The road back to the caliphate is a dead end but propaganda lends an appearance of substance to an illusion.… Read the rest
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Comedy from Theo Hobson
Nov 17th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The atheists feel that they effortlessly realise moral perfection in their daily lives.’… Read the rest
Don’t forget the waterfall
Nov 16th, 2007 4:15 pm | By Ophelia BensonCheck out the comments on Richard Francks’s Descartes and God. They’re all terrific but especially the one by gfelis, which is to say, our friend G.
… Read the restEven if Descartes was right about our ability to doubt the existence of the material world when we really, really try very hard to doubt it, his insight merely reveals that absolute proof is a very stringent standard for knowledge (an ultimately unrealistic standard, sensible epistemologists now agree). It does not mean there is “no good reason to believe” in the existence of the material world, it merely means that even the very existence of the material world – as obvious as it is to us – cannot be proven absolutely beyond any
Such jeering
Nov 16th, 2007 3:26 pm | By Ophelia BensonYet another plea – or more like demand – that atheists shut up. Dave Hill foolishly comes right out and admits that’s what he’s demanding, in the very first sentence.
Even by writing this piece I risk perpetuating what I seek to end: arguments about religion that generate more heat than light.
He seeks to end arguments about religion – well at least we know where we are for a change. And where we are is (as so often) with someone who doesn’t think very clearly. He claims that ‘the critiques [AC Grayling and Polly Toynbee] offer, at least on this site, never develop beyond assertions that all religion should be got rid of because it’s always a bad … Read the rest
Grayling on New Militant Fundamentalist Atheists
Nov 16th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThose who reject religion have had enough of pussy-footing around its votaries’ sanctimonious self-regard.… Read the rest
Saudi Lawyer Reports Harassment
Nov 16th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA court withdrew his licence after he objected to a ruling which penalised a female rape victim.… Read the rest
Sentence Harsh Even by Saudi Standards
Nov 16th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFor a woman to be alone with a man who is not her husband or a relative is a crime in Saudi Arabia.… Read the rest
More Profound Argumentation
Nov 16th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Logic is brought in to comfort the atheist with rationalizations.’… Read the rest
Rape Victim Sentenced to 200 Lashes, Prison
Nov 15th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonShe was initially sentenced to 90 lashes; on appeal, the punishment was increased to 200 lashes.… Read the rest
God as Alpha Wolf
Nov 15th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIf you think the dead king is watching you constantly, you are less likely to defect from alliances. … Read the rest
Evening Standard Debate: Islam Good for London?
Nov 15th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPanel: Ed Husain, Inayat Bunglawala, Michael Burleigh, Rod Liddle, Joan Smith.… Read the rest
Richard Francks on Descartes and God
Nov 15th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe can’t prove the existence of matter, but we believe it exists anyway; is that irrational?… Read the rest
Jihad and the Saudi Petrodollar
Nov 15th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWahhabi literature – used in Saudi schools and exported round the world – promotes hatred of non-believers. … Read the rest
Baggini Asks: What is Celebration?
Nov 15th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonToday is the fifth annual Unesco World Philosophy Day. How should one celebrate? … Read the rest
Bari Called ‘the Leader of Britain’s Muslims’
Nov 15th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWho knew there was such a person?… Read the rest
Pure as the driven snow
Nov 15th, 2007 11:28 am | By Ophelia BensonSpeaking of Saudi Arabia…
“The essence of Wahhabism is purity,” says Lawrence Wright, author of a Pulitzer-prize-winning book about al-Qaeda. “They are only interested in purification – and that’s what makes them so repressive.”
So if you get a nineteen-year-old girl who gets herself raped fourteen times by seven men, that’s a lot of dirt that needs purifying. It takes 90 lashes, and if she yips about it, it takes 200.
… Read the restI looked at the role of Wahhabi literature – used in Saudi schools and exported round the world – in promoting suspicion and hatred of non-believers. The Saudi ambassador in Washington, Adel Jubeir, assured me a series of steps had been taken to reform the country’s educational
A short way with sluts
Nov 15th, 2007 11:22 am | By Ophelia BensonWell that’s nice. Reasonable; fair; compassionate; useful; sensible; impressive.
An appeal court in Saudi Arabia has doubled the number of lashes and added a jail sentence as punishment for a woman who was gang-raped. The victim was initially punished for violating laws on segregation of the sexes – she was in an unrelated man’s car at the time of the attack.
She was raped fourteen times. The seven men who were convicted got prison sentences but
… Read the restthe victim was also punished for violating Saudi Arabia’s laws on segregation that forbid unrelated men and women from associating with each other. She was initially sentenced to 90 lashes for being in the car of a strange man. On appeal, the Arab
Follow the leader
Nov 15th, 2007 10:43 am | By Ophelia BensonWhy does Ruth Gledhill call Bari ‘leader of Britain’s Muslims’? Why would anyone (apart from aspiring MCB aparatchiks at least) call him that? Britain’s Muslims don’t have a leader, as I imagine most of them would agree. Britain’s Christians (for instance) don’t have a leader, so why say Britain’s Muslims do? In fact why even talk about ‘leaders’ at all? Think of who else liked to bandy about the word – there was the dear Duce, and the dear Führer – but anyone else? It’s not really a very exact term, so why use it? (Because it’s not an exact term. Yes I know, but that’s what I’m complaining of.) We don’t even call heads of state ‘leader of … Read the rest
Nova on ‘Intelligent Design’ and Dover Case
Nov 14th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHear seven experts briefly describe the essence of science and how it differs from religion; more.… Read the rest
Christianity Today Poll (scroll down)
Nov 14th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘What do you think is the most compelling argument for Christianity?’ Where is ‘none of the above’?… Read the rest