Southern Crowd Gets Kudos for Respectful Conduct at Historic Atheist Debate in Alabama
Even though Dawkins had insulted Southerners as being morons, "For the most part, the evening was remarkable for its civility...there was no hooting or hollering. Indeed, not one stray comment could be heard from the audience. I didn't make out a single sarcastic whisper from the college students sitting to my left or the middle-aged couples to my right."
(Birmingham, Ala.)—In an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, editor Naomi Schaefer Riley writes of the recent, historic debate in Birmingham, Alabama, between two Oxford professors; mathematician John Lennox and atheist biologist Richard Dawkins in Birmingham. (Photo: Richard Dawkins)
Noting that Dawkins had recently referred to the Bible Belt as "the reptilian brain of southern and middle America," Riley praises the audience at the event, saying: "For the most part, the evening was remarkable for its civility...there was no hooting or hollering. Indeed, not one stray comment could be heard from the audience. I didn't make out a single sarcastic whisper from the college students sitting to my left or the middle-aged couples to my right."
Riley also shares feedback from several pastors regarding the impact that Dawkin's attack on faith may be having on churches. She quotes Billy Hay, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church near Birmingham as saying it has had little impact on his church, but that Christians are aware of Dawkin's accusations and want to be informed. So much so, that he said 200 men have shown up at his church once a week at 6 a.m. for a class on Christian doctrine. (Photo: John Lennox)
Other Christian leaders agree, pointing to the resurgence of Christian apologetics, saying younger people are some of the most avid students.
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