Richard Dawkins has hit out at claims he angrily walked away from an interview with a Muslim journalist because of his faith.
He tweeted a response to an article written by New Statesmen contributor Emad Ahmed which claimed Dawkins ended an interview with him after describing his belief in Islam "pathetic".
The scientist, who is best known to the public for his critiques of religion, wrote that, rather than walking away because of the journalist's religion, it was his insistence that Muhammad rode a winged horse as part of a miracle journey which prompted him to walk away.
Ahmed wrote in the New Statesmen: "I was genuinely stunned when he decided to angrily walk away from our scheduled interview after I confirmed my beliefs in the revelations of the Islamic faith, calling my views 'pathetic'."
Debate continues around the interpretation of Muhammed's ascension and whether it came via a four-legged animal during the Isra and Miraj - a night journey he is said to have taken in 621.
Nonetheless, for Dawkins, belief in such a experience has no basis in reality.
If you believe you're Napoleon or a poached egg, you're in an asylum. If you believe in winged horses you're a New Statesman journalist.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) December 27, 2015
Unsurprisingly, there's been swift reaction to his comments online.
Some agreed with Dawkins, however.
Richard Dawkins Controversial Tweets
‘Who (Apart From The Pig) Is Damaged By Bacon?’ (01 of05)
Open Image Modal‘Bin Laden Has Won’ (02 of05)
Open Image ModalThere’s 'A Very Interesting Reason Why A Prince Could Not Turn Into A Frog.' (03 of05)
Open Image ModalIn June Dawkins declared fairytales to be “stastically too improbable” and advised parents to consider not telling them to children as they “do not foster a spirit of scepticism.” Making his comments at the Cheltenham Science Festival, Dawkins appeared to slam fairytale authors like the Brothers Grimm for not pausing to think: "Would, on the balance of probabilities, a wolf trick a little a little girl into thinking it was her granny?""I think it’s rather pernicious to inculcate into a child a view of the world which includes supernaturalism," he said, according to The Times. "Even fairytales, the ones we all love, about witches and wizards or princes turning into frogs. There’s a very interesting reason why a prince could not turn into a frog. It’s statistically too improbable.But he stopped short of demanding parents stop altogether telling their children fairytales.He said: "Many people would say you destroy the magic of childhood if you tell them that princes can’t turn into frogs. I’m genuinely uncertain.” (credit:GK Hart/Vikki Hart via Getty Images)
‘Mehdi Hasan Admits To Believing Muhamed Flew To Heaven On A Winged Horse’ (04 of05)
Open Image ModalDawkins ran into further bother in April last year when he suggested a Muslim journalist should not have an opinion piece published, claiming his Islamic beliefs meant he is not” a serious journalist”. The comment was directed at HuffPost UK Political Director Mehdi Hassan, then working at the New Statesman, who was challenged by Dawkins in an interview in 2012 to admit he believed the Prophet Muhammed flew to heaven on a winged horse. Dawkins later apologised in a blog, writing: “None of those three meanings was well conveyed by my ill-judged words, and I withdraw them with apologies. I’m grateful to the many tweeters who came to my defence and saw no problem with my original formulation. Nevertheless, I cannot deny that my words were carelessly chosen.” (credit:Monkey Business Images via Getty Images)
“[Muslims] They Did Great Things In The Middle Ages, Though.” (05 of05)
Open Image ModalIn August 2013, Dawkins courted controversy by claiming the world’s Muslims have won fewer Nobel Prizes than Trinity College, Cambridge, but adding: “They did great things in the Middle Ages, though.” He responded to the barrage of ensuing criticism by telling his followers: "A statement of simple fact is not bigotry. And science by Muslims was great in the distant past." In a further posting he wrote: "Where would we be without alchemy? Dark Age achievements undoubted. But since then?"He sought to justify the controversial observation by adding: "Why mention Muslim Nobels rather than any other group? Because we so often hear boasts about (a) their total numbers and (b) their science." One angry Twitter user hit out at the remarks telling the author: "You absolutely disgust me." (credit:Luciana Whitaker/LatinContent Stringer via Getty Images)