Humanists in education have prioritised the development of critical thinking and a rational spirit for its social consequences in the formation of democratic citizens.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Wikipedia and “the majority of sources” 
Feb 27th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The conventional wisdom, however wrong, always trumps a correction, however well documented.… Read the rest
The Taliban is determined to stop Fawzia Koofi
Feb 27th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She intends to stand in the presidential election. The Taliban would rather she didn’t. And so they shoot at her and her family.… Read the rest
Oh they’re all like that
Feb 26th, 2012 5:44 pm | By Ophelia BensonMark Jones has an excellent post on Julian’s tone piece.
A snippet:
As often when it comes to this sort of accusation, no evidence is linked to support Baggini’s position. To be clear, I don’t doubt that the occasional atheist might make a tone-deaf pronouncement. I object that atheists are characterised as a group with this clumsy stereotype, and I object that the four horsemen, and gnus, are too.)
Yep. Atheists are this, the new atheists are that, the online atheists are the other. And as for the new online atheist bloggers – ! No stereotype can be too stale or too general or too wild for them. They must be destroyed.… Read the rest
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Will he never arrive?
Feb 26th, 2012 10:40 am | By Ophelia BensonVia Eric – more of Julian’s interminable Heathen’s Progress. This one is about tone: not just the tone that “new atheists” use but the allegation that they (we) are tone deaf to religion. Religion is comparable to poetry and pop music. Some people don’t “get” poetry, or pop music, or both. They can’t say anything interesting about either one, because they don’t get them. They’re tone deaf to them. It’s the same with religion.
Right, except that it isn’t. Poetry doesn’t tell everyone what to do. Poetry doesn’t have a billion or more “members” or “believers” or other kinds of belongers. Poetry doesn’t have dogma. Poetry doesn’t have a single “sacred” book that many believers take as god-inspired or … Read the rest
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Defending lying is a lot harder than defending freedom
Feb 26th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Freedom of speech means the freedom to misuse speech – unless that speech falls under one of a number of narrow “historical exceptions” laid out by the Supreme Court over the years.… Read the rest
Is a lie free speech or a crime?
Feb 26th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Supreme Court asked questions about when Congress can make it a crime to tell a lie that does not defraud or defame.… Read the rest
Chicago cardinal in a snit at Irish PM Enda Kenny
Feb 26th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Kenny rebuked the Vatican last year over their refusal to cooperate in the inquiry into child sexual abuse in the diocese of Cloyne in Cork.… Read the rest
Killing for a Book
Feb 25th, 2012 | By Lauryn OatesAfghanistan is a complicated place.
It’s full of fierce, brave people challenging entrenched traditions and trying to forge a new kind of society in the wake of the Taliban years. Its government is endemically corrupt and somewhat too keen to flirt with misogynists, but it’s blissfully moderate compared to the theocracy to its west, and the frightening common xenophobic opinions of the population to its east.
But some Afghans – or Afghan men I should say – are easily fooled into embarrassing themselves.
To date, nine people have been killed in violent demonstrations across Afghanistan in reaction to the discovery by some Afghan labourers that two Americans were incinerating bags of books that included copies of the Quran. The … Read the rest
Which priest is more culpable?
Feb 25th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lynn drew up a list of abusive priests, Bevilacqua and Molloy ordered the list destroyed, Bevilacqua secretly kept the list in his safe.… Read the rest
Equalities minister says the church does not own marriage
Feb 25th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“It is the government’s fundamental job to reflect society and to shape the future, not stay silent where it has the power to act and change things for the better.”… Read the rest
Amitava Kumar on reading Rushdie (aloud) in Jaipur
Feb 24th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
I had felt a great sense of freedom—a liberation from fear—as I read Rushdie’s words out loud in public for what I believed was the first time in the country of his birth.… Read the rest
Baby steps
Feb 24th, 2012 10:54 am | By Ophelia BensonWell that’s one good thing.
The Vatican, which previously enjoyed an exemption, must now pay taxes on its commercial properties, the Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti, has announced.
Like anyone else. Why did it enjoy an exemption before?
The state has been exempt from paying property taxes since 2005, one of several fiscal perks enjoyed by the Catholic Church and introduced by the Berlusconi administration.
Ah! Of course. One autocrat doing a favor for another. Naturally.
… Read the restThe Vatican owns 110,000 properties, including shopping centres and residences, which are collectively worth about $12 billion, the Business Insider said.
As Italy tightened its belt to deal with the financial crisis, more than 130,000 people signed an online petition calling for the
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Italy: Catholic church properties to pay tax
Feb 24th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The law now allows businesses operating out of Church property such as hotels and restaurants not to pay property tax as long as the building also has a chapel or similar.… Read the rest
Defiantly wholesome
Feb 24th, 2012 10:21 am | By Ophelia BensonWant to splash around in morbidity for a moment?
There’s always the new season of 19 and Counting.
And Counting – geddit? It’s not really “and Counting” now because Michelle Duggar miscarried #20. The new season is kind of morbid that way.
And not just that way. I find it kind of morbid overall. “Morbid” isn’t really the right word, I suppose – the Atlantic’s “creepy” is better – but it is, in a way – what’s dead is the mind. The whole atmosphere is Stepfordish. Yes they’re all very cheery and smiley and friendly and warm – but so would programmed pod people be.
… Read the restThis is, at least on film, a defiantly wholesome family; these kids aren’t constantly moaning
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Guest post by Musical Atheist on Richard Dawkins
Feb 24th, 2012 9:29 am | By Ophelia BensonAfter the torrent of spiteful dreck we’ve seen directed at Richard Dawkins lately, the comment by Musical Atheist came as a blast of cold fresh air in a stuffy room. Therefore, I’m putting it up on the main page.
Musical Atheist says:
February 24, 2012 at 12:03 am (Edit)I don’t like my own country very much at present. I think our politicians and our press display the lowest sort of sneering childishness, on a regular basis. Playground bullies who grew up to apply their bullying on a wider scale.
For this reason, when I first discovered Dawkins’ writing, I felt that he was one of the few public figures in Britain I could find genuinely inspiring. He’s honest, his … Read the rest
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
