Richard Dawkins Meets Students’ Questions Head-on

Sierra Hubbard, Staff Writer

Athiests United hosted a Q-and-A session Friday, Nov. 21 with world-renowned scientist Dr. Richard Dawkins in the Bailey Performance Center.

Senior and English major Brian Clyne is the founder and president of Atheists Untied, a student organization created in 2012.

“Richard Dawkins appeals from the English department because of his authorship,” Clyne said, “and he appeals all the way to the Science building because of his expertise in evolutionary biology.”

Dr. Richard Dawkins has been a professor at Oxford University and is a best-selling author of over ten books, including his most recent autobiography. He has received many awards in the field of science, is a Fellow of the Royal Society, and was recognized by biologists in Sri Lanka when a genus of fish was renamed in his honor to Dawkinsia.

The questions, mediated by Dean of Student Success Dr. Michael Sanseviro, began by covering the different sections of Dawkins’ autobiography, Appetite for Wonder, including some of its light-hearted anecdotes. Questions from the audience spanned across many topics concerning his work, his views on feminism, his support of equal rights movements, thoughts on Darwinism and human evolution in the future.

Some of his more controversial comments on Twitter were also discussed, including his ‘Dear Muslima’ letter, written in 2011, that said women in America face sexual harassment, but it is nowhere near the level of treatment to which Muslim women are subjected. The backlash he received called him an anti-feminist and worse.

“The harassment of women in the workplace in western society is appalling,” Dawkins said Friday night, clarifying his position. “What I have said is that, however appalling that may be…being stoned to death for the crime of being raped or – as they would call it – for the crime of adultery, is worse.”

“But it’s terribly important to understand that, because something is worse, that doesn’t mean the first thing is good. That’s bad, too,” Dawkins said.

Throughout the evening, more questions pulled from science, human rights and religion, including the issue of whether or not there is any benefit to religion.

[pullquote]“No, I don’t think that there’s any very profoundly noticeable benefit that comes from religion – really none at all,” Dawkins said.[/pullquote]

Matt Martin, an instructor at KSU and a campus staff worker with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, disagrees with this viewpoint.

“At least speaking for Christianity,” Martin said, “basically, in the Western world, all of our notions of social welfare, caring for the poor, public education, human rights … has stemmed from Christian-led movements and Christian leaders.”

“The world has greatly benefitted from Christianity for sure,” Martin said.

He also disagrees with some of Dawkins’ other points.

“He equates everything that’s wrong with humanity with religion,” Martin said. “But, in reality, all these things are the fault of humanity. Whether people believe in god or religion or not, people are hateful and ignorant and close-minded.”

“I think he’s really unfair and [not] objective when it comes to his attacks on religion,” Martin said.

Sarah Scott, a sophomore culinary sustainability and hospitality major, is a student leader at InterVarsity at KSU. She is also opposed to these ‘attacks’.

“For Richard Dawkins to kind of be hostile,” Scott said, “I just don’t agree with that. But Atheists United, they’re not hostile; they’re not, like, in your face or anything.”

Matt Martin does contend, however, that a visit from such a world-renown figure is beneficial for students.

“First and foremost, I think the campus should be dedicated to diverse ideas and viewpoints,” Martin said. “I think it’s great for students to have a vigorous debate about that.”

At Friday night’s session, Dawkins also discussed his organization, the Richard Dawkins Foundation, and its efforts to encourage people everywhere to come forth about being secular, especially in America. Dawkins thinks it is important to give atheists and nonbelievers the confidence to own up to their beliefs instead of pretending to be religious to avoid being ostracized.

Clyne thought the event went well, considering the Bailey Performance Center was almost at capacity.

“The Dean of Student Success was amazing, as always, and was a great master of ceremonies,” Clyne said about the event. “Professor Dawkins was interesting and insightful with his answers, giving us all a new perspective from which to draw.

“A respectful exchange of ideas, of various belief systems, is what the university experience is all about, and this event captured that ideal at KSU,” Clyne said.

Clyne views Dawkins’ visit to KSU as an avenue to expand the university’s culture and recognition. “We can really put this campus on the map if we become more open-minded,” Clyne said.

In order to continue in this goal, Clyne expressed plans for next semester to host either Bill Nye or Neil deGrasse Tyson on campus.

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