I've just returned from an interview and Q&A with Richard Dawkins. Surprisingly it was quite enjoyable!
Dawkins' recent book 'The Greatest Show on Earth' aims to lay out the scope of the evidence for evolution. The problem has always been that whilst his previous books (or at least the ones I've read) have always contained well-written popular science, they have also dripped with the anti-religious venom. Bowlfuls of it.
If this evening is anything to go by Dawkins may finally be starting to separate the teaching of science from the proselytizing of atheism. In an hour long session there were only one or two barbed comments, the rest was all about science. Questions ranged from the application of Darwinism to economics, to how evolution will respond to climate change - all interesting stuff.
My own journey from Young Earth Creationism then Old Earth Creationism through to Theistic Evolution has been helped firstly by Christians who have illustrated there is nothing to fear in evolution, and secondly science writers who stick to science. Dawkins' books have actually been an obstacle to my education.
So if this really is a change in attitude and a leopard really can change its spots (evolution in action!) then we could all be better off.
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I have always maintained in my reading of Dawkins that 'the man doth protest too much'.
ReplyDeleteAs if he is just fighting against something he really knows deep down to be true but can't swallow his pride / ego enough to accept.
If all you can do is attack other people's ideas, your own ones are generally not well enough argued / not properly validated!
It sounds like (if the Q&A is anything to go by) his new book is a more balanced science book, maybe he has matured?