A renowned British scientist is reportedly claiming he's the victim of religious discrimination following the cancellation of a book signing at a Michigan country club following a controversial interview on Fox News.
Richard Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist and author perhaps best known for his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene," appeared on Bill O'Reilly's "O'Reilly Factor" on Oct. 5 to discuss his new children's book. Dawkins, who is an atheist, said his appearance at a country club in Rochester Hills, Mich., was cancelled following the interview with O'Reilly that centered on creationism.
"It's obviously an outrage that at the last minute when a contract has been signed, that the owner of a country club should cancel it on the basis of the philosophical views of a speaker," Dawkins told MyFoxDetroit.com. "What's even more extraordinary is that instead of reading the book himself or even opening it, apparently, he took the word of Bill O'Reilly."
Sean Faircloth of the Richard Dawkins Foundation told the station that the cancellation "violates the basic principles of America" and is clear discrimination based on religion.
Calls to the country club were not returned, MyFoxDetroit.com reports.
Faircloth said the cancellation is wrong on many levels and that his new book, which aims to teach adolescents and adults that science can explain ancient myths, is not intended to discuss God and religion.
"He's published numerous books, incredible best sellers to explain science to the public, so it's rather an affront, to reason in general, to shun him as they did," Faircloth said.
The organization that worked with Dawkins said that they plan to pursue legal action against the country club since the contract, according to them, was broken.
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