American Humanist Association Strips Richard Dawkins of 1996 Award

1rreducibly Complex · Jul 8, 2021

NEWS
American Humanist Association Board Statement Withdrawing Honor from Richard Dawkins

APRIL 19, 2021 NEWS

Established in 1953, the Humanist of the Year Award is conferred annually by the American Humanist Association (AHA), recognizing the awardee as an exemplar of humanist values. Communication of scientific concepts to the public is an important aspect of advancing the cause of humanism. Richard Dawkins was honored in 1996 by the AHA as Humanist of the Year for his significant contributions in this area.

Regrettably, Richard Dawkins has over the past several years accumulated a history of making statements that use the guise of scientific discourse to demean marginalized groups, an approach antithetical to humanist values. His latest statement implies that the identities of transgender individuals are fraudulent, while also simultaneously attacking Black identity as one that can be assumed when convenient. His subsequent attempts at clarification are inadequate and convey neither sensitivity nor sincerity.

Consequently, the AHA Board has concluded that Richard Dawkins is no longer deserving of being honored by the AHA, and has voted to withdraw, effective immediately, the 1996 Humanist of the Year award.

American Humanist Association Board Statement Withdrawing Honor from Richard Dawkins - American Humanist Association

DaisyDay · Jul 8, 2021

Feet of clay or something worse?

essentialsaltes · Jul 8, 2021

Welcome to three months ago.

I gave up on him as anything more than an expert scientist years ago after his excuse-making for 'mild pedophilia' at British public schools.

Yttrium · Jul 8, 2021

How did they give him Humanist of the Year in the first place? He's so caustic.

durangodawood · Jul 8, 2021

essentialsaltes said:
Welcome to three months ago.

I gave up on him as anything more than an expert scientist years ago after his excuse-making for 'mild pedophilia' at British public schools.

Yes, expert scientist.

Poor humanist. Oh well.

1rreducibly Complex · Jul 8, 2021

DaisyDay said:
Feet of clay or something worse?

Campaigner Richard Dawkins faces awkward truth that his money came from slave trade | Daily Mail Online

Ancestors of secularist campaigner Richard Dawkins made their fortune from the slave trade, it has been revealed.

The outspoken atheist, who once branded the Catholic Church 'evil', is the direct descendent of Henry Dawkins who owned 1,013 slaves in Jamaica until he died in 1744.

His 400-acre family estate, Over Norton Park near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, is believed to have been bought with money made through slave ownership hundreds of years ago.

I wonder if the above revelation also had something to do with it.

Jimmy D · Jul 8, 2021

The bloke ain’t woke.

1rreducibly Complex said:
I wonder if the above revelation also had something to do with it.

I doubt it.

Halbhh · Jul 8, 2021

Yttrium said:
How did they give him Humanist of the Year in the first place? He's so caustic.

There's a question, right?

If I may observe, often someone who is 'humanist' really will tend to be ideological (of course, humanism is after all a point of view ideologically). So, the exception would be someone that pointedly makes an effort to not be so ideological. Next, many organizations tend to be connected to a generation or 2 mostly, unless there is a strong tendency to induct the young somehow. So, a lot of organizations would age, as they refuse to let the young totally change the direction.... Many organizations will tend to grow, reach a peak, and then slowly age out, and reduce, often to extinction. But, if an organization has any hope for a future, it will change its old views. (even if it is too late, in which case you sometimes see a kind of last gasp attempt to change as it fades) Now, I don't know if the AHA will be around in 20 years. No idea. If it is, it will probably be because it's willing to allow younger generations to take over and destroy what older generations did.

iluvatar5150 · Jul 8, 2021

Yttrium said:
How did they give him Humanist of the Year in the first place? He's so caustic.

Was he that caustic in 1996? I pay virtually zero attention to him and may not have even been aware of him in 1996, but my impression of him (which comes almost entirely from other people repeating things he's said) is that he's gotten worse over the years, or at least done a worse job of filtering himself.

Halbhh · Jul 8, 2021

1rreducibly Complex said:
Campaigner Richard Dawkins faces awkward truth that his money came from slave trade | Daily Mail Online

I wonder if the above revelation also had something to do with it.

No, they just don't like his reactionary side I think.

About a family fortune from slavery, it brings to mind a word that is popular lately, "reparations".

Yttrium · Jul 8, 2021

iluvatar5150 said:
Was he that caustic in 1996? I pay virtually zero attention to him and may not have even been aware of him in 1996, but my impression of him (which comes almost entirely from other people repeating things he's said) is that he's gotten worse over the years, or at least done a worse job of filtering himself.

That's a good question. I quickly developed a dislike for his rhetoric after I first learned of him, but that wasn't until after 2000.

MehGuy · Jul 9, 2021

Personally I'd view it as a badge of honor.

FireDragon76 · Jul 9, 2021

MehGuy said:
Personally I'd view it as a badge of honor.

Being a jerk and being called out for it is a badge of honor... how?

It really doesn't surprise me. All along Dawkins has had a mean streak in him, and he's used scientism as a weapon against liberal discourse. He's somebody that needed to spend alot of time in therapy a long time ago to deal with some traumatic experiences, obviously (he was sexually molested in a religious school, for one thing).

MehGuy · Jul 9, 2021

FireDragon76 said:
Being a jerk and being called out for it is a badge of honor... how?

It really doesn't surprise me. All along Dawkins has had a mean streak in him, and he's used scientism as a weapon against liberal discourse.

How we he a jerk?

FireDragon76 · Jul 9, 2021

MehGuy said:
How we he a jerk?

He's been accused of Islamaphobia, transphobia, and attacking Black identity.

Richard Dawkins loses ‘humanist of the year’ title over trans comments

I don't think his actions are the most egregious but it does show insensitivity that isn't befitting the title of "humanist".

mala · Jul 9, 2021

FireDragon76 said:
He's been accused of Islamaphobia, transphobia, and attacking Black identity.

Richard Dawkins loses ‘humanist of the year’ title over trans comments

I don't think his actions are the most egregious but it does show insensitivity that isn't befitting the title of "humanist".

those are all things that some degenerates celebrate.

MehGuy · Jul 9, 2021

FireDragon76 said:
He's been accused of Islamaphobia, transphobia, and attacking Black identity.

Sounds like a baaad man. Hope the token women and minorities who replace him are pure in heart.

I don't think his actions are the most egregious but it does show insensitivity that isn't befitting the title of "humanist".

Admittedly I am not sure what a "humanist" is.. if a humanist is one who immediately kowtows to specific issues people more on the left care about.. well.. my original comment still stands.

FireDragon76 · Jul 10, 2021

MehGuy said:
Admittedly I am not sure what a "humanist" is.. if a humanist is one who immediately kowtows to specific issues people more on the left care about.. well.. my original comment still stands.

Humanism has always tended to be of the Left in western culture since the French revolution, at least. It's in opposition to the Right, which focused on valuing traditionalism for its own sake, including the place that religious belief had in European life.

All Englands Skies · Jul 10, 2021

FireDragon76 said:
He's been accused of Islamaphobia, transphobia, and attacking Black identity.

Richard Dawkins loses ‘humanist of the year’ title over trans comments

I don't think his actions are the most egregious but it does show insensitivity that isn't befitting the title of "humanist".

I have not payed much attention to Dawkins in a few years, the transphobia and attacking black identity must be new threads he is playing with.

last time I followed news about Dawkins was when his career completely nosedived when he started ranting about Islam rather than Christianity. While there was always some people who always disliked Dawkins, he shed a lot of his supporters when he shifted focused to Islam.

Basically it just became the same old story that it was okay to spit venom at Christianity but not Islam.

It also feels a bit of a joke how selective "hate" is, that Dawkins spent years saying the worst things about Christianity and was lauded as a leading atheist thinker, even if he was acidic, but then starts slamming Islam and now Trans and black identity and he is now a hate monger, stripped of his awards, pushed out from his limelight. Even your own post shows this; He's been accused of Islamaphobia, transphobia, and attacking Black identity. Notice how his venom against Christianity was never met with being "accused of anti-Christian sentiment" in the past.

FireDragon76 · Jul 10, 2021

All Englands Skies said:
I have not payed much attention to Dawkins in a few years, the transphobia and attacking black identity must be new threads he is playing with.

last time I followed news about Dawkins was when his career completely nosedived when he started ranting about Islam rather than Christianity. While there was always some people who always disliked Dawkins, he shed a lot of his supporters when he shifted focused to Islam.

Basically it just became the same old story that it was okay to spit venom at Christianity but not Islam.

It also feels a bit of a joke how selective "hate" is, that Dawkins spent years saying the worst things about Christianity and was lauded as a leading atheist thinker, even if he was acidic, but then starts slamming Islam and now Trans and black identity and he is now a hate monger, stripped of his awards, pushed out from his limelight. Even your own post shows this; He's been accused of Islamaphobia, transphobia, and attacking Black identity. Notice how his venom against Christianity was never met with being "accused of anti-Christian sentiment" in the past.

Christians aren't a marginalized group in society.

American Humanist Association Strips Richard Dawkins of 1996 Award

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