 "Photo: Andrew Rogers")
Wednesday night, evolutionary biologist and outspoken atheist Richard Dawkins spoke at Hogg Memorial Auditorium as part of his tour promoting his New York Times bestseller, "The God Delusion." In his book, Dawkins argues that a belief in a god constitutes a delusion, and that a god almost certainly does not exist.
Dawkins, also known for his groundbreaking books "The Selfish Gene" and "Unweaving the Rainbow," made several criticisms on religion and religious attitudes, many of which can be found in "Delusion." He railed against not only the argument from design, but teaching the controversy of intelligent design and evolution, which he likened to teaching the controversy of storks versus sex. He also made an assertion that many of people who have read him know: Many of us are atheists to all other gods, but "some of us go one god further." Dawkins also made note of when it's OK to be offended about religion.
"We should be offended by female circumcision," he said. "We should be offended by stoning."
His words may seem inflammatory to some, but he keeps a sense of humility.
"I don't want to come off so much as an enemy of religion, but a friend to truth," Dawkins said.
The event was hosted by Atheist Longhorns, a registered student organization bringing together atheist students and promoting a positive view of atheism. The group holds social meeting where like-minded people come and talk about current events. The group was formed in September of 2007.
"I basically wanted to meet other people who had similar view points," said Sandra Sythe, president of the organization.
Dawkins is one of the most prominent atheists in the world, and the organization was esteemed to bring him to campus.
"Our group is the voice of campus atheists, and we want to represent it as well as we can," Sythe said.
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