ROCHESTER HILLS — The Wyndgate Country Club in Rochester Hills apparently wants nothing to do with prominent biologist and bestselling atheism author Richard Dawkins.

Dawkins’ appearance Wednesday at Center for Inquiry Michigan event was canceled at the last minute by the country club owner “because of (Dawkins') atheist philosophy,” according to CFI representative Jennifer Beahan.

Beahan's group has reignited the debate over God and religion in West Michigan recently with their purchase of billboard space for an ad that says "You don't need God" to love, live and care about other people. The billboard has boosted attendance at their events by a large margin.

“We were pretty disappointed,” said Beahan, calling it another example of discrimination directed against atheists.

She said they were notified on Thursday but were not given the name of the club owner who made the call, only told that he saw Dawkins on "The O'Reilly Factor" on Oct. 5 and did “not wish to associate with individuals such as Dawkins, or his philosophies.”

Dawkins is a British ethologist and evolutionary biologist. He is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford and has written several books on atheism. His 2006 book “The God Delusion” sold more than 2 million copies and stayed on the New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction Best Seller list for more than 50 weeks.

The 100 seat, $95 per ticket dinner with Dawkins has been relocated to the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester. The 7 p.m. appearance on Wednesday is sold out, Beahan said.

The group is considering mounting a legal challenge under federal discrimination law, she said. A letter posted to the club asking them to reconsider has been ignored.

“It’s important to understand that discrimination based on a person’s religion — or lack thereof— is legally equivalent to discriminating against a person because of his or her race,” said Jeff Seaver, executive director of CFI Michigan in a blog post.

“This action by The Wyndgate illustrates the kind of bias and bigotry that nonbelievers encounter all the time. It’s exactly why organizations like CFI and the Richard Dawkins Foundation are needed: to help end the stigma attached to being a nonbeliever.”