Richard Dawkins is no stranger to controversy.

One of the world’s pre-eminent atheist thinkers, Dawkins is frequently known for public statements which are anything but milquetoast.

In a recent talk at the Cheltenham Science Festival, Dawkins was asked if teaching religion to children was a form of child abuse.

The author responded, “[t]o call it testament to child abuse would be a bit strong, but when you tell a child to mind their Ps and Qs otherwise they’ll roast in hell then that is tantamount to child abuse.”

Dawkins also raised red flags about childhood beliefs in Santa Claus and other “supernatural” figures:

‘Is it a good thing to go along with the fantasy of childhood?,’ he said. ‘Or should we be fostering a spirit of scepticism?.’

The concept of teaching hell as a behavior tool is one that is increasingly losing favor.

The “shame doctrine”, a frequent built-in feature of monotheistic religious belief where immoral behaviors should bring shame upon an individual, is also being put into questions as more non-religious moral codes are being developed.