Richard Dawkins and Christianity

Richard Dawkins declared "Christianity may actually be our best defence against aberrant forms of religion that threaten the world".[1][2] See also: Richard Dawkins and Islam

Despite his opposition to religion/Christianity, Richard Dawkins indicated: "Christianity may actually be our best defence against aberrant forms of religion that threaten the world".[3][4] See also: Richard Dawkins and Islamophobia accusations

Most of Dawkins more intense ideological conflict with Christians has involved those of the evangelical Christianity/conservative Christianity variety - particularly on the creation vs. evolution issue. However, some proponents of liberal Christianity have taken exception to many of Dawkins' statements as well (See also: Atheism and liberal Christianity alliances).[5]

## Contents

* 1 Richard Dawkins and Anglicanism
* 2 John Lennox's discussion with Richard Dawkins on whether Jesus existed
* 3 Richard Dawkins dodging debates with conservative Christians
* 4 Richard Dawkins and anger about the Christian doctrine of atonement through Jesus Christ
* 5 Richard Dawkins' anger at evangelical Christianity
* 6 Richard Dawkins on the King James Bible
* 7 Richard Dawkins sings Christmas carols
* 8 Notes

## Richard Dawkins and Anglicanism[edit]

See also: Atheism and culture

The Spectator declares about new atheist Richard Dawkins via an interview:

“  |  I ask him about this. ‘I’m kind of grateful to the Anglican tradition,’ he admits, ‘for its benign tolerance. I sort of suspect that many who profess Anglicanism probably don’t believe any of it at all in any case but vaguely enjoy, as I do… I suppose I’m a cultural Anglican and I see evensong in a country church through much the same eyes as I see a village cricket match on the village green. I have a certain love for it.’ Would he ever go into a church? ‘Well yes, maybe I would.’

But at this point he turns it back around again. I try to clarify my own views to him. ‘You would feel deprived if there weren’t any churches?’ he asks. ‘Yes,’ I respond. He mulls this before replying. ‘I would feel deprived in the same spirit of the English cricket match that I mentioned, that is close to my heart. Yes, I would feel a loss there. I would feel an aesthetic loss. I would miss church bells, that kind of thing.’[6]

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## John Lennox's discussion with Richard Dawkins on whether Jesus existed[edit]

See also: Atheists and historical illiteracy

John Lennox pointed out to New Atheist Richard Dawkins that Dawkins claimed in his book The God Delusion that Jesus 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".[7]

## Richard Dawkins dodging debates with conservative Christians[edit]

See also: Richard Dawkins and debate and Atheism debates and Atheism and cowardice

Richard Dawkins has established a reputation for avoiding debates with his strongest opponents. On May 14, 2011, the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph published a news story entitled Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God.[8]

William Lane Craig

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 apologist for Christian theism is a glaring omission on your CV and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."[9]

In October 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.[10] In addition, Christian apologist Ken Ammi called Dawkins a "cowardly clown" because Dawkins and other prominent atheists refused to debate Creation Ministries International at the 2010 Global Atheist Convention.[11]

Below are some resources relating to Dawkins refusal to debate various debate opponents:

* Richard Dawkins and William Lane Craig

* Richard Dawkins' public refusal to debate creationists

* Richard Dawkins and Dinesh D'Souza

Dawkins has also refused to debate prominent creationist and evangelist Ray Comfort.

## Richard Dawkins and anger about the Christian doctrine of atonement through Jesus Christ[edit]

See also: Richard Dawkins and anger and Atheism and intolerance

In the British television talk show The Big Questions Dawkins becomes extremely angry at the doctrine that the death of Jesus Christ provides the way to heaven for sinful mankind, who could never get there on their own. And he also become angry when a minister defended the doctrine and various members of the audience applauded the minister.[12][13]

Please see the video: Richard Dawkins gets angry

## Richard Dawkins' anger at evangelical Christianity[edit]

As far as a discussion, Dawkins opening gambit to an evangelical Christian minister whose church service he just attended was to tell him that the church service reminded him of Adolf Hitler's Nuremberg rallies.[14]

## Richard Dawkins on the King James Bible[edit]

See also: Atheism and culture and Richard Dawkins quotes

Richard Dawkins wrote:

“  |  For some reason the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (UK) was not approached for a donation in support of Michael Gove's plan to put a King James Bible in every state school. We would certainly have given it serious consideration, and if the trustees had not agreed I would gladly have contributed myself. In the event, it was left to "millionaire Conservative party donors".

I am a little shocked at the implication that not every school library already possesses a copy. Can that be true?...

Ecclesiastes, in the 1611 translation, is one of the glories of English literature (I'm told it's pretty good in the original Hebrew, too). The whole King James Bible is littered with literary allusions, almost as many as Shakespeare (to quote that distinguished authority Anon, the trouble with Hamlet is it's so full of clichées). In The God Delusion I have a section called "Religious education as a part of literary culture" in which I list 129 biblical phrases which any cultivated English speaker will instantly recognise and many use without knowing their provenance: the salt of the earth; go the extra mile; I wash my hands of it; filthy lucre; through a glass darkly; wolf in sheep's clothing; hide your light under a bushel; no peace for the wicked; how are the mighty fallen.

A native speaker of English who has never read a word of the King James Bible is verging on the barbarian.[15]

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## Richard Dawkins sings Christmas carols[edit]

Richard Dawkins sings traditional Christmas carols each Christmas season.[16]

See also: Richard Dawkins and Christmas and Atheism and Christmas

The Daily Mail declared about the new atheist Richard Dawkins: "Scientist and atheist Richard Dawkins has admitted he does celebrate Christmas - and enjoys singing traditional Christmas carols each festive season. The writer and evolutionary biologist told singer Jarvis Cocker that he happily wishes everyone a Merry Christmas - and used to have a tree when his daughter was younger."[17]

Dawkins wrote at the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science website:

“  |  Nor do I shy aware from singing the familiar and much loved Christmas songs that I sang for years in choir or at home. Silent Night still can bring a tear to my eye because it recalls memories of childhood.[18] |  ”

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Christian leaders or the leaders of other theistic religions do not sing the relatively few atheist songs which exist.

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ Professional Atheist Dawkins Says Christianity ‘Bulwark Against Something Worse’, by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D, Breitbart News Network, Jan 12, 2016
2. ↑ Richard Dawkins says Christianity is world's best defence against radical Islam, Christianity Today, January 2016
3. ↑ Professional Atheist Dawkins Says Christianity ‘Bulwark Against Something Worse’, by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D, Breitbart News Network, Jan 12, 2016
4. ↑ Richard Dawkins says Christianity is world's best defence against radical Islam, Christianity Today, January 2016
5. ↑ Rise of the new atheists
6. ↑ Richard Dawkins interview: 'I have a certain love for the Anglican tradition'
7. ↑ Richard Dawkins admits Jesus existed
8. ↑ Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God, The Daily Telegraph, May 14, 2011
9. ↑ Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God, The Daily Telegraph, May 14, 2011
10. ↑ Richard Dawkins is either a fool or a coward for refusing to debate William Lane Craig - October 21, 2011 - The Daily Telegraph
11. ↑ Richard Dawkins, the Cowardly Clown
12. ↑ RICHARD DAWKINS GETS ANGRY
13. ↑ RICHARD DAWKINS GETS ANGRY
14. ↑ The Root of All Evil?
15. ↑ Why I want all our children to read the King James Bible by Richard Dawkins
16. ↑ Why I celebrate Christmas, by the world's most famous atheist, The Daily Mail]
17. ↑ Why I celebrate Christmas, by the world's most famous atheist, The Daily Mail
18. ↑ A very atheist Christmas by Richard Dawkins