Sahgal Case Proves AI’s Critics Are Right *

Apr 12th, 2010 | Filed by

Critics say AI has diluted its defence of universal human rights by allying with a group that rejects that principle.… Read the rest



Gita Sahgal Has Left Amnesty International *

Apr 12th, 2010 | Filed by

Said her years of working for women’s rights had been a waste of time because of AI’s work with Begg and Cageprisoners.… Read the rest



Hitchens on the Pope and the Law *

Apr 12th, 2010 | Filed by

Ratzinger and diocese were concerned only with one question: Can this hurt Holy Mother Church? … Read the rest



Connecticut Bishops Fight Sex Abuse Bill *

Apr 12th, 2010 | Filed by

The proposed change to the law would put ‘all Church institutions, including your parish, at risk.’… Read the rest



Bishop Blames Jews for Church’s Difficulties *

Apr 12th, 2010 | Filed by

‘They do not want the church, they are its natural enemies. Deep down, historically speaking, the Jews are God killers.’… Read the rest



Rust Belt Philosophy on Hume and Harris *

Apr 12th, 2010 | Filed by

It would be nice if obeying metaphysical rules always led to social goods for the majority of people, but…… Read the rest



Nicholas Kristof on Another Dead Child Bride *

Apr 12th, 2010 | Filed by

She was tied down and raped by her husband, according to her mother, police, and medical reports.… Read the rest



Girl Bleeds to Death After Forced Marriage *

Apr 12th, 2010 | Filed by

In Yemen, where more than a quarter of girls are married before the age of 15. … Read the rest



Massimo Pigliucci Disputes Sam Harris *

Apr 12th, 2010 | Filed by

In what sense can science answer (as opposed to inform) ethical questions?… Read the rest



Points for accuracy

Apr 11th, 2010 5:44 pm | By

What is it with Massimo Pigliucci and the dreaded Dawkins-Coyne Phalanx or whatever it is? Why does he keep…pinging at them? And saying things that are exaggerated at best?

…my problem with Dawkins and Coyne is different, but stems from the same root: their position on morality is indeed distinct from Harris’ (at least Dawkins’, I don’t recall having read anything by Coyne on morality), but they insist in applying science to the supernatural, which is simply another form of the same malady that strikes Harris: scientism, the idea that science can do everything and provides us with all the answers that are worth having.

Dawkins and Coyne don’t think or say or write that science can do everything … Read the rest



Journalistic ethics

Apr 11th, 2010 4:27 pm | By

The Times is shameless. (Wait – why do I even bother to say that? It’s a Murdoch paper. Murdoch is the genius behind Fox “News” – for which the word “shameless” would be gross flattery.) Its headline is untrue, yet it won’t even post a letter from the subject saying so.

The Times ran the headline: Richard Dawkins: I will arrest Pope Benedict XVI. It went on to say he was planning a legal ambush, he’d asked lawyers to do things, and so on. He says that’s not how it went. He posted a comment on the Times (and his own site) saying how it went.

Needless to say, I did NOT say “I will arrest Pope Benedict

Read the rest


Meera Nanda on God and Globalization Gospel *

Apr 11th, 2010 | Filed by

India is not the only country where markets are supposed to be exorcising the demons of religious fanaticism.… Read the rest



Nicholas Lezard Reviews Baggini on Spin *

Apr 11th, 2010 | Filed by

The book that started life here as ‘Bad Moves’ column.… Read the rest



Official Body Tries to Hide Scientific Ignorance *

Apr 11th, 2010 | Filed by

National Science Board Survey removed survey sections on evolution and cosmology.… Read the rest



Even Ruse is Disgusted by the Vatican *

Apr 11th, 2010 | Filed by

There is no concern whatsoever for the victims. Simply fear of the story getting out and advice for how to prevent it happening.… Read the rest



Vatican Can No Longer Ignore International Law *

Apr 11th, 2010 | Filed by

Which now counts the widespread or systematic sexual abuse of children as a crime against humanity.… Read the rest



Steiner racism and state funding *

Apr 10th, 2010 | Filed by

At Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship ‘special pre-election seminar’ … Read the rest



Alaina Podmorow in action, age 11. *

Apr 10th, 2010 | Filed by

Canadian government matches funds raised by Little Women For Little Women in Afghanistan.… Read the rest



The Skeptic’s dictionary on alien abductions *

Apr 10th, 2010 | Filed by

John Mack claimed that he could think of no better explanation for his patient’s abduction stories than that they were true.… Read the rest



NOVA Talks to John Mack *

Apr 10th, 2010 | Filed by

In case after case after case, I’ve been impressed with the sincerity with which people tell their stories, the power of feelings connected with this.… Read the rest