The British paper The Telegraph reported on a surprising admission from the atheist Richard Dawkins. The paper offered the following summary of a 2012 debate involving Dawkins:

Speaking at a debate at Oxford University with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the man regarded as the world's most famous atheist admits that he can't be certain that God does not exist. The discussion … attracted attention from around the world as for an hour and 20 minutes the two men discussed "The nature of human beings and the question of their ultimate origin."

[But] there was a surprise when Professor Dawkins acknowledged that he was less than 100 percent certain of his conviction that there is no creator. Professor Dawkins said that he was "6.9 out of 7" sure of his beliefs, referencing the seven point scale that he sets out in his book The God Delusion.

According to the article, when the incredulous philosopher who chaired the debate replied, "You are described as the world's most famous atheist," Dawkins retorted, "Well, not by me!"