Richard Dawkins is a British evolutionary biologist, ethologist, and author, known for his work in the field of evolutionary biology and his outspoken advocacy of atheism and secularism. Born in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1941, Dawkins was educated at Oxford University, where he later served as a professor for public understanding of science. His academic career and his contributions to evolutionary theory, particularly through his popularization of the gene-centered view of evolution in his seminal book The Selfish Gene (1976), have established him as a prominent scientific thinker and communicator.

Dawkins’s significance in The God Delusion stems from his dual role as a scientist and an atheist advocate. His background in biology and evolutionary theory provides a foundation for his arguments against the necessity of a divine creator, positioning him to challenge traditional religious explanations of life’s complexity. His ability to translate complex scientific ideas into accessible language has made his critiques of religion compelling to a broad audience. Additionally, Dawkins’s position at Oxford and his public visibility as an intellectual have afforded him a platform to influence contemporary debates on religion and science.

In The God Delusion, Dawkins utilizes his scientific background to argue that religious beliefs are not only unfounded but also harmful to society.