According to an article from the Religious News Service which was recently posted on Huffington Post, the "most famous atheist," Richard Dawkins, “now says he is not 100 percent sure that God doesn't exist.”
Breaking news: Could Richard Dawkins really be on the verge of converting to religion? While the article mentions his book, The God Delusion, the article's author, Al Webb, clearly didn't read the book. If he had, he would know that this has always been Dawkins’ position. In fact, it is the position of most atheists.
As an intelligent person, Dawkins admits that he doesn’t know everything there is to know and that new evidence is possible. As a scientist, he follows the evidence and if new evidence should come to light he would of course consider it. Most atheists in the greater community of reason also take this position.
This is where the media tries to trap atheists. If an atheist like Dawkins is willing to admit the possibility, but not the probability (without valid evidence), the media creates the false impression that the atheist in question is on the verge of a religious conversion. On the other hand, if an atheist takes the opposite position that he or she is absolutely 100% certain that no gods existed; the media would rightfully label the atheist as a dogmatic fundamentalists.
Interestingly enough, the media never puts religious leaders or even religious adherents into this trap. Many religious believers claim absolute 100% certainty in their beliefs. They often claim that their certainty is based on faith. Religious leaders rely even more on the faith card. If a religious leader were to publicly admit that they are not 100% certain about their beliefs, it is doubtful that the media would write an article implying that they were on the verge of abandoning their faith or de-converting to atheism.
No one ought to be absolutely 100% certain of anything. It is possible for example that we are all simulations living inside some alien computer program or that aliens seeded the earth with human life. I wouldn’t bet on those possibilities, but they are possibilities nonetheless. Possibility and probability are two entirely different things. Everything we know is subject to changing give new information and what we know is determined by the evidence.
So no, Richard Dawkins is not on the verge of converting to religion. There is no sufficient evidence to support the claims of any deity. One ought not to believe in any claims based on insufficient evidence. Therefore, one ought not to believe in any gods. Atheists are open to the possibility, but not the probability. If a religious believer wants to convert and atheist, all they have to do is provide valid evidence for their claims.
Please check out the Atheism 101 Series for frequently asked topics.
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