All entries by this author

‘Flock’ Urge Bishops to Vote Against Gay Rights *

Mar 19th, 2007 | Filed by

‘Many Christians will be praying, giving up other activities that could rightly claim their attention.’… Read the rest



A puzzle about theodicy

Mar 18th, 2007 12:42 pm | By

I’m reading an interesting book, The Improbability of God, edited by Michael Martin and Ricki Monnier. A collection of arguments on the subject. There’s a whole section on inductive evil arguments against the existence of God. In one, ‘An Argument from Non-gratuitous Evil’ by Thomas Metcalf, a half-sentence on page 330 started a train of thought: ‘If God exists, all the evil that befalls us is justified…’

The train of thought was about the subject matter of this whole section of the book, which is theodicy in general. It’s one that’s puzzled me for ages, but it took a perhaps slightly new form this time. The traditional idea or definition of ‘God’ is that it is omnipotent omniscient and … Read the rest



Three Killed in Attack on School in Thailand *

Mar 18th, 2007 | Filed by

Police blame Muslim separatists, villagers blame police and paramilitary soldiers.… Read the rest



If Police Had Listened to Banaz Agha *

Mar 18th, 2007 | Filed by

She wouldn’t have been murdered for ‘honour.’ IKWRO offers a petition.… Read the rest



Ziauddin Sardar Sees Dogmatism Everywhere *

Mar 18th, 2007 | Filed by

Those secular fundamentalists and scientific atheists – they’re such a pain.… Read the rest



Understanding the Fatwa on Taslima Nasreen *

Mar 18th, 2007 | Filed by

A time honoured tactic to incite the faithful to murder those who dare to criticise Islam.… Read the rest



Irish Religious Orders Promised to Help Pay *

Mar 18th, 2007 | Filed by

Compensation for abuse in industrial schools, but the sums are not adding up.… Read the rest



Of the earth earthy

Mar 17th, 2007 12:40 pm | By

I’ve been thinking (on and off) about something slightly puzzling. The people who rebuke militant atheists or Enlightenment fundamentalists or secular dogmatists or deaf scientistic positivists or some other combination of those and similar terms, often murmur something about the importance of religion for art and literature and music. After bumping into one of those murmurs a few days ago, I suddenly noticed a puzzle. It’s this: the one about literature isn’t true. That’s very odd, isn’t it; why isn’t it true?

Of course, there are exceptions; there are some bits of literature that are very goddy; I’m not ignoring Dante and Milton. But – most literature actually isn’t all that goddy – even literature written at times when atheism … Read the rest



Ben Goldacre Looks at a Smartness Pill *

Mar 17th, 2007 | Filed by

The imaging data feel all sciencey, but conjurers would cite misdirection.… Read the rest



Oxford Students Petition to Oust Don *

Mar 17th, 2007 | Filed by

Professor of demography helped found MigrationWatch in 2001.… Read the rest



Thugs Slaughter Busload of People in Thailand *

Mar 17th, 2007 | Filed by

Nine killed; four women, two girls; teachers, students, traders, farmers; all Buddhists except driver.… Read the rest



Academic says Debate on Islam is Stifled in UK *

Mar 17th, 2007 | Filed by

Lecture on Islamic anti-Semitism was cancelled after complaints from Muslim students.… Read the rest



Three Little Carrots? Ipods? Spoons? Frogs? *

Mar 17th, 2007 | Filed by

Organisers of children’s performance racked brains to find inoffensive substitute for shocking ‘pigs.’… Read the rest



Peter Tatchell on Their Multiculturalism and Ours *

Mar 16th, 2007 | Filed by

Misogyny and homophobia tolerated in the name of ‘maintaining harmonious community relations.’ … Read the rest



Culture Blocks Women’s Participation in Politics *

Mar 16th, 2007 | Filed by

Half the world’s population remains excluded from decision-making along gender lines.… Read the rest



Ignoring the UN Meeting on the Status of Women *

Mar 16th, 2007 | Filed by

Most of the people there represent NGOs that work for women’s empowerment around the world. … Read the rest



Theorising the International After the Subject *

Mar 16th, 2007 | Filed by

How does a post-human condition alter the relationship between self and other, inside and outside?… Read the rest



George Felis Invites Atheists to Come Out *

Mar 16th, 2007 | Filed by

Invisibility has its benefits, perhaps, but the costs are far greater.… Read the rest



David Thompson on Fallibility and Open Discussion *

Mar 15th, 2007 | Filed by

As if the solution to stupidity is to inhibit public discourse.… Read the rest



Three Women’s Rights Defenders Still Locked Up *

Mar 15th, 2007 | Filed by

Shadi Sadr, Mahbubeh Abbasgholizadeh, and Jila Baniyaghoub are still in ward 209 of Evin Prison.… Read the rest