Is Religion a Delusion? Dawkins vs Philosophers
Richard Swinburne
116.41
25 January 2026
4 April 2026
Richard Dawkins debates philosophers Richard Swinburne, Jessica Frazier, and Silvia Jonas on the origin of the universe. Tickets for future events: www.theoramedia.com
This event was hosted at The Royal Institution Theatre on 17 June 2023.
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Speakers
Richard Dawkins – Evolutionary biologist and author, host of @poetryofreality
Richard Swinburne – Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Oxford
Silvia Jonas – Professor of Philosophy, University of Bamberg
Jessica Frazier – Research Lecturer, Oxford University
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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
3:05 Richard Dawkins – Opening Statement
11:20 Richard Swinburne – Opening Statement
20:50 Silvia Jonas – Opening Statement
28:32 Jessica Frazier– Opening Statement
36:08 Why laws at all?
40:52 Personal vs scientific explanation
45:42 Dawkins vs Swinburne – on simplicity
57:55 What sort of explanation do we want?
45:50 Dawkins vs Swinburne
01:08:00 Problem of evil
01:16:00 Jonas challenges Dawkins
1:23:20 Audience Q&A
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Contact: [email protected]