Almost all the unsafe abortions were in less developed countries with restrictive abortion laws.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
How Humans Dispersed from Africa 
Oct 14th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We don’t know for sure, there is dispute, the evidence is incomplete – so far.… Read the rest
Even she doesn’t pray to it
Oct 13th, 2009 4:23 pm | By Ophelia BensonJust what I keep saying – Karen Armstrong’s ‘God’ is all very well but it’s not what most believers mean by ‘God’ – to put it mildly. If a ‘United Church of Christ and American Baptist minister’ (you’re allowed to ride two bicycles like that?) doesn’t buy her version of god, why should anyone else?
[H]er pastiche construct of the divine, intended as a greater god, reduces the divine to an ethereal “it” describable in ethics as compassion and as transcendence in metaphysics, but unrecognizable in any of the world’s living religions as God. Even she doesn’t pray to it.
Just what I keep saying. Yet Armstrong is pretty emphatic that her pastiche is the real ‘God,’ is ‘God’ properly … Read the rest
Christchurch Libraries Blog on Does God H.W.
Oct 13th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A joy to read it is not! Give it a try, but prepare to be upset.… Read the rest
Conservapedeists Re-write the Bible
Oct 13th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Have changed ‘Pharisees’ to ‘Liberals.’… Read the rest
Paula Kirby Looks for Evidence
Oct 13th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Skepticism is not an open-mindedness that says, ‘I can imagine it, therefore it must be possible’. … Read the rest
Susan Jacoby on Karen Armstrong
Oct 13th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘In the end, her arguments for the divine always boil down to “it’s a mystery.”‘… Read the rest
Basava Premanand1930-2009
Oct 13th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Publisher of Indian Skeptic magazine; a skeptic and rationalist to the end.… Read the rest
The Cardinal on atheism: he’s against it
Oct 12th, 2009 5:30 pm | By Ophelia BensonCardinal Francis George, who is President of the US Catholic Bishops’ Conference, has noticed that the natives are getting restless. He observes that US secularism is moving from taming religion to rejecting it.
The new atheism has its followers…In Chicago, we now have atheist clubs in high schools. We didn’t have those five years ago. Kids I would have confirmed in the eighth grade, by the time they’re sophomores in high school say they’re atheists. They don’t just stop going to church, they make a statement…I think it’s something of a fad, because of the aggressiveness of this new atheism. It captures people.
Yes? Well what does the Catholic church do? It ‘captures’ people, doesn’t it? At least, if … Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Journalistic Malfeasance
Oct 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He talked to the source. She says she did not say what the Express reported she said.… Read the rest
Xianity Must Become More Like Islam to Prosper
Oct 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Islam is strong because it believes in itself. Christianity should be like that.… Read the rest
50 Voices of Disbelief Published in UK
Oct 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Now for the controversy to begin…… Read the rest
Russell Blackford on Blasphemy and Paul Kurtz
Oct 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The notion of ‘hate speech’ causes a great deal of confusion when applied to ‘hate’ of ideas.… Read the rest
Ibn Warraq on the Egypt-US HRC Resolution
Oct 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How did the US get involved in this denial of the basic principles of free speech and thought? … Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on Pre-emptive Self-censorship
Oct 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
By anticipating violence, these publishers brand a whole community as violent. It’s infuriating!… Read the rest
Interview With Russell Blackford and Udo Schüklenk
Oct 12th, 2009 | By Tauriq MoosaWith atheist best-sellers flying off the book-shelves, people are now finding their beliefs questioned, probed and examined. Lumping all arguments together, many dismiss the new wave of intellectual concern as a crass form of schoolyard bullying, calling all those critical of religion “new atheists”. But what is forgotten in these discussions is the human side, the reasons for not believing and what that means in our lives. Many know the arguments against belief but now the point has come to ask another question: why does that matter? In an effort to do just that, two philosophers, Russell Blackford from Australia and German-born Udo Schüklenk have co-edited a book which seeks to solve recent problems for the modern non-believer. 50 Voices … Read the rest
Misunderstood
Oct 11th, 2009 12:14 pm | By Ophelia BensonObama has an ‘adviser on Muslim affairs,’ Dalia Mogahed; she appeared on a British tv show hosted by a member of Hizb ut Tahrir, Ibtihal Bsis. Mogahed is on ‘the President’s Council on Faith-Based and Neighbourhood Partnerships,’ which is something the president shouldn’t have in the first place. On this tv show she said, according to the Telegraph, that the Western view of sharia is ‘oversimplified’ and ‘the majority of women around the world associate it with gender justice.’
Well if they do they’re crazy, but I don’t believe they do. The majority of women around the world aren’t Muslim, for a start, and not all Muslims are fond of sharia, so Mogahed’s statistic sounds made up.
… Read the restMogahed appeared
Tony Blair Joins Rhetorical War on Atheists
Oct 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Those who scorn God and those who do violence in God’s name, both represent views of religion.’… Read the rest
Egypt: Controversy Over the Niqab
Oct 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
This is the same government that is said to have prosecuted people for breaking their Ramadan fast. … Read the rest
Funds Cut Off for Iran Human Rights Watchdog
Oct 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many see the denial of funds as a shift by the Obama admin away from promotion of human rights in Iran.… Read the rest
