The idea of a God that can answer prayers and intervenes in the world – that’s a hopeless idea. … Read the rest
From Universalism to Identity 
Jan 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Brilliance of civil rights universalism was critique of racialised ways of viewing individuals.… Read the rest
Forward Interviews Bernard-Henri Lévy
Jan 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When a person thinks God is an old pal or helping to mow the lawn, this is idolatry and paganism. … Read the rest
Laurie Taylor Argues with John Gray
Jan 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Gray’s pessimism rests on some sweeping generalizations and untestable ideas.… Read the rest
Irshad Manji Asks Questions
Jan 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Independent thinking and reasoning, ijtihad, was something Islam always prided itself on. … Read the rest
Nick Cohen on the Trouble With Trotsky Jokes
Jan 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ariel Dorfman tries out a quintuple tease, succumbs to Stockholm syndrome.… Read the rest
Odd Cult Claims
Jan 21st, 2006 11:16 pm | By Ophelia BensonGarry Wills says something odd in his review of Jimmy Carter’s new book.
I was surprised when [in 1976] so much was made of his religion as he ran for president. It began when he was asked, while visiting Baptist friends, if he thought of himself as “born again.” He answered yes – not surprisingly, since the Gospel of John (3:5) says that one must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven, and Saint Paul says that baptism is being reborn into Christ (Romans 6:4). Reporters did not know this as a basic belief of Christians – they treated it as an odd cult claim.
Uh – yes. Because, what is the difference? What is the difference … Read the rest
Sex Panic Wants to Have it Both Ways
Jan 21st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘How many more perverts?’ howls the Sun.… Read the rest
Garry Wills on Jimmy Carter on Southern Baptists
Jan 21st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Marks of new fundamentalism are rigidity, self-righteousness, eagerness to use compulsion.… Read the rest
Seyla Benhabib on Changes in Turkish Society
Jan 21st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The murder of more than one million Armenians in 1915 is now being discussed openly.… Read the rest
Simon Jarvis Reviews Theory’s Empire
Jan 21st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The philosophy of literary ‘form’ is still in its infancy.… Read the rest
Grayling Reviews O’Hear and Browne
Jan 21st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Nostalgists fail to see that everything is better than in the cold foggy bathroomless days of yore.… Read the rest
The Emperor’s New Thong
Jan 21st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The ‘new feminism’ of pornification looks very much like the old objectification.… Read the rest
The Tarantella
Jan 20th, 2006 7:09 pm | By Ophelia BensonLook what PZ got! A present in the mail. You have to look – I don’t do pictures. Text text text, that’s all I do.
He’s got all these jealous comments. People saying they’re green, they want one, they’re envious, can they hold it, etc.
So I thought I’d say – I’m getting one too! [dances around]
It hasn’t arrived yet, but it’s on the way. As Coturnix said in comments – ‘That is so nice of him.’ Indeed.… Read the rest
Science ‘Not for Normal People’
Jan 20th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Students questioned said science is important but demanding.… Read the rest
Imperial College Bans Veil Over Face
Jan 20th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Federation of Student Islamic Societies says ban is ‘unacceptable’.… Read the rest
Dutch MPs Consider Burqa Ban
Jan 20th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘It’s a medieval symbol, a symbol against women,’ says MP Geert Wilders.… Read the rest
Scott McLemee: Academic Bloggers do Lunch
Jan 20th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Continuing discussions that hadn’t started at the restaurant and wouldn’t end any time soon.… Read the rest
Revenge of the Monitors
Jan 20th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Conservative group is offering students at UCLA money to tape lectures by professors.… Read the rest
Eve Garrard on a Motes and Beams Problem
Jan 20th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The hunt for the real reasons for singling out Israel continues.… Read the rest
