Freethought Matters - Richard Dawkins

This week on Freethought Matters, FFRF Co-President Dan Barker speaks with world renowned scientist and atheist Richard Dawkins. Dawkins is the author of over 60 books, including The Blind Watchmaker, The God Delusion and the Selfish Gene.
Learn more about the Freedom From Religion Foundation at ffrf.org.

[@lmelin1959]

Ever since I read "The Selfish Gene", I've perceived Richard Dawkins as an intellectual hero. His observations on how the concept of evolution affects so many things around us, not just biology, but entire paradigms of thought in form of 'memes', are profound.

[@drumcircler]

Richard is a personal hero of mine! Thanks for this wonderful interview! Plus a rendition of Londonderry Air! What a treat!

[@mitchkahle314]

Thank you to Dan and FFRF for sharing the interview.

[@ericr4785]

Thank you FFRF for all the legal help you have given us, and thank you Richard for all the education you have given us. Also, is was great seeing you guys jamming! Awesome!

[@suekocher3274]

Two of my favorite people, playing music, talking, and making sense. Richard, you are just as clear, erudite, and humane as ever. I’m glad cancel-culture has failed to cancel you. Please keep writing and sharing with us! And you too, Dan!

[@Aymenadhami]

Damn it. Of course, someone beat me to writing this comment, but at least you worded it better than I ever can!

[@Richard-b5r9v]

Richard Dawkins is a National Treasure

[@coreybakerteachingstudio8858]

international

[@cleftturnip7774]

What does National treasure mean?

[@ProjectCreativityGuy96]

​@@cleftturnip7774 It means that He's loved and valued by a nation of people, or in the case of the Internet, international!

[@cleftturnip7774]

@@ProjectCreativityGuy96 the whole nation?

[@sujoygupta2922]

If the aliens ever learn about him, galactic treasure might be more appropriate

[@MaziEmdi]

Awesome!

[@robinhood20253]

Just fell in love with Dawkins when i became an atheist. His contribution to biology is worthy of wonder. Unfortunately his comments on trans people have been used by the anti trans community for harm, in spite of the fact that these same people have often compared him to th devil. Lol. Just shows how fickle they truly are. I understand Richard isnt in that specific field and i dont think he realized the impact his musings would have. I am certain he has been attacked rather severely and all of that is unfortunate. Richard is a wealth of knowledge about biology and culture. It must be such a great priviledge to know him and speak to him one on one. Thank you to all of you who have paved the way for those of us following your footsteps.

[@LimitlessThinker]

This was a very enjoyable interview. You are both heroes of mine. I read your books and listened to many videos. You are wonderful to help others and share your wealth of knowledge. Very nice music, as well!

[@peterb4926]

Thank you Dan for all that you do!

[@ngutngut40]

Richard just makes so much sense. Thank you for this interview.

[@JaCeeMusic]

thank you dan and richard!

[@ChaoThing]

Awesome, thank you very much FFRF and Dr. Richard Dawkins!

[@RobertRains-r6s]

Your videos are helping. Thank you, from the Humanist Desert (Oklahoma).

[@kleenmaint]

"Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I, Sit alone and talk and watch." We are in the middle of the Bible belt which takes a dip up North for Indiana. Trying to embrace friends and family who still believe is a skill I am working on.

[@bisbeekid]

Extremely enjoyable discussion. Thank you Dan Barker and FFRF for sharing.

[@eyessee-p1k]

the legend is in the building, Richard Dawkins the true great

[@danf7568]

One's existence becomes even more profound with knowledge. It starts with curiosity and expands with knowledge so well reflected by Richard Dawkins.

[@SUPREME-SCIENCE]

The above voices are not threatening at all, they are very civilized. The basis for kind communication. Atheists are very humble persons

[@mavrosyvannah]

Imagine a world with no cults. No one to sell the lies that destroy the logical mind.

[@quakers200]

It is an illusion that smart people ( like us?) with logical minds chose the truth while the simple, easily swayed people (them) chose falsehoods. I know it seems like that but the truth is that if I had some religious persons DNA, been born in the same time and space , shared his entire life experiences etc. I too would have chosen religion. It is not just the beating of our hearts or the coordination of muscles that make us walk and talk that we don't control it is everything being controlled biochemistry reacting to changing environments.

[@dianahill5116]

The words cult and religion are synonymous.

[@DexterDexter123]

two of my favourite people.

[@williamwalker3774]

Excellent interview!

[@quakers200]

Thank Gof for freethought. I pray that it grows and multiplies.

[@JordanCabrona]

Richard one of the great minds living in the world right now

[@wayno5655]

Love him!

[@Richard-b5r9v]

Oh Danny Boy was the tune Richard and Dan were playing at the beginning of the video

[@dedpichto5548]

Awesome conversation! Из России с любовью!

[@ahmetdogan5685]

Richard Dawkins is Darwin of Today.

[@kleenmaint]

I have just started reading the collective works of Charles Darwin. He is amazing. I advise everyone to start with The Voyage of the Beagle and ease into Origin of the Species. I doubt anyone has done as much footwork and dissection as he has. He was so passionate about learning.

[@Raydensheraj]

Just re-reading all the Dawkins booms i have....The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, The Ancestors Tale 2nd edition, The Greatest Show on Earth and The God Delusion....and everyone is written phenomenally. Trying to find "The Extended phenotype" which i have as epub file....but prefer books. He has done so much for science communication concerning evolutionary theory....and who knows how many people were inspired by his books and went ahead becoming themselves biologists.... He is the modern day Thomas Henry Huxley and his fight against the evil of religious fundamentalists were and are important....but for me personally it is his tireless love for the Genes Eye view of Evolution, The extended phenotype, Memes and his very particular style of explaining evolutionary theory to the public deserve admiration. I consider Richard Dawkins a great man....and im thankful he is foing again a lot better after his health issues.... Hope he will continue writing books...i would love him writing a book mainly on human evolution applying the gebes eye view of evolution, sexual selection, cultural evoluty and his ideas concerning memes, extended phenotypes etc. Edit: lol....he starts talking late in the video about his sequel to the Selfish Gene 😂 excited and a automatic buy.

[@whigmin5436]

Haha, I thought I was so clever finding epubs of his books...and then defaulting to find physical copies in the library Cheers Physical books. They ain't goin' anywhere

[@lovetownsend]

Richard Dawkins, the man not the scientist or activist, is so commendable.

[@jarodcarnarvon5198]

One of many things I always had a hard time understanding in Christianity even when I was in Church all those years, was the premise that we all are responsible for Adam's sin in the Garden Of Eden simply by bring born... I really like Richard Dawkins.....

[@Wildrover82]

I love Richard. I learnt a lot from him. And I'm a peon. Lol.

[@kleenmaint]

Thanks Richard Dawkins!!! Love listening to you. Miss Christopher Hitchens. Forgive me but I feel the compulsion to take a "Bible" scripture out of context, "You are a light to my roadway, a lamp unto my feet." (can I be so self serving as to insert an lol) :)

[@oldgeezerproductions]

I can't wait for the availability of "The Genetic Book of The Dead."

[@tylerjones3025]

Does anyone know where the picture at 0:50 was taken? What is the name of the goddess statue?

[@CrazyKitty428]

Richard Dawkins can't wait for the new book!

[@nathancranford6369]

Great to see Dawkins looking so well!

[@eblake626]

These two men lead me away from Jesus, for which I'm "eternally" grateful.

[@kleenmaint]

Amen!!!

[@donkeyparadise9276]

Funny​@@kleenmaint

[@robertmcclintock8701]

( ﾟдﾟ) The sun is dire. It makes some people feel dread. They are the fallen ones.

[@eniggma9353]

i bet all the seamen are pissed off at this.

[@edwardanthony8929]

Darwin was dead a very long time ago, more interesting is how influential was a book in its time. In that case Origins is up there even though most people have never read it.

[@lostfan5054]

While I admire Dr. Dawkins work, his anti-Trans stance is a bit alarming.

[@NonyaSmith]

Yes. He's been chumming it up with transphobes, and people should take notice.

[@NomDeGuerre96]

he doesn't say people can't act or dress how they want. Just that this nonsense about men can be woman and vise versa is well absurd....

[@lostfan5054]

@@NomDeGuerre96 Yes that's what is alarming. He's hung up on labels. Don't worry what someone else calls themselves.

[@NomDeGuerre96]

you can call yourself whatever you want. Me and Dawkins could care less. That doesn't make a man become a woman. That doesn't mean that I have to pretend that a man can become a woman@@lostfan5054

[@robertmcclintock8701]

((ﾟ□ﾟ;)) if someone makes the Bible your disability you become the most interesting person in the world.

[@robertmcclintock8701]

( ﾟAﾟ ) Natural selection is the character flaw in evil that is integrity is more important than life otherwise evolution is tragic circumstances with nothing intelligent happening. Almost everyone survive until they reproduce. Nothing is getting selected except for the character flaw in evil. I found a replacement for the character flaw in evil that I liked but God makes me forget things that will cause me trouble.

[@Mrz-sb1hw]

After cain slew able where did this "they" come from. People appearing out of nowhere. Also how do Christians explain aborigines, Japanese, Chinese and Eskimos from eight middle east people. So far no Christian has answered both questions. Because they don't have one.

[@chrisgriffiths2533]

"Freedom From Religion, Freethought Matters" Oh and By the Way We want to Ban Religious Free Thought from Government because Our Freedom Matters and Everybody Else's does Not. "A Talented Musician", Thanks for that Comedy. Let's Maybe Just Freely Say Richard Plays Music Every Now and Then.

[@roylcraft]

Stick with the facts Richard, your thoughts on gender are outdated. Don't be as cruel as the church has been for thousands of years.

[@toaster4693]

Outdated? He understands biology.

[@mavrosyvannah]

Apples to oranges. He knows biology and you know the media cult narrative.

[@roylcraft]

@@toaster4693 People are not robots. He does not understand PEOPLE then. No god, I get it. No strange or different people, nope. Plenty of those.

[@roylcraft]

@@mavrosyvannah ..People are fluid. "media cult"? ..that's a new one. Watch out for the Fox cult.

[@whigmin5436]

In what way are his thoughts outdated? (Hope you don't mind the engagemetn)

[@robertmcclintock8701]

(/--)/ with a television you don't have to be supernatural. God prefer that because it's more social but we have to use it correctly. Right now we have anarchy blindness. Despite the anarchy blindness I figured it out. That proves we can be God like. Only a person getting crucified would suspect something greater. They crucified me with exact same disease that in pink Floyd the wall. Victor said it's all good. It should be possible to make everything all good.

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

I'd like to see Richard Dawkins in a debate with another biologist that opposes his views on gender dysphoria and the trans community.

[@Joeljaboy]

Yeah, if he wasn’t so transphobic, i bet this video would have more views

[@BUSeixas11]

@@Joeljaboyembracing reality is not hateful

[@infinitemonkey917]

@@Joeljaboy So if people don't agree with you 100% of the time just shut them down, eh? Ignore all of their accomplishments and berate them as well.

[@christopherhamilton3621]

@@infinitemonkey917Is that what he did though?

[@infinitemonkey917]

@@christopherhamilton3621 Perhaps not, but that is what many people do. I assumed he is with them.

[@AnneMcKinley-fs8jp]

Why is FFRF promoting Dawkins, who has expressed some terrible views in recent years? He gets plenty of press. You don’t have to platform his bigotry.

[@whigmin5436]

Hi, can you clarify what you mean? bigotry towards whom?

[@centaur7607]

While I agree that Dawkins is terribly misguided in his views on transgenderism, in this case platforming Dawkins benefits FFRF and doesn't do anything at all for Dawkins. Dawkins is doing this interview as a personal favor, and to help out FFRF, but it doesn't benefit him at all. Dawkins gets no worthwhile exposure from this. He gets far more exposure from many others that will platform him and his own podcast. This exposure is essentially meaningless to someone of Dawkins' celebrity status. It doesn't benefit Dawkins, but it does help FFRF to have someone with his level of fame on their video.

[@whigmin5436]

Hi. I've seen the backlash against him because of his views on Trans issues. Can you spell out for me in what ways you find him misguided? Cheers@@centaur7607

[@Wildrover82]

​@@whigmin5436Anne can't clarify anything. She's confused.

[@whigmin5436]

@@centaur7607 Solid!

[@robertmcclintock8701]

(゜ロ゜) hell is not for punishment. Hell is beautiful and mysterious intelligently designed to do a breaking and entering of the universe. It makes paranoia beautiful God's greatest gift. Spy pink Floyd careful with that axe Eugene.

[@crimony3054]

He accomplished such great esteem and then squandered it promoting hatred of religion. His accomplishments will eventually be attributed to other men, lesser men.

[@robertmcclintock8701]

( ; ﾟДﾟ) The demon in sunshine movie is Jesus. It's not reality but people's perceptions. The churches have failed Jesus. Fighting over the star makes more sense than the horrible prophecy Fighting over who knows what.

[@DB-qw6xq]

Listen to John Lennox who is the antidote of Dawkins pseudo-scientific ideology.

[@Wildrover82]

No.

[@luizr.5599]

He is very conservative and anti-woke and that is silly

[@Wildrover82]

No.

[@jeremymr]

Too bad Dawkins went full transphobe at a time when Republicans are introducing hundreds of bills against trans people. I don't see much backlash against him for this from my fellow atheists, either. Not even pointing out to him his anti-trans views are unscientific. I admire Dawkins' accomplishments as much as anyone else, but he so often gets treated like a pope or royalty by atheists in interviews and coddled too much.

[@NomDeGuerre96]

Saying a man is a man and not a woman is unscientific?

[@UsenameTakenWasTaken]

@@NomDeGuerre96 That's a new account with a name that implies an alternate identity. Funny that folks like you often have one of those...

[@NomDeGuerre96]

@@UsenameTakenWasTaken reply to what I say instead of changing the subject.

[@Bostonceltics1369]

Yeah he has some good books but what about his terrible takes on gender he's a biologist and he doesn't know that sex is non binary? Dawkins makes us look bad and he's a disgrace until he renounces his terf ideology. Please stop platforming him.

[@blossom357]

Much to the contrary, Dawkins is consistent. It is a dedication to the TRUTH. Religion is a fairy tale. So is the idea that you can be a woman simply because you have gender dysphoria.

[@Daniel-o2s4l]

These two are on borrowed time.. so close to meeting their maker. Old, slow, weak!

[@Wildrover82]

No.

[@kleenmaint]

After reading the disparaging comments about Richard Dawkins below in reference to some comments he said in concerning trans women, I am appalled that anything at all was made of this nonsense. The remarks he made were purely scientific. He didn't deny anyone's right to ID as they wish. So childish!

[@autisticberserker1807]

Dawkins has gone MAGA (or maybe he always was). I am very disappointed to see him highlighted here. Is FFRF pro capitalism? I thought better of FFRF until now. Ugh.

[@christopherhamilton3621]

I’m not running out to buy the new book and I appreciate hearing about it directly here. Why do you assume that to be the case?

[@herbieshine1312]

In what way has he gone "MAGA?"

[@whigmin5436]

really confused by this assertion

[@herbieshine1312]

@@whigmin5436 yes. I want to know in what way the claim is framed! I thought there may be something he said during the discussion but couldn't pick out anything.

[@BUSeixas11]

Wow, your channel is finally publishing content about atheism, instead of, you know, trans activism and other unrelated stuff

[@exceptionallyaverage3075]

Do you have a problem with trans people?

[@robinhood20253]

Some groups really need support at this time. Transgender people are especially under attack , specifically by religious fundamentalists.

[@FaiaHalo]

Funny how you're the opposite of a critical thinker.

[@dwolfcoach]

​@@FaiaHaloHow so? Enlighten me. I'm not being facetious.

[@FaiaHalo]

@@dwolfcoach literally look at the latest ten videos by this channel. Nothing near what OP is claiming. No critical thinker would LIE like that.

[@JohnnyCarthief]

Free thinkers that all believe the same thing…

[@Wildrover82]

The truth? Of course they do.🤔

[@antitheistatheist5463]

🗣️🧠 DAN AND ANNIE - YOU SHOULD MENTION TO RICHARD DAWKINS THAT HE SAYS - 'UM' - TOO MUCH .. IT IS VERY ANNOYING AND - POOR COMMUNICATION..... ONCE IN AWHILE IS OK BUT NOT OVER N OVER N OVER... F I X I T R I C H A R D .........

[@whigmin5436]

The dude is in his 80s It's likely to happen to all of us to some degree.

[@kleenmaint]

some of Dan's questions may be difficult to answer with a definitive science based answer. I get this.

[@Ai-he1dp]

Freedom from religion to another religion?

[@alex.8067]

What do you mean

[@Ai-he1dp]

@@alex.8067 what do you mean ?

[@UsenameTakenWasTaken]

​@@Ai-he1dp I know you are, but what am I?

[@TaimazHavadar]

Ortodox darwinian atheism Creative 👍😂 Your famous books are fundamentaly wrong I tell you one of important reasone UNIVERSE ,EARTH AND LIFE CREAT BY THE RANDOMS IN LONG TIME WITH NO CREATIVE MIND NAMED GODTHAT YOU BELIEVE IN BUT IN OTHER SIDE WE HAVE A PERFESIONAL WATCH MAKER WHO LEARNED SO MANY THINGS BEFORE AND HAVE MANY EXPERIENCES OF MAKING WATCHES . AND EARTH CREAT LIFE WITH LOTS OF FACTORS IN NATURE AND NATURE IS EXTEREMLEY CREATIVE SO TO CREAT MAN WHO TALKING WRONG OR RIGH ABOUT EVOLUTION THEORY , THEN, THIS CREATIVE MECHANISM MUST HAVE A CREATOR BECAUSE IT CAN CREAT HUMANS MIND AND BODY BY THE (0/00.......01) EMPTY SPACE OF ATOMS 😂 AND QUANTOM TUNELINGS ENZYMS AND QUANTOM PHOTOSYNTIZING PLANTS THAT,SCIENTISTS BIGGEST MYSTERY TILL NOW😂😂 ... AND SECOND IS WATCH MAKER HAVE ALL THE TOOLS AND MATERIALS OF WATCH TO BUILD THAT BUYED THEM BEFORE LIFE NEED ELEMENTS OF MAKER COMPARE TO WATCH ELEMENTS LIKE MARKERS,SPINDLE ,QUARTZ ETC..AND WACTHMAKER MUST FIND AND MAKE ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS HE MUST MUNED METAL MAKE SPRING AND MAKE WATCH GLASS (Mine quartz to finishing proces) AND YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS A ABSOLUTELY WRONG COMPARING .... AND ALSOO BLIND WATCHMAKER CANT MAKE WATCHES AT ALL 🙏🙏

[@KeithOtisEdwards]

Your Caps Lock key is stuck on.

[@kleenmaint]

Invoking a magic cause is certainly no better. At least science continues to learn, explore and admit when something doesn't match the data anymore. Religion and theism tend not to do this, and when they do it is often in response to an error they've had exposed in their dogma/doctrine/etc.

[@EllasPOSEiDON]

Wake up frommthe deep delusion. Stay away from religion. Don't be that childish. 😅😅😅

[@UsenameTakenWasTaken]

Please speak to a professional. You need help. With basic grammar, at the very least.

[@EllasPOSEiDON]

May you should learn some REAL SCIENCE, instead of dune magic. 😀😀😃😃😃

[@regularguy3202]

I could not be an atheist. The evidence for a creator is too overwhelming. The fact that we can use our minds to create thought and engage in debate is enough to convince me.

[@hotelmag-a-lardo]

You seem to be the one in eight. Citations needed for " the evidence for a creator".

[@toaster4693]

There is zero evidence. How is that overwhelming?

[@regularguy3202]

@@hotelmag-a-lardo I’m from Texas USA. I don’t understand what you mean. Too clever for this old country boy.

[@regularguy3202]

@@toaster4693 Not sure what reality you are taking up residence in. A Salvador Dali painting perhaps? Some of the greatest minds have been theists. Your statement is more emotional than thoughtful.

[@herbieshine1312]

You believe a god which shows no sign of existing is "logical" What evidence is there for a "creator?"

[@Cacacos]

nice

[@Wildrover82]

Yes.

[@TheJohnMak]

Athiests and reason mentioned in the same sentence??? Hillarious.

[@herbieshine1312]

Go on then explain!

[@revwillyg6450]

Yes, because belief based on faith is so reasonable 🙄

[@MaziEmdi]

Absolutely… they go together like white on rice.

[@EllasPOSEiDON]

Atheism doesn't mean that the person who's atheist is rational in every aspect of life. Definitely rational and reasonable regarding empty, baseless religious claims.