All entries by this author

Health Warning: Exercise Makes You Fat *

Aug 29th, 2009 | Filed by

The kind of headline you want to see: it’s affirmative, it’s reassuring, it gives you permission to sit on your arse all day. … Read the rest



Goldacre and Science Minister Debate: Tix Free *

Aug 29th, 2009 | Filed by

An important issue, good that a politician is taking it seriously.… Read the rest



Ben Goldacre on Advertising via Journalism *

Aug 29th, 2009 | Filed by

Newspapers are short of cash, and they print PR-reviewed ‘research’ straight from the press release.… Read the rest



‘Western Feminist’ Rebukes ‘Western Feminists’ *

Aug 29th, 2009 | Filed by

We should support religious feminism abroad; otherwise we’re arrogant and full of ourselves.… Read the rest



Normblog on Wisdom from Slavoj Zizek *

Aug 28th, 2009 | Filed by

Or not so much wisdom as sorry claptrap.… Read the rest



Nick Cohen on Turning a Blind Eye to Misogyny *

Aug 28th, 2009 | Filed by

Mainstream opinion does not consider the oppression of women a pressing concern when it is done in the name of culture or religion.… Read the rest



Clive James on ‘Honor’ Murders *

Aug 28th, 2009 | Filed by

The words “community” and “culture” are starting to sound like weasel words for institutionalised sadism.… Read the rest



Ziauddin Sardar Explains About the Koran *

Aug 28th, 2009 | Filed by

Ibn Sina, Ibn Rushd, Muslim Spain, the Blue Mosque! See?… Read the rest



Moses Inspires Jesus and Mo *

Aug 28th, 2009 | Filed by

Jesus has these friends at the Templeton Foundation…… Read the rest



Jason Rosenhouse Reviews Keith Ward *

Aug 28th, 2009 | Filed by

What could be simpler than a disembodied eternal intelligence capable of bringing worlds into being with an act of will? … Read the rest



Women and Islam *

Aug 28th, 2009 | Filed by

In Turkey, 69% of all female health workers polled said violence against women is sometimes excusable.… Read the rest



The bliss of harmony

Aug 27th, 2009 5:50 pm | By

The beauty and compassion of religion:

A new family law in Mali is causing a furore, partly because it no longer stipulates that wives have to obey their husbands…[Article 312] says that, once married, husbands and wives owe each other “loyalty, protection, help and assistance”. Mali’s current law specifically states that a wife must obey her husband, and that is the way things should stay says Mahmud Dicko, president of Mali’s High Islamic Council.

You bet – because that has to be a matter of national law so that if a wife is disobedient she can be arrested, charged, and imprisoned (or do they whip them?).

“We’re not trying to make women slaves. Not at all,” he says. “It’s

Read the rest


Coyne on James Wood on Dawkins or Eagleton *

Aug 27th, 2009 | Filed by

Wood flings the usual mud at atheists, as usual with no quotations, then gets to grips with Terry.… Read the rest



Tens of Thousands Protested Mali’s New Law *

Aug 27th, 2009 | Filed by

‘We have to stick to the Koran. It’s a tiny minority of women here that wants this new law – the intellectuals. The poor and illiterate women of this country – the real Muslims – are against it.’… Read the rest



Islamism Slows Reform in Morocco *

Aug 27th, 2009 | Filed by

Senior officials speak of keeping a proper balance between freedom and social cohesion.… Read the rest



Mali: Wives Must Obey Husbands *

Aug 27th, 2009 | Filed by

‘We’re not trying to make women slaves. The head of the family is the man, and everyone in the family has to obey him.’… Read the rest



Mali: Women’s Rights Bill Blocked *

Aug 27th, 2009 | Filed by

Muslim groups have been protesting against the law ever since parliament adopted it in early August.… Read the rest



A god who makes no difference

Aug 26th, 2009 1:57 pm | By

HE Baber explains something but I’m not exactly sure what.

[L]ike most educated Christians, I do not believe most of the empirical claims associated with Christianity. I do not believe that the universe came into being just a few thousand years ago. I do not believe that humans or other animals were created their current form or even that God had some hand in “guiding” evolution. I do not believe that the Bible provides an accurate account of Middle Eastern history, or that any of the miracles it reports actually occurred, or that the wisdom literature it includes is a suitable guide to life. I do not believe that the existence of God makes any difference to the way the

Read the rest


Senator From Utah Writes Book on Mormonism *

Aug 26th, 2009 | Filed by

Asks four questions to test whether Book of Mormon is a fake. ‘Seriously, gold plates, Moroni?’… Read the rest



Catholic Group Working to Repeal Blasphemy Law *

Aug 26th, 2009 | Filed by

In Pakistan, where Christians are a minority subject to persecution. In Ireland, on the other hand…… Read the rest