Politics and religion are two topics that should never be broached with strangers. Unless, it seems, you are at the Sydney Opera House. Recently, the Opera House has hosted a number of big-hitter and controversial intellectuals, including the political activist Noam Chomsky and religious philosopher Daniel Dennett. Now here comes the militant atheist might of Richard Dawkins.
Dawkins is one of today's most prominent scientists, atheists and religious sceptics. As one of the leaders of the atheist movement, he is known for his unrelenting criticism of non-scientific (read: religious) views of creation. Although be warned: Dawkins is not for the faint-hearted. When it comes to evolution and religion, few are bolder than this mild-mannered Englishman. Yet perhaps in the wake of Alain de Botton's 'Atheism 2.0' (also at the Sydney Opera House), Dawkins has softened his hard-lined approach, replacing religious mockery with appraisal of scientific beauty. In this talk he heralds the 'magic of scientific reality' as being more beautiful than anything conjured up by a magical deity.
In conversation with theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss, Dawkins promises a 'family friendly' approach to evolution and religion. Although you have been warned.