Yes, J-t-S, I agree with you, in some of Dawkins's books and public pronouncements he has been highly critical of religion but in other books e.g. 'The Selfish Gene' and its successors, and no doubt in his academic work, he has amply demonstrated his scientific credentials.

Your Dawkins quotes represent powerful criticisms of religion and the religious outlook. They are so powerful because they are so logical and so reasonable - and I think that they should have been made long ago. I don't doubt, though, that those truisms will make many people who are committed to religion, and who have a religious outlook, very uncomfortable.

I'm not surprised that the city centre preacher, who I mentioned further up the thread, invoked the name of Dawkins in his stupid harangue!

Even so I'm not sure that Dawkins wants to do anything so dramatic as to "tear down religion". But I think that he does want to lessen its power and influence within human societies ... and I'm right behind him!