A Load of Bright
An atheist's views on religion and the supernatural

Meeting Richard Dawkins Update II


Back in June, Evanescent and I went to see Richard Dawkins recording an interview with the BBC. That recording is now available online, (the link will not stay active indefinitely, see here for further details on where to find it later). We recorded for well over an hour, so I assumed that the final program would be an hour long. In actual fact, it is slightly less than half an hour, and much to my ambivalence, my question did not make the final cut.

Although I am slightly disappointed that my soft, pleasing, silken English baritones will not grace the airwaves to be heard by millions, there is certainly a part of me that is mightily relieved. The question I asked was completely off the cuff, not phrased very well and, as a result, not really answered. In short, I rather ballsed it up. Naturally, I have thought of loads of really good questions that I could have asked since the recording, but then, isn’t that always the way it goes. (I know I promised that I would reveal what my question was, and I will, but when I do I intend to do it in an article that properly answers the question.)

Anyway, it was still a wonderful experience to see the professor in the flesh and hear him speak, and a memory I will always treasure. Without wanting to presume that readers would only have wanted to hear my question, I do urge you to listen to the program.

5 Responses to “Meeting Richard Dawkins Update II”

  1. I was able to see him here in California when he gave his God Delusion talk at Cal Tech. Hey, you ballsed it up and I didn’t have to balls to ask a question!

    Really though, I would have been much more interested in questioning him on areas of evolution that I would like to know more about. I think I already know most of what I need to about not believing mythology.

    Not that I didn’t learn some new things in TGD, but it didn’t make any difference in my thinking or deeper understanding. I’m more enamoured of RD as a scientist than as a philosoher. It’s always fun to listen to him though. I wish I could explain myself with such eloquence and clarity.

  2. Well there is nothing wrong with believing in mythology as long as one understands that it is mythology. . . OTOH Richard Dawkins has yet to convincingly demonstrate that God is nothing but a delusion. I dare say that Richard Dawkins and others like him create their own dubious mythologies about God and religion. . .

  3. I just listened to the interview, and it always pleases me to hear Richard Dawkins to speak. I guess you were one of the clappers? 🙂

    I think I’m going to have to start using the Pekingese-dog-descended-from-wolf example in favour of evolution. That in itself is a small wonder.

  4. @ John B

    I know what you mean. I’m not sure that TGD really taught me anything I didn’t know or couldn’t have really worked out for myself, but he does have a great intellect and a wonderful way of putting things in perspetive, or making you think about something in a way you never have before. This is why I don’t mind all of the writers like Harris, Dawkins, Dennett and Hitchens etc publishing their books – it never hurts to hear someone else’s take on it, especially when it’s someone with a great mind and a talent for writing.

    @ Robin

    Well there is nothing wrong with believing in mythology as long as one understands that it is mythology. . . OTOH Richard Dawkins has yet to convincingly demonstrate that God is nothing but a delusion. I dare say that Richard Dawkins and others like him create their own dubious mythologies about God and religion. . .

    It won’t surprise you to hear that I don’t agree with you. While we can’t prove beyond doubt that God is merely a delusion, I think that Dawkins puts forward a very convincing case. I can’t agree with your last statement either, because any conclusions drawn strictly from the highest standards of evidence are anything but mythological.

    This is not the thread in which to take this discussion further, although I appreciate you taking the time to give your view.

    @ Darren

    I guess you were one of the clappers? 🙂

    I was indeed one of the clappers, and for what it’s worth, I thought I clapped very articulately and eloquently.

  5. Tobe, I don’t mind them publishing either. I don’t read all of it for the reasons I’ve stated above, but like you say they are such great thinkers and writers that I do read a certain amount (God Delusion, End of Faith) just for that reason.

    I just hope that lots of people read those books who need to hear it. I am talking about the undecided, uncommittedly, doubting and fence-sitting. Good things could happen.


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