Well done. Let’s hope it catches on.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Massimo Pigliucci on Disgust
Jun 29th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAre liberals morally stunted? Or are conservatives morally bloated.… Read the rest
Isreal Boosts Image via Undressed Female Soldiers
Jun 29th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Maxim was approached by the Israeli consulate to be a part of reshaping Israel’s public image.’… Read the rest
The Word ‘Rape’ Banned from Rape Trial
Jun 29th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt’s prejudicial to call it rape, but then what is it to call it sex?… Read the rest
Liberals Don’t Get the Purity/Sanctity Thing
Jun 28th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLiberals are blind to the disgust ‘argument’ against homosexuality, Jonathan Haidt claims.… Read the rest
Falsifying Hitchens
Jun 28th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSaying MLK wasn’t a true Christian is a dodge; lose ten points.… Read the rest
Thailand Withdraws ‘Persepolis’ From Film Festival
Jun 28th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIran applied pressure, Thai government caved. Another win for the ‘glorious Islamic Revolution.’… Read the rest
Hitchens Book Flying Off Shelves
Jun 28th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘This is atheism’s moment,’ says publisher.… Read the rest
Grayling on Hitchens on Ungreatness of God
Jun 28th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe anti-religion case has never been put so well or so comprehensively as in this razor-sharp book.… Read the rest
No, we’re not jealous
Jun 28th, 2007 10:05 am | By Ophelia BensonHaving lost their own belief in progress and liberation, secular intellectuals are irked by their encounters with people who, on whatever basis, retain a vision of the good society and a commitment to realising it.
No; that’s wrong; that could hardly be wronger. That neatly gets the matter exactly backwards. It is because I have not lost my belief in (the desirability of) progress and liberation, because in fact that belief has considerably strengthened and sharpened as I’ve learned more about its pervasive enemies, I am, not irked, but repelled and horrified by my encounters with people who retain a vision of the bad society and a commitment to realising it.
… Read the restThey clearly feel rebuked by the
Akbar Ahmed is not Optimistic
Jun 27th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDeoband thinking is winning.… Read the rest
Jonathan Edwards Stops Believing in God
Jun 27th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘In some ways I feel more human than I ever have.’… Read the rest
Egypt’s Grand Mufti Says FGM is Forbidden
Jun 27th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAfter an 11-year-old girl died while being chopped at a private medical clinic in southern Egypt.… Read the rest
‘Honour’ Killing in the UK [audio]
Jun 27th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘This is about murder in the name of the father, the son, the blessed male members of the family.’… Read the rest
Ian Buruma Says No Problem
Jun 27th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The prospect of an Islamised Europe is remote’ – and that’s all that matters?… Read the rest
Politics, People and the Spectacle
Jun 27th, 2007 | By Rajesh Kumar SharmaDemocratic politics is essentially the politics of rational dialogue in which language, thought and persuasion play key roles. At least that is what we have over the decades learnt to believe. But recent electoral battles in India appear to have fundamentally shifted the ground on which our democratic beliefs have stood so far.
It is not being argued here that the theatre of politics has moved unprecedentedly and dangerously away from reason and towards emotion. Emotion has always been an indispensable appendage of democratic politics, whether for good or for bad. What is new is something else. It is the rise to predominance of affect vis-à-vis reason and emotion. This has shifted politics on to an entirely different ground. What … Read the rest
Petition to Congratulate PM for Rushdie’s K
Jun 26th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThis honour stands as a symbol of our commitment to ignoring Rage Boy.… Read the rest
Paul Davies on the Goldilocks Enigma
Jun 26th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe will never explain the world by appealing to something outside it that must be accepted on faith.… Read the rest
Let’s Stop Channeling Rage Boy
Jun 26th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe may have to put up with the Rage Boys of the world, but we ought not to do their work for them.… Read the rest
Ten Men Rage at Rushdie
Jun 26th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe strongly deplore, say ten bullies.… Read the rest