Richard Dawkins Quits Atheist Foundation

story
Above: Richard Dawkins in conversation on the Mission Control Stage during day 2 of the Blue Dot Festival at Jodrell Bank on July 21, 2018, in Manchester, England. Image copyright: Andrew Benge/Contributor/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

The Facts

  • British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins has resigned from the Honorary Board of Freedom From Religion Foundation, accusing the US-based atheist organization of having "caved into hysterical squeals" following the takedown of an article stressing the biological nature of sex.

  • Two other prominent scientists — Jerry Coyne and Steven Pinker — quit the board a few hours earlier, both claiming that the Foundation had betrayed its values to impose what they called "quasi-religious" "extreme gender activism."

Show more

The Spin

Conservative narrative

It's no wonder that Coyne, Dawkins, and Pinker have resigned from the Foundation, as the association that once sought to keep Christianity out of public institutions — even of Christmas celebrations — now wants to impose the quasi-religious transgender ideology.

Spectator UK

Progressive narrative

Given that Dawkins, Coyne and Pinker have long been spreading anti-trans rhetoric, their resignation does more good than harm to the Foundation. First, because no one really cares about the honorary board. Second, because their pivot to the right means that all skeptic groups should cut ties with them as soon as possible.

Friendly Atheist

Metaculus Prediction