As Richard and I entered his suite, the nerves kicked in. It was all I could do to keep the fan in me from overtaking the writer in me. We settled in at a table next to a window that overlooked a beautiful sparsely wooded area. It was time… I was on.
As it turned out, the interview ended up being all that I wanted and more. It was conversational just as I had hoped. And, Richard was warm, contemplative, genuine, and witty. It flowed so beautifully. Although I didn’t get to all of my questions, I held true to my word and ended the interview at the 30 minute mark. How could I not? He had been so gracious and accommodating.
I was not prepared for what happened next. As it would turn out, this encounter with Richard couldn’t have been better if I had planned it. I am so glad that I didn’t manage to interview him after his book signing.
As I was walking toward the door, escorted by Richard, I thanked him for his time. And, just as I was about to depart, he asked me if I would like to join him for lunch. Of course, I would!
We went down to the hotel lobby where a lunch buffet was set up. We found a table nearby and sat across from one another. I felt that I had gotten to see the man behind the image during our interview, but it was nothing compared to what was to come.
As it turns out, Richard is a great conversationalist. We talked about Examiner.com. We talked about me. He seemed genuinely interested. We talked for about an hour touching on a variety of topics including Nate Phelps’ presentation and the psychology of belief. He had put me at ease such that I was no longer the writer. Gone was the star-struck fan. I was just me hanging out with just him. We were just two people enjoying a nice conversation over lunch.
After the bill was dropped at the table, he offered to pay for lunch. How gracious of him. I felt as though I was the one who should have paid. After all, it was the least I could do not only to repay him for his time but for his kindness as well. (As if the price of a lunch could accomplish that.) I thanked him.
As we continued to talk, he asked me how often I write articles for my column and how I come up with the ideas. I confessed that sometimes it wasn’t easy. At this point he told me that he had bought a book during the convention called The Jesus The Jews Never Knew by Frank Zindler. He said he had thumbed through it before going to bed the night before and that he thought it was a fascinating topic.
He said that the topic really deserves attention and that he wanted to lend his book to me so that I could give it and the topic some exposure. He said I could send it back to him when I finished with it. But then, after a bit more conversation, he said I should keep it until we saw one another again in California in October at the Atheist Alliance International convention, which is being co-hosted by The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.
With that, he invited me to follow him back to his suite so he could get the book for me. When we got to his suite, he disappeared into his bedroom to get the book. When he came out, he sat on the couch and invited me to join him. He wrote his name in the front of the book so that I wouldn’t forget that he had lent it to me. As if I ever could.
We talked a bit about the book and before I knew it, we were on another topic, then another, then another. The next thing you know, we were brainstorming about ways to advance the atheism movement in a more positive way. We talked about his foundation and how it could help to accomplish that goal.
Richard’s foundation, in my estimation, is on the right track. It focuses on science and reason. It is particularly intriguing to me because, according to the foundation’s Web site, one of its purposes is “to sponsor research into the psychological basis of unreason.” I think that is so important. I have long maintained that understanding is far more important than tolerance and feel that the foundation is pointed in the right direction with this approach. I have great hopes of becoming deeply involved in the foundation’s activities in the near future. As a side note, I encourage anyone who is able, to donate to his foundation.
All told, I spent about an hour in Richard’s suite talking about whatever came to mind – from politics to psychology to his plans. I felt like I really got to know the man behind the image - as much as you can get to know anyone in 2 ½ hours. Behind the public persona is a man who is passionate, kind, contemplative, witty, and charming. He is personable and genuine. He is certainly one of the most interesting people I have met in my lifetime and, as such, the time I spent with him will remain one of the highlights of my life.
It was getting late and I had a long drive ahead of me. So, at the door we bade each other a fond farewell. As I made my way to the elevator what was stuck in my head was not that I had just spent 2 ½ hours with Richard Dawkins, the celebrity (that would come later). What was in my head was the thought, “What a lovely man.”
For more on this:
Meeting Richard Dawkins: Part 1 – The prelude
Meeting Richard Dawkins: Part 3 - The interview
Comments
How cooooooool. I can't wait to see what's next.
Wow, you weren't kidding, sounds like you had a great time.
I'm delighted that you had such a wonderful experience and that you were able to share it with us here. As I read the part in your account where you and Dawkins discussed "ways to advance the atheism movement in a more positive way," I thought about what I might have said were I not paralyzed by the shyness that would have probably overwhelmed me had I been in your shoes. I think I might have said that he and the "atheism movement" in general may need to present themselves as more temperately dubious and less stridently contemptuous of theism. More importantly, they may need to take on not only the ridiculously crude and implausible beliefs and theologies of the biblical literalists, but also the refined beliefs and rarefied theologies of much more intellectually sophisticated and spiritually mature theists. Until they can discredit the teachings of Aquinas and Eckhart as effectively as they do those of Benny Hinn and Billy Graham, atheists such as Dawkins will remain vulnerable to the accusation that they're not refuting the best of what theism has to offer but only pounding away at its obvious weaknesses like the overgrown school bully at the frailest kid on the playground.
"Psychological basis for unreason"--Think of Nate Phelps, then have a look at "For Your Own Good" by Alice Miller--which can be read free online. Or just investigate "trauma" generally. Stay open to the concepts of people like Fromm, Szasz, Laing, A.S. Neill, Bruce Perry. The world is definitely nuts. And there's definitely a reason for it. Well! A "cause" then.
Two parts just celebrating Mr Dawkins is just a bit much. It's quite obvious that he is a nice person and writing like this just makes me wounder if you before hand contemplated that he was mean, cynic and boring. I don't mean this in a bad way - not at all. But your integrity as a writer is down to the level of a 14 year old girl worshiping Back street boys in her pink diary.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!