They have found a bacterium whose DNA is completely alien to what we know today. Instead of using phosphorus, the bacterium uses arsenic.… Read the rest
Your essence is not my essence
Dec 1st, 2010 4:41 pm | By Ophelia BensonIn answering the last question in the debate with Hitchens, Blair tried to sum up his defense of religion. He said you have to find “the essence.” Yes there are bad parts, but you have to explain those away, and keep the essence, that is, what you take to be the essence.
I see how people look at certain parts of scripture and draw those conclusions from it, but it’s not what it means to me, it’s not the essence of it. The essence of it is through the life of Jesus Christ, a life of love, selflessness and sacrifice and that’s what it means to me.
Yes but. 1) That’s what it means to you but that’s not … Read the rest
Extremist militant extremists speak out
Dec 1st, 2010 3:09 pm | By Ophelia BensonHow is this helping? When will people learn that all this aggression and shouting won’t change anyone’s mind and that it’s much better to just calm down and bite your tongue and think about peace and a sunlit meadow rather than go around saying things and handing out leaflets? Nobody’s mind was ever changed by someone saying something, so why won’t they take their clothes off and pose for photographs instead?
… Read the restChristians who believe their faith is “under attack” in Britain have launched a “Not Ashamed Day” campaign.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey claimed Christians of “deep faith” faced discrimination.
Campaigners say a mounting number of cases of workers being disciplined over their beliefs show Christianity is being “airbrushed”
Christians pitch fit
Dec 1st, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFormer archbishop. Under attack. Deep faith. Airbrushed. Not Ashamed Day. Christian culture. Intimidated. No longer have the right.… Read the rest
HRW says Aceh sharia is abusive
Dec 1st, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe head of the Sharia department in Aceh told the BBC Indonesian service that some people might have misused the laws.… Read the rest
Salman Rushdie does the Late Late Show
Dec 1st, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“You could not get into that dress fast enough,” says Craig Ferguson.… Read the rest
Bush, CIA get a pass on torture
Dec 1st, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonInternational agreements to which the US is a party require mandatory investigation for even merely degrading treatment.… Read the rest
MSF to EU: hands off generic medicines
Dec 1st, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe EU is now shutting off the tap of affordable medicines by attacking the production, registration, transportation and exportation of generic medicines.… Read the rest
Boris Johnson on Bush and torture
Dec 1st, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt is hard to overstate the enormity of Bush’s admission.… Read the rest
Bush admits torture in his book
Dec 1st, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHe admits that when asked to approve waterboarding, his response was, “Damn right.”… Read the rest
Iran hangs Shahla Jahed
Dec 1st, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAmnesty International made a last-minute appeal for the sentence to be halted, saying Jahed had not received a fair trial.… Read the rest