.com">[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>}}

[[File:Richard Dawkins stumped.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins stumped|thumbnail|200px|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 name="creation.com">httphttps://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 name="creation.com"/> 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 name="youtube.com">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W4e4MwogLo YouTube video - Is Richard Dawkins Really Stumped? The Truth - In His Own Words - YES...he is!]</ref>]]

As noted earlier, Dr. Don Batten of [[Creation Ministries International]] theorizes that Richard Dawkins is a God hater and not a skeptic.<ref>httphttps://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.[https://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>httphttps://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>

[[File:Hitler.jpg|thumb|206px|right|The [[evolution]]ist [[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 >[https://web.archive.org/web/20080725103733/https://byfaithonline.com/page/in-the-world/richard-dawkins-the-atheist-evangelist Richard Dawkins: The Atheist Evangelist]</ref> ]]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">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080725103733/https://byfaithonline.com/page/in-the-world/richard-dawkins-the-atheist-evangelist Richard Dawkins: The Atheist Evangelist]</ref>

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 >[https://web.archive.org/web/20080725103733/https://byfaithonline.com/page/in-the-world/richard-dawkins-the-atheist-evangelist Richard Dawkins: The Atheist Evangelist]</ref>

Richard Dawkins has 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>[httphttps://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>[httphttps://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 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 name="wnd.com">httphttps://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61565</ref>}}

{{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>[httphttps://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>}}

{{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>[httphttps://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:

Scott Simon, NPR: "But I do wonder am I just not seeing the world correctly to see large numbers of well-motivated atheists lending their lives to trying to better the world... If I might put it this way, are they just more concerned about being right intellectually."<ref>[httphttps://www.npr.org/2017/05/27/530337283/richard-dawkins-on-terrorism-and-religion Richard Dawkins On Terrorism And Religion]</ref>

{{Cquote|I'm not sure there is anything in this movement worth saving. [[Christopher Hitchens|Hitchens]] is dead. Dawkins simply doesn't have the energy for this sort of thing anymore. [[Sam Harris|Harris]] went his own way. And [[Daniel Dennett|Dennett]] just kind of blended into the background. So what do you think when the largest gathering of the nonreligious in history pulls in... I don't know. Maybe 2,000 people. Is there anything worth saving?<ref>[httphttps://www.wnd.com/2016/06/even-atheists-bash-reason-rally/ Even atheists bash 'Reason Rally']</ref>}}

They should be remembered for catalyzing a movement for religious dissent and inspiring atheists to come together and find a voice in American public life. But there’s a much darker side to the legacy of the New Atheism that stems from its imperialist and xenophobic tendencies, to say nothing of some thinly veiled Social Darwinism and [httphttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11047072/Richard-Dawkins-immoral-to-allow-Downs-syndrome-babies-to-be-born.html arguments] for eugenics. Sam Harris in particular is now known more for [http://www.samharris.org/podcast/item/why-dont-i-criticize-israel supporting the Israeli occupation of Palestine] and [http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/in-defense-of-profiling ethnic profiling] at airport security than for his science-based critique of religious faith. Richard Dawkins’ personal legacy has taken a heavy hit in the past few years, as his rambling criticisms of feminism and Muslim “barbarians” on Twitter have led to charges of [httphttps://www.salon.com/2014/10/03/new_atheisms_troubling_misogyny_the_pompous_sexism_of_richard_dawkins_and_sam_harris_partner/ sexism], [httphttps://www.salon.com/2013/08/10/richard_dawkins_does_it_again_new_atheisms_islamophobia_problem/ racism], and general arrogance and intolerance.<ref>[http://blog.oup.com/2015/11/legacy-new-atheism/#sthash.6ZTcoHLw.dpuf The legacy of the New Atheism] by Stephen LeDrew wrote at [[Oxford University]] Press's Academic Insights for the Thinking World website</ref>}}

''See also:'' [[Atheism and profanity]], [[Richard Dawkins' battle with online fans]] and [[Atheism and the internetInternet atheism]]

In February 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>httphttps://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]]

An individual's beliefs regarding [[creation science]]/[[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 name="answersingenesis.org">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>httphttps://creation.com/web-cast-questions-and-answers-2002</ref> In addition, the vast majority of creation scientists reject the notion of [[gene]]tic [[determinism]] concerning the [[Causes of Homosexuality|origin of homosexuality]].<ref name="answersingenesis.org"/>

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 name="one-episcopalian-on-faith.com">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>httphttps://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 name="one-episcopalian-on-faith.com"/> 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>

The refusal of Richard Dawkins and other prominent atheists to debate the staff of Creation Ministries International is not surprising given that there are 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 losing a video taped debate to Rabbi Boteach according to the college audience.<ref name="beliefnet.com">http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Judaism/2008/05/Richard-Dawkins-Shameful-Attack.aspx</ref><ref name="wnd.com">httphttps://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 name="beliefnet.com">http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Judaism/2008/05/Richard-Dawkins-Shameful-Attack.aspx</ref><ref name="wnd.com">httphttps://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61565</ref> Mr. Dawkins has declined to debate Rabbit Shmuley Boteach another time.<ref name="beliefnet.com">http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Judaism/2008/05/Richard-Dawkins-Shameful-Attack.aspx</ref><ref name="wnd.com">httphttps://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 name="cr"/> Mr. Humber did not indicate whether Mr. Dawkins committed the deception or was merely duped by someone who provided an altered account.<ref name="cr"/>

McGrath recently wrote a book opposing the [[atheist]] ideology of Dawkins entitled ''The Dawkins Delusion?: Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine''.<ref>httphttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=433628&in_page_id=1770</ref>

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>httphttps://www.icr.org/article/811/</ref>

* ''The Blind Watchmaker'' (1986)<ref name="Eve's Bite">{{cite book|date=2007|author=Ian Wishart|publisher=Howling At The Moon Publishing Ltd.|isbn=978-0-9582401-1-6|title=Eve's Bite}}</ref>

* ''[[The God Delusion]]'' (2006)<ref name="Eve's Bite" />