Gender roles ingrain ideas of inferiority of women, superiority of men, stereotyped division of labour.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Certainly, Go Right Ahead
Sep 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSaudi judiciary official issues fatwa: ok to kill owners of TV networks that show ‘immoral content.’… Read the rest
Creeds
Sep 12th, 2008 12:06 pm | By Ophelia BensonMichael Reiss, a priest, a biologist and the Royal Society’s director of eduation, says he ‘feels’ that ‘creationism is best seen by science teachers not as a misconception but as a world view.’
But a world view can be a misconception, and often is. The two are not contradictory or mutually exclusive. That is in fact a problem with a lot of world views: they are based on misconceptions.
Other scientists, fortunately, disagree with Reiss.
… Read the restProfessor Reiss, a biologist, was speaking at the British Association’s Festival of Science in Liverpool. Other scientists were vociferous in their response, saying that creationism should remain entirely within the sphere of religious education. Professor Lewis Wolpert, of University College Medical School, said: “Creationism
Grayling Answers Fuller’s Answer
Sep 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Chance? Who said anything about chance, whether in the aetiology of stars or the biological sphere?’… Read the rest
Steve Fuller Answers Grayling’s Review
Sep 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The dispute ranges over who bears the greater burden of proof: defenders of design or chance.’… Read the rest
Should Creationism be Taught in Science Class?
Sep 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Proponents of evolution believe this, creationists believe that.’ Not exactly.… Read the rest
What is the Difference?
Sep 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Creationism is best seen by science teachers not as a misconception but as a world view.’… Read the rest
Royal Society: Creationism Should be Taught
Sep 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLast year the society issued an open letter stating that creationism had no place in schools.… Read the rest
Freedom of humour in Italy
Sep 11th, 2008 5:18 pm | By Ophelia BensonSabina Guzzanti could get five years in prison for ‘offending the honour of the sacred and inviolable person’ of Benedict XVI. Who knew? Who knew the pope’s person was ‘sacred and inviolable’ as a matter of law in Italy? I suppose I might have guessed it was if anyone had asked me directly – ‘Excuse me, do you think the person of the pope is sacred and inviolable as a matter of law in Italy?’ – but no one had asked me directly, or indirectly either – ‘Excuse me, how do you think Italian law treats the person of the pope? Any guesses?’, and I didn’t know. I can’t be everywhere at once you know – I only have … Read the rest
Why We Evolved to be Superstitious
Sep 11th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBetter to interpret a rustle in the bushes as a threat just in case it is a bear or another real danger. … Read the rest
Comedian Charged With Violating Fascist Law
Sep 11th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMussolini-era Lateran treaty: an insult to the Pope carries the same penalty as an insult to the Italian President.… Read the rest
Comedian Sabina Guzzanti ‘Insulted’ the Pope
Sep 11th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonShe faces prosecution for ‘offending the honour of the sacred and inviolable person’ of Benedict XVI. … Read the rest
Absence of Minimal Public Integrity
Sep 11th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘So we now find out again that John McCain is prepared to tell an absolute lie – in public, verifiable, uncontestable.’… Read the rest
Criminalizing Criticism of Islam
Sep 11th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonJordan is prosecuting 12 Europeans for ‘blasphemy,’ has asked Interpol to arrest and extradite them.… Read the rest
Max Dunbar Reviews Fourest’s ‘Brother Tariq’
Sep 10th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOutrage over the hijacking of human rights discourse shaded into contempt for the concept of human rights.… Read the rest
Republicans Pretend to be Feminists
Sep 10th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPlay at outrage over invented ‘sexist’ comment.… Read the rest
India’s Supreme Court Clears MF Husain
Sep 10th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRenowned artist did not ‘hurt Hindu sentiment’ with nude paintings, but he remains in exile.… Read the rest
Intermittent
Sep 9th, 2008 6:14 pm | By Ophelia BensonIn case you’re wondering why posting has been a tad intermittent of late, it’s just that I’m working on revisions of the book and I have other calls on my time at the moment. But I’ll be back to normal garrulity and belligerence soon.… Read the rest
How broadly?
Sep 9th, 2008 6:09 pm | By Ophelia BensonSomething Madeleine Bunting said in her piece on ‘faith’ schools yesterday.
[O]ver 70% of people in this country still describe themselves as Christian; that may not mean going to church but it may mean wanting children to grow up with broadly Christian values.
But what are broadly Christian values? They’re probably not really Christian values at all, that is, not values that depend on believing that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and was bodily resurrected and hauled up into heaven. (It’s a little hard to know what values would depend on believing that, really. Atonement? But is the Christian version of that really a value? If it is is it a broadly Christian value? It’s … Read the rest
There is Nothing Honourable in Honour Killing
Sep 9th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIn the Arab world a minority of preachers justify these sickening acts in mosques and phone-in shows. … Read the rest