Many of us find it impossible to believe in god and it can be liberating and life-enhancing to fully embrace this lack of belief and live our lives without religion.… Read the rest
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
54% of Americans would vote for an atheist as president 
Jul 18th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Which is an improvement, but atheists still win the “would not vote for” poll at 43%, edging out Muslims at 40%.… Read the rest
The hijab is not a symbol of freedom
Jul 17th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
For far too many women the hijab is an obligatory article of indenturement that permits no choice; to them, it is a symbol of systematic oppression.… Read the rest
Afghanistan: are reported poisonings mass psychogenic illness?
Jul 17th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Patient Zero” turned out to be a girl suffering from epilepsy. She apparently experienced a seizure while fetching water from the school’s well, which triggered mass panic.… Read the rest
Talking about rape jokes
Jul 17th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The bro-code reaction speaks to uncomfortable fault lines around gender politics and unexamined power that comedians rarely like to acknowledge.… Read the rest
Toronto street imam wants law to force women to “cover up”
Jul 17th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Convert to Islam says rapes “are continuously happening because of Canadian laws, which give too much freedom to women” in how they dress.… Read the rest
Stereotypes about women in science
Jul 16th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Useful? Helpful? The way to get women into science? No.… Read the rest
Wearing hijab is the most liberating experience ever
Jul 16th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“My experience working as a Faiths Act Fellow for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and dealing with interfaith action brought me more appreciation of various faiths.”… Read the rest
Pall of uncertainty over NGO’s work after Afridi murder
Jul 16th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The murder of rights activist Farida Afridi in Khyber Agency has driven the already dwindling number of female social workers towards more uncertainty.… Read the rest
Another wild attack on secularism
Jul 16th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“The Freedom From Religion Foundation is, itself, a religion of self-exaltation and secularism, and a very aggressive one at that.”… Read the rest
Creationist footprints in the Giant’s Causeway visitor centre
Jul 15th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Young Earth creationism is dispiriting. It’s not just that it’s wrong, but that it needs such a mountain of futile effort to maintain even the shadow of plausibility.
Bishop on riots and “structural sin”
Jul 15th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Christian beliefs about sin prevent them from dividing the world between good and evil in ways which ignore the complexity of moral contexts.” lolwut… Read the rest
Most bishops’ conferences miss deadline on abuse guidelines
Jul 15th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
But hey, if you drop out a whole large continent, almost half were on time.… Read the rest
Movies: girls can be brave, but women get punished
Jul 15th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The only time self-actualized young women can earn more applause than anxiety is when they occupy a truly alternate universe.… Read the rest
Higgs boson physicist shunned in Pakistan
Jul 14th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The name of Pakistan’s only Nobel laureate is removed from textbooks because he was an Ahmadi.… Read the rest
China censors Michelangelo
Jul 14th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They pixelated Apollo’s pee-pee.… Read the rest
Imam sexually assaulted two children
Jul 14th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
An Imam from Wellingborough has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two children while he was employed to teach them about the Koran.… Read the rest
Ethiopian blogger Eskinder Nega jailed for 18 years
Jul 14th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Eskinder was arrested after publishing an article questioning arrests under anti-terrorism legislation, especially that of government critic Debebe Eshetu.… Read the rest
Alex Aan sends a message from prison
Jul 14th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He thanks his supporters around the world, saying he would feel alone without our support and love. Atheist Alliance International will forward messages to him.… Read the rest
Germany rushes to protect right to mutilate infant penises
Jul 13th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“It is clear this cannot be put on the back burner. Freedom to practise religion is a cherished legal principle,” Merkel’s spokesman said.… Read the rest
