Dawkins: No opinion is protected from criticism

Thursday, 19, Feb 2009 11:24

Richard Dawkins, author and biologist, comments on the establishment of the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies (AHS):

"Public statements of non-belief are treated as threatening, an affront to the religious, while the reverse is not true.

"More concerning is the enduring assumption that religious belief does not have to earn respect like any other view, an approach that has caused politicians and public figures across the UK to withdraw from asking the vital question: why is religion given such special status in government, culture and the media? Why is belief in a higher power an indication of greater moral fortitude, character and acumen?

"The AHS says publicly that it isn't; on the contrary, beliefs that are unsupported, bigoted or demand special privileges should always be challenged. No opinion should be protected from criticism simply by virtue of being religiously held."