Richard Dawkins today suggested broadcasting "loving, gentle, woman-respecting erotic videos" in Islamic theocracies as a means of challenging institutionalised religion.

In a tweet he has since deleted, the controversial scientist and outspoken critic of religion asked: "Good idea to beam erotic videos to theocracies?"

He clarified: "NOT violent, woman-hating porn but loving, gentle, woman-respecting eroticism."

The predictable storm on social media drove Dawkins to delete the provocative tweet, though he maintained he was "bewildered by the hostile response".

Dawkins didn't suggest specifically targeting Islamic theocracies, but seeing as there are at least seven countries that strictly enforce Sharia law and only Vatican City remains Papal-ruled, it stands to reason he was referring to Iran, Saudi Arabia or another Islamic state.

Here are some of the most amusing responses to Dawkins' tweet:

Billy MacFarlene said: "Dawkins with another classic idea. Let's not leave him in charge of foreign policy."

Journalist Tim Stanley said: "Islamists also hate bacon. So how about we just bombard the Iraqi countryside with 10,000 pig carcasses?"