When you give humans the power to cancel people or groups they find distasteful, don’t be surprised if they find a way to abuse it. We have literally all of human history as evidence to prove that point.
Those of us who include Classical studies, philosophy, and theology in our toolbox of knowledge could have told you this was coming. In fact, we did.
But no. In their hubris (another great theme from antiquity), polemic bomb-chuckers like Dawkins pooh-poohed such disciplines as somehow antiquated and disqualified by modern science as he defined it. And is always the case with hubris, that fatal flaw becomes the seed of their own destruction.
Of course, Richard Dawkins was too ignorant of philosophical thinking to even realize he was using (flawed) philosophical reasoning rather than scientific reasoning to make his pitch to ditch philosophy, but that’s beyond the scope of this article.
After more than a decade of trying to ‘otherize’ and invalidate groups with whom he has philosophical and religious differences — aiming to have them shunned from the right to any role in public discourse — the Cancel Culture monster has slipped the leash and devoured Dawkins himself.
Dawkins is now formally disinvited from the world’s oldest undergraduate society because his ideas are, in their view, beyond the pale.
The College Historical Society (the Hist) has tonight rescinded its invitation to Richard Dawkins to address the society next year.
Auditor of the Hist Bríd O’Donnell announced the cancellation in a statement on her Instagram page, saying that she had been “unaware of Richard Dawkins’ opinions on Islam and sexual assault until this evening”, adding that the society “will not be moving ahead with his address as we value our members comfort above all else”.
“The invitation to Richard Dawkins to speak at the society was made by my predecessor and I followed up the invitation with limited knowledge of Mr. Dawkins”, O’Donnell said. “I had read his Wikipedia page and researched him briefly. Regretfully I didn’t look further into him before moving forward with the invitation.”
“I want to thank everyone who pointed out this valuable information to me”, O’Donnell added. “I truthfully hope we didn’t cause too much discomfort and if so, I apologise and will rectify it.”
…In an email statement to The University Times, O’Donnell said: “I was not previously aware of the harmful statements made by Richard Dawkins. The invitation was issued in advance of this committee’s tenure, and we are deeply grateful to the members and students who brought this to our attention.”
“The comfort of our membership is paramount, and we will not be proceeding with Professor Dawkins address. I apologize for any distress caused by this announcement, and the Hist will continue to listen and adapt to the needs and comfort of students”, she added.
The Hist, one of Trinity’s two debating societies, is the oldest student society in the world, having been founded in 1770.
The society hosts high-profile speakers every year, and holds debates every Wednesday. Figures such as Winston Churchill and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have addressed the society. –UniversityTimes
Ordinarily, one might offer sympathy for such a PC slapdown of a public figure.
But this guy has been a rabid ball of venom for a very long time, raging against things he didn’t even attempt to understand. Instead of ‘thoughts and prayers’, we offer a scripture from Psalm 2.
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
If you want to know how the same God that ‘Sweet Jesus’ invites us into relationship with Himself can be so harsh with those who rail againg Him, you’ll want to check out a recent episode of ClashRadio: Dear Wicked Leaders: God’s Arrows Have Your Name On Them
Check out ClashRadio for more wit and wisdom from ClashDaily’s Big Dawg. While you’re at it, here’s his latest book:
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