Stewart and Richard Dawkins Ask the Big Question: Will It Be Science or Religion That Dooms Us All?

Scientist and celebrity atheist Richard Dawkins joined Jon Stewart on Tuesday night’s Daily Show for a cheery, fun-filled discussion about whether scientific advancement or religious fundamentalism will bring about the end of civilization as we know it.

After some light-hearted banter and Stewart throwing out an audience question, he asked Dawkins whether science or religion will ultimately be more damaging to the human race. Dawkins argued that it might be a combination of the two, especially if biological weapons “get into the hands of religious fanatics,” though Stewart thought that “let[s] scientists off the hook” for the consequences of some potential dangerous discoveries.

Dawkins admitted that “science is the most powerful way to do whatever it is you want to do,” be it good or evil, and said every civilization has a brief window between discovering advanced technology and producing “horrific technology that gets out of control.”

Stewart joked that man’s last words before the world explodes will be “It worked!”, adding, “Curiosity killed the cat, and the cat never saw it coming!”

Watch the video below, via Comedy Central:

[photo via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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