Dawkins, Krauss converge on UC San Diego for film screening

Evolution biologist Richard Dawkins is on a very limited 3-city tour with theoretical physicist Lawrence Kraus, promoting the film, The Unbelievers....
Richard Dawkins (left) speaks in San Diego to promote his film, "The Unbelievers.' Photo/Ken Rojas
Richard Dawkins (left) speaks in San Diego to promote his film, "The Unbelievers.' Photo/Ken Rojas

Richard Dawkins (left) speaks in San Diego to promote his film, “The Unbelievers.’ Photo/Ken Rojas

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]volution biologist Richard Dawkins, best known for his 2006 best-selling book The God Delusion, is on a very limited 3-city tour with long time friend and theoretical physicist, Lawrence Krauss, promoting the documentary film, The Unbelievers.

The film, which first debuted last year at the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto, follows Dawkins and Krauss as they make public appearances and speeches around the globe about the importance of science and reason in the modern world. They encourage others to think for themselves, to question constantly and most importantly, to cast off antiquated and archaic religious and politically motivated approaches and attitudes toward important current issues.

The film has a very rock n roll tour like feel as the two men make their way across the globe to cities like Sydney, Canberra, London, New York and Washington D.C.

Commentary and appearances are made throughout the film by many actors, directors, authors and other free thinkers such as Ricky Gervais, Woody Allen, Stephen Hawking, Bill Maher, Stephen Colbert, Penn Jillette, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Ayaan Hirsi-Ali, Tim Minchin, Adam Savage, James Randi, Sarah Silverman and many more. The films climax centers around the 2012 Reason Rally in Washington D.C.; the largest secular gathering in world history. Not surprisingly though, the rally was not promoted or even covered by any major networks.

The first stop on their tour was the UC San Diego campus last Wednesday. They were at the UNLV campus, hosted by Penn Jillette, on Thursday. Their final stop will be tonight at Ohio State University.

Dawkins and Krauss took part in a Q+A session with the films directors immediately following the film, answering any and all questions about the film, current events and just about anything else on the minds of attendees. The question that stood out most to probably everybody in attendance came from a former Muslim and current UCSD student originally from saudi Arabia.

He wanted get their opinion on the new law passed in Saudi Arabia that essentially labels atheists, secularists, humanist and other “thought criminals”. The new law defines terrorism as“calling for atheist thought in any form, or calling into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion on which this country is based.” Punishment for such “crimes” now carry prison sentences of up to 20 years in prison. Dawkins and Krauss, never ones to mince words, were visibly angry and did not hesitate to express their disgust with the law and that entire “backwards” region of the world.

Information about The Unbelievers can be found at the official website at unbelieversmovie.com

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San Diego based writer; The Pit: Sports and Entertainment kenrojas@thepit-se.com
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