All entries by this author

The Many Theories of Evolution *

Mar 2nd, 2010 | Filed by

There are currently twelve, including Madame Blavatsky’s. … Read the rest



I can haz viktimhood?

Mar 2nd, 2010 11:22 am | By

There is a view, however minority, that Chris Mooney is a man more sinned against than sinning – that he is a victim, the object of an unfair onslaught of criticism from a bunch of internet bullies. His co-author (not very surprisingly) takes that view.

Needless to say, while I was not surprised at the response to Chris’ announcement, I am extremely dismayed. Discussion of each post is anticipated, but baseless personal attacks demonstrate the trouble with blogging…In just the past few years, we’ve watched the number of science bloggers swell, while the tone of much of the commentary changed. Most disheartening, the relationships between bloggers fractured across once cohesive networks as small friendly communities chose sides in a

Read the rest


And in conclusion

Mar 1st, 2010 12:19 pm | By

A little more on Monsieur Poisson. I know – it’s silly – it’s a waste of time – it’s just ol’ Stash – who cares. But it’s also the New York Times, albeit only its blog, and ol’ Stash is a Name, and it’s interesting to notice how pervasive his tricksiness is. There is tricksiness in every paragraph, and often in every sentence. It’s interesting that a reputable academic allows himself to be so…disingenuous. He sets up a strawman version of ‘secular reasons’ in the first sentence and then gives variations on it throughout the rest of the article – thus vitiating the whole piece.

A somewhat less stringent version of the argument permits religious reasons to be

Read the rest


Flogged for Drinking a Beer While Female *

Mar 1st, 2010 | Filed by

In Malaysia caning is not permitted under civil law, but it is allowed under the Shariah Criminal Code.… Read the rest



Islamists ‘Infiltrate’ the Labour Party *

Mar 1st, 2010 | Filed by

Muslims in London say IFE are enforcing hardline views, curbing behaviour they deem ‘un-Islamic.’… Read the rest



Maintaining Scholarly Standards in Feminist Literature *

Mar 1st, 2010 | Filed by

If feminism is to be effective, it must subject to serious scrutiny even notions in accord with its societal perceptions. … Read the rest



DR Congo: Children Accused of Witchcraft *

Mar 1st, 2010 | Filed by

‘She tried to kill me with a knife. It really hurt and I cannot understand why my mother did it.’… Read the rest



Iowa: Pregnant Woman Arrested for Falling Down *

Mar 1st, 2010 | Filed by

The slut.… Read the rest



How Ireland Lost its Faith *

Feb 28th, 2010 | Filed by

All those dressed-up men in an opulent palace, kissing the pope’s ring, sent the Irish over the edge.… Read the rest



Martha Nussbaum on the Politics of Disgust *

Feb 28th, 2010 | Filed by

‘You can see the role of disgust in racism, anti-Semitism, the subordination of women.’… Read the rest



‘I Should Have Read My Islamic Marriage Contract’ *

Feb 28th, 2010 | Filed by

She tried to read it, but her grandmother, mother and father persuaded her not to. It’s all about ‘trust.’… Read the rest



Catholics and Mormons Unite Against Secularism *

Feb 28th, 2010 | Filed by

And a Stanley Fish shall lead them.… Read the rest



Pisces

Feb 27th, 2010 6:30 pm | By

I was rushing the other day so my look at Stanley Fish was general; I’m still rushing today but I want to look at a couple of details. Fish starts off:

In the always-ongoing debate about the role of religion in public life, the argument most often made on the liberal side (by which I mean the side of Classical Liberalism, not the side of left politics) is that policy decisions should be made on the basis of secular reasons, reasons that, because they do not reflect the commitments or agendas of any religion, morality or ideology, can be accepted as reasons by all citizens no matter what their individual beliefs and affiliations.

That’s one of the tricksy items … Read the rest



Fundamentalists Pitch Fit at Atheists in White House *

Feb 27th, 2010 | Filed by

‘The fact that this meeting is happening at all is an affront to the vast majority of people of all faiths.’… Read the rest



Fox News Accuses Obama of Favoring Atheists *

Feb 27th, 2010 | Filed by

Sean Hannity claims religious leaders have not been invited to the White House. Oh please.… Read the rest



Mooney Congratulates Himself *

Feb 27th, 2010 | Filed by

On his Templeton ‘Fellowship.’… Read the rest



Jerry Coyne on the Templeton Bribe *

Feb 27th, 2010 | Filed by

Templeton pays journalists to examine ‘the region where science and theology overlap’ and the journalists oblige.… Read the rest



Disturbances in the field

Feb 26th, 2010 12:28 pm | By

Well naturally – Chris Mooney has attained the apotheosis of a Templeton Fellowship – one of the ‘Templeton–Cambridge Journalism Fellowships in Science & Religion.’ Well of course he has. It’s not as if they were going to overlook him, is it!

In the fellowship program, a diverse group of eminent journalists examine key areas in the broad field of science and religion through independent research as well as seminars and discussion groups, led by some of the world’s foremost physicists, cosmologists, philosophers, biologists, and theologians, at the University of Cambridge.

The broad field of science and religion – there is no such ‘field.’ They mean subject, but if they call it a field, that gives unwary people the impression that … Read the rest



Chris Mooney is Named a Templeton Fellow [pdf] *

Feb 26th, 2010 | Filed by

What a surprise!… Read the rest



A Festering Problem in Internet Culture *

Feb 26th, 2010 | Filed by

Anonymous flaming. Richard Dawkins has had enough of it, and he’s not the only one.… Read the rest