Having previously written about religion – Don’t bother me with your religion! – and on more than one occasion (see here), I found the Richard Dawkins conversation with Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 thought provoking.

However, in light of the ensuing public commentary, mostly ingrained with prominent dogma and bigotry, it would appear that not unexpectedly I have to say; not everyone is as open-minded as they could or should be. Perhaps our society isn’t as near to ‘Outgrowing God‘ as Dawkins’ latest book might suggest?

When discussing the subject of ‘how we can outgrow God and religion‘ recently, The New Scientist pointed out; “Few scientists have acquired such a high public profile as Richard Dawkins – and maintained it amid such controversy.”

Something that is wholly understandable. I suspect it’s probably impossible to actually be more controversial. After all, it’s never really a good idea to challenge people’s entrenched belief …especially where that belief is based in religion!

We are all atheists about most of the gods that societies have ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further. (Richard Dawkins)

Richard Dawkins does challenge and does it well. As do probably many more however; it appears many religious naysayers are starting to be silenced, in some quarters, as part of that Dystopian blanket of political correctness now enveloping our Orwellian society.

I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world. (Richard Dawkins)

Holding an opinion about the opinion held by another should never be a crime, just so long as you don’t espouse that disagreement in an offensive manner, or with any intent to incite wrongful actions in others.

By all means let’s be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out. (Richard Dawkins)

Dawkins has questioned God in all his/her forms and his dissection of the major arguments for religion demonstrates; the supreme improbability of a supreme being.

Dawkins illustrates how religion so often fuels war, whips-up bigotry and sadly too often, leads to the abuse of people who don’t follow the same tenets of belief. That’s one thought process that I can wholeheartedly subscribe to. Amazon describes The God Delusion as… “a brilliantly argued, fascinating polemic that will be required reading for anyone interested in this most emotional and important subject.”

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness. (Dalai Lama)

As the comedian George Carlin once said – “Atheism is a non-prophet organisation” – and my personal preference is to see ‘belief’ from a humanist perspective. I can be accepting of an individual’s belief but theory doesn’t equal fact. I would also defend anyone’s right to follow the tenets of their belief (which aren’t mine) but, it is unacceptable to shove those beliefs at  others. Coerced religious indoctrination and any form of commercial evangelism is a stain on humanity.

I don’t believe in God(s) so don’t tell me about yours. I don’t follow any religion and I don’t need to be told about any so-called advantages of following yours. I do however believe in humanitarian principles of peace, love, care, empathy, acceptance and tolerance, amongst other ideas. Thankfully most of these still exist amongst most people within our society. Even if it does appear there is an ever decreasing number of ‘believers’ similar to me sometimes!

Often described (by some) as ‘Britain’s Greatest Atheist’, Clinton Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) is: an English ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and author. He is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford, and was the University of Oxford‘s Professor for Public Understanding of Science from 1995 until 2008.