I would wish for Dawkins to use more emotional sensitivity and compassion when dealing with religious people, because his hostile tone gets in the way of his invaluable message. His condescending attitude toward believers, epitomized by calling atheists “brights,” is seriously counterproductive. I’m concerned that he’s unnecessarily confrontational and inflammatory in his TV appearances, op-eds and so on. He’d benefit from taking a page from Jesus and turning the other cheek when religious people attack or misrepresent him.
Mostly Richard Dawkins has helped science by being an excellent
scientist, and by writing the best and clearest popular accounts of how
evolution works. Dawkins’ books are crystal clear and frequently beautiful. Climbing Mount Improbable and The Ancestors’ Tale are two of the most aesthetically inspiring texts I’ve read about anything, not just science. Dawkins does best by building up the case for evolution, rather than just tearing down religion. His awe and reverence for nature in its actual physical workings are ultimately the most persuasive tools he has.
I have a family member who was a devout Christian for many years, and Dawkins’ books sowed doubts in his mind for the first time about the validity of the Bible as an explanation of where we come from. That came about not through Dawkins’ attacks on his faith, but by Dawkins’ laying out the evidence for evolution and appealing to reason. That method is slower and probably less emotionally satisfying than calling religious people stupid, but it works.