NSS complained to the Office for Judicial Complaints, suggesting Booth acted in a discriminatory way.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Wole Soyinka is Not Impressed by Islamism 
Feb 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘We should assemble all those who are pure and cannot abide other faiths, put them all in rockets, and fire them into space.’… Read the rest
Anthony Gottlieb on Gods and Gardens
Feb 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If the divine gardener is invisible, how do we know the divine gardener is tending the garden?… Read the rest
Iran Will Execute 9 More Dissidents
Feb 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A senior member of Iran’s judiciary said nine government critics would be hanged soon.… Read the rest
Obama Attends Creepy ‘Prayer Breakfast’
Feb 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sponsored by ultra-creepy evangelical network called The Fellowship aka ‘The Family.’… Read the rest
Susan Jacoby on ‘Nasty v Nice’ Atheists
Feb 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
This dichotomy is wholly an invention of believers who think atheism is a religion in need of a schism. … Read the rest
P Charles Pitches a Fit at the Enlightenment
Feb 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘We cannot go on like this, just imagining that the principles of the Enlightenment still apply now.’ … Read the rest
Andrew Brown on Religious v Secular Jurisprudence
Feb 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Or on his idea of it, anyway.… Read the rest
To the manner born
Feb 4th, 2010 11:32 am | By Ophelia BensonGood old Charles, always stirring the pot, and doing it in such a grand aristocratic irresponsible way.
“I was accused once of being the enemy of the Enlightenment,” he told a conference at St James’s Palace. “I felt proud of that.”
Ah did you, you darling wee man. Well it’s easy for you, isn’t it, because if all the lights go out you can just get a lot of servants to hold the candles for you.
The Prince, who was talking at the annual conference of The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment , went on: “I thought, ‘Hang on a moment’. The Enlightenment started over 200 years ago.”
He’s been studying Madeleine Bunting!
… Read the restIt might be time
Talk to Yggdrasil
Feb 3rd, 2010 12:36 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe Lancet has retracted Andrew Wakefield’s article that suggested that vaccines could cause autism. Therefore…
Jim Moody, a director of SafeMinds, a parents’ group that advances the notion the vaccines cause autism, said the retraction would strengthen Dr. Wakefield’s credibility with many parents.
I see. Years of investigation that turned up conflicts of interest and ‘the overwhelming body of research by the world’s leading scientists that concludes there is no link between M.M.R. vaccine and autism’ will strengthen Wakefield’s credibility with many parents. What kind of thing would weaken it then?
… Read the rest…an investigation by a British journalist found financial and scientific conflicts that Dr. Wakefield did not reveal in his paper. For instance, part of the costs of Dr. Wakefield’s
Lisa Bauer’s ‘Subjection and Escape’ Parts 1-3
Feb 3rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
All in one place.… Read the rest
NY Times on Lancet Retraction
Feb 3rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Anti-vaccine guy said the retraction would strengthen Dr. Wakefield’s credibility with many parents.… Read the rest
Science-Based Medicine on Faith Healing
Feb 3rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Harriet Hall on the many problems with claims of ‘faith healing.’… Read the rest
General Medical Council to Andrew Wakefield
Feb 3rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The panel is satisfied that your conduct was irresponsible and dishonest.’ David Gorski reports.… Read the rest
Full Text of Lancet Retraction [pdf]
Feb 3rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Following the judgment of the UK General Medical Council’s Fitness to Practise Panel on Jan 28, 2010…’… Read the rest
The Lancet Retracts Wakefield’s Article
Feb 3rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s ok to be wrong in science, but error should not include scientific fraud or misrepresentation.… Read the rest
Remember Them!
Feb 3rd, 2010 | By Maryam NamazieI want you to remember two names – Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour.
They were two young men who were executed by the Islamic regime of Iran at dawn this past Thursday, January 28 for the ‘crime’ of ‘enmity against god’.
Yet another two beloved, murdered for protesting medievalism and theocracy…
And whilst this act of barbarity will leave many of us outraged and ‘speechless’(see writer Jim Herrick’s act of solidarity against the executions), we can only do them justice if we keep the pressure on.
The Islamic regime of Iran is on its last legs and will do anything it can to maintain power just a while longer. It is flexing its muscles to intimidate and … Read the rest
Wendy Kaminer on Science and Public Opinion
Feb 2nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
People may express respect for science in general without being open to persuasion by scientific evidence.… Read the rest
BBC Slightly Less Excited About Pope’s Visit
Feb 2nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Peter Tatchell called Pope’s comments a coded attack on legal rights of women and gay people.… Read the rest
Harman Defends Equality Legislation
Feb 2nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Harman expects religious organisations to obey UK law like anyone else. … Read the rest
