Richard Dawkins, the world’s foremost atheist, is coming to the University of South Carolina this October, sources tell FITS.
Dawkins was rumored to have been deciding between either South Carolina or Southern California, but he apparently wants to acknowledge the Palmetto State’s growing atheist population. The visit will reportedly take place on October 12, although no details have been released to the public.
Dawkins is the author of several books including The God Delusion and The Selfish Gene.
USC has taken considerable heat in the past for some of its controversial invited guests – including former domestic terrorist Bill Ayers, who has spoken at the school six times.
Wonder how long before one of the S.C. gubernatorial campaigns seeks to make Dawkins’ visit an issue?
WEB EXTRA
By Aquinas August 8, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Dawkins is just another blip on the map of a long line of atheists. He’s getting traction only because people of faith refuse to stand up and (1) live the faith they profess and (2) defend it. As one contemporary writer put it so well, “If you are not willing to die for your God and your brothers, at a moment’s notice or by a thousand cuts and sacrifices over many years, then you do not have a religion. You have a hobby.”
One very famous thinker lived in a similar time with many people like Dawkins around him and this is what he wrote:
“Two societies have issued from two kinds of love. Worldly society has flowered from a selfish love which dared to despise even God, whereas the communion of saints is rooted in a love of God that is ready to trample on self. In a word, this latter relies on the Lord, whereas the other boasts that it can get along by itself. The city of man seeks the praise of men, whereas the height of glory for the other is to hear God in the witness of conscience.” -St. Augustine, City of God
I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say that Augustine’s writings have had more influence and will far outlive anything Dawkins comes up with.
By Just another Joe August 8, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Thank god for people like Dr Dawkins.
By Jenn August 8, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Brad Pitt? Brad Pitt’s coming to South Carolina?
Unfortunately somebody seems to have switched this story with one about some writer or other.
By McFailure August 8, 2009 at 6:04 pm
He is coming to stump for Barrett!
By Commonman August 8, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Maybe the University can hire him to manage the Innovista project. Oh, I forgot, he obviously does not believe in a resurrection. Of course, chances are good if he is famous, the University can find a place for him somewhere and pay an exorbitant salary. Lord knows he would not be the first.
By Margaret August 8, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Beautiful post, Aquinas. I pray that you’re right.
By myles keogh August 8, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Just what Carolina needs…another flaming liberal ass showing up on campus. I am sure they will give the same consideration to someone of faith whether he be a Christian or Jew – LOL.
By rebel August 9, 2009 at 10:37 am
I wish it was David Horowitz, or Mark Steyn. They never invite conservative thinkers to campus. I guess they did have Bill Kristol recently, but that was paid for by a donor apparently. Wonder what Dawkins speaking fee is and if that fee comes out of the student activity fees.
By acceptance August 9, 2009 at 1:37 pm
No issue here with the university having provocative speakers. The problem with Dawkins in particular is his arrogance and hostility. Scientists should not speak about religion since it’s not something they can empirically measure. Science is about things that are measurable. God is not. Dawkins, however, goes beyond science and makes philosophical and theological statements that he is unqualified to make. Interestingly, in Ben Stein’s documentary, Dawkins has acknowledged that there may be other worlds out there, and that higher beings could exist and could have created modern humans using evolutionary processes, but those higher beings are not God.
By Jonathan FIles August 9, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Dawkins is perfectly qualified to point out the history and falsifications of religion — as you say, these things are quantifiable and measurable.
What is wonderful is that people are finally starting to stand up against those who have always considered themselves above questioning.
“Philosophy asks questions that may never be answered.
Religion gives answers that may never be questioned.”
Religion has been lying about science for eons…and attacking it mercilessly. It sure doesn’t like it when someone tells the truth about it….
By Brian August 10, 2009 at 2:22 am
He was great on Family Feud.
By Toyota Kawaski August 10, 2009 at 8:36 am
Jonathan,just another Joe and Dr.Dawkins I just put each of you on my prayer list. I will pray daily that the peace and understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ will come upon you and hold you daily.
By Birdman August 10, 2009 at 11:05 am
Famous for not believing, weird to say the least, simple minded and takes little thought and no reading at all to be a non believer
By Myles Keogh August 11, 2009 at 8:48 am
By Brian on August 10th, 2009 at 2:22 am
He was great on Family Feud.
Actually he was better on Hogan’s Heroes.
By Andrew Cederdahl September 13, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Dawkins info here –
http://sites.google.com/site/pastafariansatusc/atheist-icon-to-talk-evolution-at-usc